6-3-17

Trip Details

Location: Linn County, Iowa

Weather: 65 degrees, rising to 80, sunny

Time: 7:00 am

Herpers: Jim Scharosch

Account by: Jim Scharosch

Photos by: Jim Scharosch

Went out to visit five survey sites in Linn county. The forecast called for sun and mid-eighties so I thought I would get an early start. Even with the sun already shining brightly, the tin at the first site I visited was still cool to the touch. It wasn't long before I found my first snake of the day, a three foot long Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi).

He wanted no part of me and did the full on striking and hissing routine, making it a challenge to get photos.

A bit later I found a really large bullsnake. It was preparing to shed and didn't even move when I found it.

I moved on to another site and found a very coppery colored adult Fox Snake (Pantherophis vulpinis).

That was all from that site, and all I saw at the other sites I visited were a couple of garter snakes. It was a nice morning herp trip and a cool way to start the weekend.