Re: Eastern Bairds Rat Snake, Bandera County Tx......

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Posted by Tom Lott on May 13, 2001 at 13:36:48:

In Reply to: Eastern Bairds Rat Snake, Bandera County Tx...... posted by Ken Diehl on May 11, 2001 at 12:05:26:

Ken,

I have found quite a number of Elaphe obsoleta types all over Bandera County, including the roads you mentioned. The vast majority of the snakes I have found on roads have been either typical lindheimeri or the so-called "hybrids." The easternmost pure bairdi I have seen came from the Medina Lake area (in Medina Co.). The easternmost "hybrid" was at Privilege Creek (on Tx 16). You can find any of these types virtually anywhere in the county (I have also found pure lindheimeri near Vanderpool, just a few miles south of the Lost Maples "hybrid" Cris H. posted a photo of on the Rat Snake Forum).

The fact that most of the roads in the county closely follow streams likely accounts for the high percentage of lindheimeri I've seen. Concentrate on the higher, rockier areas (like one would for alterna) and you should get some nice Baird's.

I personally see very little difference between the Bandera Co. bairdi and those from farther west in Edwards and Val Verde counties, where they are somewhat easier to find by road cruising. Any Baird's from the Plateau is going to be nicer than those from the Trans-Pecos area.

Hopefully, this first normal spring in several years will continue to provide us with good rainfall in the area, which is essential to any chance of success. Good luck!

Tom Lott

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Eastern Bairds Rat Snake, Bandera County Tx...... Ken Diehl 05/14/01 (0)

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: Ken, : I have found quite a number of Elaphe obsoleta types all over Bandera County, including the roads you mentioned. The vast majority of the snakes I have found on roads have been either typical lindheimeri or the so-called "hybrids." The easternmost pure bairdi I have seen came from the Medina Lake area (in Medina Co.). The easternmost "hybrid" was at Privilege Creek (on Tx 16). You can find any of these types virtually anywhere in the county (I have also found pure lindheimeri near Vanderpool, just a few miles south of the Lost Maples "hybrid" Cris H. posted a photo of on the Rat Snake Forum). : The fact that most of the roads in the county closely follow streams likely accounts for the high percentage of lindheimeri I've seen. Concentrate on the higher, rockier areas (like one would for alterna) and you should get some nice Baird's. : I personally see very little difference between the Bandera Co. bairdi and those from farther west in Edwards and Val Verde counties, where they are somewhat easier to find by road cruising. Any Baird's from the Plateau is going to be nicer than those from the Trans-Pecos area. : Hopefully, this first normal spring in several years will continue to provide us with good rainfall in the area, which is essential to any chance of success. Good luck! : Tom Lott

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