Weekly Update Archive

Week Ending 8/10/2008

South Texas

I decided to take another Herping trip (only my second for the year) and chose to go to South Texas. I haven't been there in a couple of years or so and figured it was time. Meridith expressed interest in going and how could I refuse? How could I not take "Eagle Eyes" with me? I need them as bad as my eyes are getting, that's for sure! I swung by her house after work and off we went in my "new" KIA Optima. Yes, I have officially retired the old Blazer for long trips, but I still own and have it. Not sure yet about making a barbecue pit out of it.

Anyway, we arrived in Hebbronville late as we hunted a few roads before we arrived. I found only one little Mexican Hooknose snake on 2050 and nothing else. We retired early because after long rides, I just can't hunt as long as I used to. There has been little rain since the hurricane several weeks ago, and to tell you the truth, I thought it would be more moist than it was.

Saturday was a sleep in day, but I did manage to get a much needed haircut from a little place in Hebbronville. We searched and searched for a good barbecue place to eat at but it was not in the cards for this trip. We settled for the main restaurant in town and I happened to have one of the best hamburgers I have ever eaten. It is "Peppers" on 359 just before the main drag in town! You must try it if you go. After a good solid lunch it was time for this aging herper to take his afternoon nap as I planned on going all night if possible for Saturday night.

We hit the road an hour or so before dusk and saw a couple of atrox before dark. We saw a lot of wild turkey and deer. We came across a couple of ribbon snakes, some DOR, some alive. As the night wore on, we started finding DOR atrox (one being almost 5 feet long and very thick), a DOR longnose, checkered garter and that's it for the DOR's. We did find several live atrox, found one 3 foot long bullsnake on 2050, a live checkered garter outside of Los Angeles near Cotulla, and that was about all. I was very disappointed with the quality and amount of herps seen. I guess I should have gone right after the hurricane like my buddy from San Antonio!

One important thing I would like to point out is Meridith, who in the beginning of time when we first met, had nothing to do with snakes and reptiles overall. Since I have known her, she has become what I would consider to be a top notch herper and I feel blessed to have her along on a lot of my trips. She actually asked if she could catch an atrox by herself (with the help of my tongs, of course!). When she asked me this, I was a little puzzled, but quickly realized she was serious. After debating in my mind, only briefly, I said to myself, "She's ready! She can handle this!" The proof is in the pics! Enjoy! She actually handled atrox three different times and did a superb job to boot! I am proud of her accomplishments relating to herps and am glad she wants to get involved to the degree she has. She has risen to a whole other level! Congrats Mare! We got back to Houston early in the evening and fed her Sulcatas freshly picked cactus and cactus blooms. That stuff is everywhere in South Texas!

Until the next updates, be cool, be safe and always be the best at herping that you can be!

Wayne Howell

DOR Longnose