First of all I'd like to give special thanks to Carrie Mallard, Andy O'Conner, Josh (Steelherper), and Chuck Norris. Without these people this major field herping expedition woulod not have been possible. Thank you Chuck Norris.

I flew into Washington on April 29th and left May 2nd. The enire time was spent hardcore field herpin'.

Please bear with me with this thread. It took me 8 1/2 hours just to go through my photographs and only a small percentage of those will be shown here.

Also, I know that a lot of what is presented in this thread may be common stuff for those from the Pacific Northwest, but I'm a LECH from Illinois and every single animal encountered was a lifer for me.

Andy and I covevered way too many spots and found way too much for me to make a chronographic post here.

As soon as my plane touched down in Washington, Andy was there to pick me up at the airport. We went straight from there into the field. I had to change into my herpin' clothes in the car. Within an hour after my plane touched ground we found a rubber boa under the very first piece of tin that was flipped. I knew right then that this was going to be an epic trip.

I have never seen a wild rattlesnake before so for me, what I wanted to find most of all on this trip was North Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridus oreganus). So we'll start there.

We found 4 adults and 1 juvenile. We would have found a lot more if local Fish and Wildlife hadn't have crashed our party. But that's a whole 'nother issue.

As far as lifers go, I amassed 11 reptiles, 1 amphibian, 2 mammals, and a few birds!!


Here are some of my favorite oreganus pics that I got:

This was my first view ever of a wild rattlesnake
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300075.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300079.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300092.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300094.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300101.jpg

Here's Andy using his ninja skills to capture the soul of an oreganus
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300103.jpg

This one litterally crawled out from under the rocks between my feet
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300111.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300118.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300122.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300132.jpg


Andy observed this one swimming across a creek. I was in a bad position to see this and by the time I got there it had already reached the bank on our side:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010295.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010297.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010303.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010305.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010317.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010321.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010328.jpg


Then there was the juvie we encountered:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010341.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010353.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010357.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010360.jpg

Here are some of the other snakes we found.

Right after I arrived in the state we flipped this Rubber Boa (Charina bottae):

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290003.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290004.jpg

Trying to mimic a dog turd:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290005.jpg

Yours truly and happy as a pig in.....mud:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290006.jpg



Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis):
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290026.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290027.jpg

We found a few Northwestern Garters (Thamnophis ordinoides):

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290030.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290033.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290036.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290039.jpg

And 3-4 juvie Wandering Garters (Thamnophis elegans vagrans). Unfortunately no adults were found:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010253.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010258.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010269.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010363.jpg

Washington state Thamnophis trifecta accomplished!!!!


Then there was this pissy Great Basin Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola ):

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010281.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010286.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010287.jpg

While I was visiting the state of Washington, we cleaned house on the number of lizards that we found!

Norther Alligator Lizards (Elgaria coerulea) proved to be an easy find:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290014.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290019.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4290022.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010390.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010377.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010392.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010386.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010384.jpg


Side Blotch Lizards (Uta stansburiana) were common at many of the spots we visited. They were so fast though, that only a few were photographed:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300219.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300215.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300211.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010366.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010368.jpg


Northwestern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis occidentalis) were also very common but like the side blotches, very hard to catch on camera:

Breeding Male
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300069.jpg

Female
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010393.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300068.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010396.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010398.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010404.jpg


We only found two Northwestern Short Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma douglasii) each was in a different location.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300150.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300161.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300170.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300186.jpg

See how small they are:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300182.jpg

Man, these guys can really blend in!
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300181.jpg


We flipped one Northwestern Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus skiltonianus) but it sure was pretty!

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300238.jpg

We flipped this Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla)
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010381.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010378.jpg


At this one spot we found these scorpions under almost every piece of AC that we flipped:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300164.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300204.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300209.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300220.jpg


At one point I woke up long before Andy did. I poked around the area that we were at at found this evidence of Beaver activity:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300059.jpg

I came up from out of the river bank and saw some animals moving around on a hillside far away:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300063.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300062.jpg

What the hell are those? I was so far away that I couldn't tell. I had to zoom in as much as I could with my camera and then zoom in on the photos to get an ID.

HOLY CRAP!!!!! Big Horn Sheep!!!

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300062A.jpg

This lamb was wearing a radio collar
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300060.jpg

Some of Washington states' flora:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300162.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300165.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300166.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300167.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300226.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010370.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010374.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010383.jpg

Some Landscape Shots:

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300143.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300144.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300146.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300190.jpg

Andy crashing my shot
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300196.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300197.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300201.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300202.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300223.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300225.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010243.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010245.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010247.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010248.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010250.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5010399.jpg


Here is Andy and me right before we left to take me back to the airport.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P5020405.jpg

We finished this trip tired, worn out, hiked out, flipped out, herped out, and SPENT!! A shower and a good nights sleep felt sooo goood!!!!

I almost missed my flight back home. I arrived at the gate just as the plane was loading.

Last but not least. some video clips I taped during this adventure:

On our way across the mountains on the first night we saw 17 Elk!!! I couldn't get a pic for nothing! But I was able to get this short video clip:
YouTube - Elk

These are both short flicks of an oreganus flicking its toungue:
YouTube - Rattler Tounge Flick 1
YouTube - Rattler Tounge Flick 2

This is a clip of an oreganus rattling its tail as it crawled away. Turn the volume up!
YouTube - Rattlin' Rattler

I got a quick video of a Wandering Garter in the water:
YouTube - Swimming Garter



State of Washington, always remember this LECH from Illinois
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa236/jguyer1/P4300203.jpg

Looks like a good time was had by all. Great shots and a good selection of the locals :D

Looks like a killer trip!

Looks like you had a great time. Love all the pics too.

Looks like a killer trip, but I wanna hear the Fish and Game story! :)

looks like an awesome adventure....



man i need a vacation...

That looks like it was a AWESOME trip! So glad it went so well, and thanks for all the pictures! Tell the Fish and Game story! Definitely!

WOW you all had a great time & all the pics are awesome

Some great pics. Love the tongue shots. You guys wer up near my neck of the woods. I love herping out here. I need to go out again this spring. Thanks for sharing.

Great pictures. looks like you had an awesome trip. i cant wait until i can go one one lol.

awesome pictures

Man that looks like an awesome trip!!! I love the rattler shots.....the rubber boa is very cool too!! Thanks for sharing!

Ok, here's the Fish and Game story.

We were in the wrong but they were petty.

We pulled up to the Rattlesnake den site and the gate was closed with a sign that read "Closed for winter elk feeding, open May 1st". Andy had been coming to this spot for the last 4 years and had never seen the gate closed..he'd never been there before May 1. We were there on April 30th..one day early.

We were on a time crunch as we still had lots of sites and lots of driving ahead of us and my plane was leaving Saturday the 2nd.

So...we crawled under the gate and walked in about 2-300 yards to the den site and found a fence lizard and 3 rattlers when the wildlife management fellow showed up and told us to go wait by our vehicle and that he had already called law enforcement.

We waited 45 minutes for the Fish and Wildlife fellow to show. To make a long story short, he let me off of the hook but gave Andy a ticket for $271. Now Andy does a lot of volunteer work for Fish and Wildlife and the people he works with said that there wouldn't be a problem with going in there looking for herps and leaving the damn elk alone. Andy's trying to talk to his people and get the ticket squashed. If not, then I agreed to pay 1/2 of it.

I know that we shouldn't have shimmied under the gate, but time crunch and strong desire to find rattlers overruled better judgement. We were one day early and that's not going to effect the elk putting on weight after winter one bit. The wildlife manager driving around all over in there is going to affect them a lot more.

They also didn't want to believe that I had come all of the way from Illinois to find snakes. We got grilled a bit. The punishment could have been a lot more severe and we did get a bit of a break but with us only being one day early, a simple " You guys got to go." would have done the job.

Anyway, right or wrong, that's what happened. Can't change it now.

The other 2 rattlers were found at a different location.

Nice job on all the pictures......You got some really sweet shots there....Thanks for sharing them

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude that sure looks like one helll of a trip......:)


Thanks for sharing...:D

Man, what part of the state were you in? I grew up in the woods in WA and all I ever caught were garter snakes, tree frogs, and salamanders! I didn't even know rubber boas existed! Let alone all those cool lizards!

WOW!!! Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Man, what part of the state were you in? I grew up in the woods in WA and all I ever caught were garter snakes, tree frogs, and salamanders! I didn't even know rubber boas existed! Let alone all those cool lizards!

Rubber Boas are all over in Or and Wa. I have caught them inside railroad ties on a currently used railroad track just outside Vancouver.

I'm sorry but I can't disclose location information any further than Washington State. Kind of a field herper's rule. To tell you the truth, I don't really know anyway. We spent many hours riding in a car going from spot to spot. I don't even know where we were.

The reason why disclosing location information on the internet is dissuaded by groups such as NAFHA and by field herpers in general is so that we're not used as scouts for collectors.

Looks like a great trip... congrats on your lifers and those are some great photos!!

That looks like a good time. Those are some hot pics. Good work.

Holy crap, this thread is a killer! Have you no respect for people who don´t like toolongtoread threads ?!?:machinegun:
I hadn´t visited the field herping forum on this site so far, but I heard the redneck radio recomending it so I had to check it out.
What a treat!!:wamma:
Thank you for the eye candy guys, you are my new Guru´s.:master:
Have a nice week end Gurududes, love the way you thoungue flick!:yourock:
I really look forward to reading future field reports from your part. :cheers:
If we call a shovel for a shovel, you guys ain´t nothing but heroes in my oppinion. :yourock:

obeligz :devil:

Good lord man! That looks like an awesome trip! I never knew there was such an array of herps up in Washington. I don't really think of that area being very hospitable to reptiles in general!

Great pics though :D thanks for sharing!

Thanks! I never really thought that there would be that much up there either but I was invited so I thought 'why not go to a part of the country that I've never been before?' My friend who lives there was kind enough to take me to his secret spots and I was AMAZED!

I try to take one trip like this every year. Not sure where I'm going next spring. Toss up between Missouri and Kansas. I have good friends with secret spots in both states. It really pays to spend some time on forums like this one and get to know people and make contacts and meet other members face to face. Make connections and get to know people and let them get to know you. I can now herp in almost every part of the country and I will have a good guide who knows where to find stuff and give me a place to sleep at night. Just got to get on that bird and meet them at the airport and we're off!

Nice man! I am into field herping photos right now. Will be going out and getting lots of my own here soon found some decent places to run around and look. this thread definitly gave me a good fix till then

Thanks man!

If you ever get a chance to come on back down here, you're more than welcome. There have been a lot of changes since you and your wife and the Chandlers where here in January.

Just saw this thread and yeah, AWESOME! Diggin all those lizards

Thanks! If you ever get a chance to herp in a part of the country that you've never been, do it. Everything that you see will be a lifer!

those are some great pics cool finds

After the first set I thought it was going to be all snakes. Love the little alligator lizard biting. EXTREMLY nice set of absolutly everything. Thank you.

Thanks. I wish that I could do a lot more trips like this one.