Any luck in PA yet?

[dirty_harry]

OK, i know that the weather has been less than optimum for finding herps (specifically snakes) in PA, but what can I say, I can't take it anymore! The past two weekends i have gone out for at least a few hours to go herping and I haven't found squat yet. I am compulsively flipping over every board and log I can find (regardlessof where I am), with the hopes that maybe, just MAYBE there will be something there. Ugh... I can't take the wait any longer!!! Has anyone in the area had any luck yet?

[tandy4000]

I feel the same. I've been out about 3 weekends in a row and all that I found was a redback sally. The weather has been cruddy though, so that's probably why. Good luck to ya :)

[reptilebreeder]

Patience young grasshopper :D Same here in central CA. It's been unusually cold and wet here. I think that bodes well for the future season, but it sucks for now. Are you not even able to turn any salamanders or other "cold" type stuff?

[dirty_harry]

lol, ok, so its not something i am doing wrong then. I know the weather has been really brutal, so my hopes haven't been too high, but last year by this time I had a few good finds already!!! I guess part of the problem is I am really passionate about this type of stuff, so its hard to not get really impatient! I was surprised a few years back when i was doing the same (moping that I hadn't found SQUAT yet) and I kicked over a dead log and found a really amazing looking Eastern Rat'ler... Needless to say, i almost crapped a brick for more than one reason, LOL! It was really an exceptional looking animal ::sighs:: I CAN'T TAKE THE WAIT ANYMORE!!! :scatter:

[TrpnBils]

I've had luck with salamanders so far, but not with snakes unfortunately

[dirty_harry]

well, that is a good sign... anybody else? Am i the only one with "ants in the pants" about this? :lol:

[Traci1]

well, that is a good sign... anybody else? Am i the only one with "ants in the pants" about this? :lol:

Well I didn't have any ants in MY pants until I read your posts! Yesterday I looked around my parents property for a good amount of time and didn't find a thing. My dad says it's too early for snakes. I don't know, I've never tried this before! I'm going to ask permission from one of their neighbors to see if I can snoop around their pond some time.

[dirty_harry]

lol, yeah, its probably still a bit early, but i have found them this early before, so i would rather that its lack of snakes, not lack of effort that are leading me to come up empty handed. :toetap05: But even still, the wait is just killing me! Must..... Find...... snakes...... NOW............................................... ............ :detonate:

[tandy4000]

I was out herping today right after some thunderstorms when I found a vernal pond in the woods. As I approached, I heard the distinctive call of the wood frog. All the frogs dove under the leaf litter but they left behind three bulbous egg masses!!:dancer01: I sat for about ten minutes and the frogs came back out and had a little concert for me!! YES! :hurray: :hurray: :D :D
I'm going back later this week to see if I can grab a tadpole or two. I got some pics, but they weren't digital, so I'll have to post when they get developed.

[bsharrah]

We have a small stream behind our home here in Indiana, PA which is typically infested with wood turtles and snappers throughout the spring and summer. This weekend I took a stroll out back and saw one wood turtle basking along the bank but not for very long after it saw me.

This weekend should be very nice considering they are calling for snow showers this week. I am hoping to get back there with my wife's camera.

Bart

[dirty_harry]

ok, so i went easter "snake" hunting, and again, I didn't find any snakes, but I found a BUTTLOAD of salamaders! Its better than nothing and it definitely has me psyched about the upcoming weather!!!

[TrpnBils]

We have a small stream behind our home here in Indiana, PA which is typically infested with wood turtles and snappers throughout the spring and summer. This weekend I took a stroll out back and saw one wood turtle basking along the bank but not for very long after it saw me.

This weekend should be very nice considering they are calling for snow showers this week. I am hoping to get back there with my wife's camera.

Bart

Are you around the Yellow Creek area? That's the only place around our way that I've heard of wood turtles on a regular basis.

[mmitstif]

I found a hole in the southern facing bank behind my place of work(Williamsport Pa.) that had 8 garter snakes laying around it.I've been checking on them each day and it seems they all live in there.Soon as they see ya they all bail in.On a sad note,there was one particularly green(and I mean LIME GREEN) individual that I found dead in front of the hole.Looks like a bird was pecking at it's head.We have alot of crows around there.

[bsharrah]

Originally Posted by TrpnBils: Are you around the Yellow Creek area? That's the only place around our way that I've heard of wood turtles on a regular basis.

I am about 7 miles north of Yellow Creek State Park. We just moved here last year and were pleasantly surprised by the number of Wood Turtles and Snapping Turtles that congregate in the same small stretch of water directly behind our home. So far this year I have not seen any snappers yet and only seem to keep seeing the same wood turtle.

Bart

[mmitstif]

A nice female blackrat found crossing the sesquahanna river while I was fishing.

[norsmis]

You actually found this girl swimming! How cool is that? Awesome find!

[TrpnBils]

I found this smooth green yesterday up around Erie. I also found redbellies, garters, and browns last week at the same site. I'm still looking for ringnecks there!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jrh312/Outdoor/Wildlife/May82006032resize.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jrh312/Outdoor/Wildlife/May82006017resize.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/jrh312/Outdoor/Wildlife/May82006008resize.jpg

[dirty_harry]

awesome!!!! one of my friends just told me that he has "tons of snakes" out behind his house, and on Saturday we found a snake eating a small mouth bass... i don't know what the heck the snake was, i've never seen anything like it, and i can't figure it out... i'll post some pics later! :)

[boz8883]

Hey. I'm in State College and I'm looking for some Rat Snakes and Norther Water Snakes. Anyone have any ideas on where to find them? I went out today for a few hours and only found a few turtles and frogs. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.