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Posted by snakeguy88 on April 22, 2003 at 20:38:14:
In Reply to: Rodent vs Amphibians - My perspective [up dated] posted by mike z on April 19, 2003 at 23:28:18:
I have found a fair number of sick Heterodon, some of which had low body weight, were lethargic, and would die after a day or so in captivity (which proves it was just not stress or captivity alone)...I am sure that they all still have these problems in the wild that you mentioned (such as rana virus, parasites, ect.). And I am sure many Heterodon die of such things, just as something like a rat snake may be wounded by prey it is eating, consequently get an infection, and die (though this example is only partially relevant). Yet even though people think they are rare, hognose are much more common than public opinion shows. I tend to find them often, it is all about knowing what to look for. They truly are realtively common, and I probably walk by one everytime I go herping. Locating them is the hard part...Therefore this would explain why these natural afflictions do not take a toll on the species. That is my observation...Make sense or not? Might take some rephrasing on my part...Your argument has much merit to it and I am enjoying watching the field go back and forth here...Andy
