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Re: What kinda snake is this? Idaho
[Re: Gulo]
#6564167
06/28/19 03:30 PM
06/28/19 03:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,593
Georgia
warrior
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,593
Georgia
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Taximan -
Over on your side of the hill, you've got eastern racers (according to the "experts") rather than western racers. In my opinion, they are basically one-in-the-same. I'm just barely on the west slope of the Continental Divide (3 miles from my place to the Divide), and I have no doubt that the eastern and westerns cross back and forth through Lemhi and Bannock Passes. I've caught them right at Lemhi Pass (>7,000' elevation), and right now, I don't buy the argument that they are "different" sub-species of snakes. Morphologically, I can tell no differences. You also got the rubber boas over there?
Jack Don't even get me started on snake taxonomy. I don't think the biologists know any more than us lay people. Rat snakes have gone from Elaphe to Patherophis. Once there were multiple subspecies now just three species even though one can have at least three different patterns and all can intergrade. Water Moccasin went from one species to three subspecies to two species. Copperhead from four species with subspecies to two. Kings naked are now under review.
![[Linked Image]](8a3gq5-1.jpg)
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Re: What kinda snake is this? Idaho
[Re: Gulo]
#6564171
06/28/19 03:44 PM
06/28/19 03:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Taximan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
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Taximan -
Over on your side of the hill, you've got eastern racers (according to the "experts") rather than western racers. In my opinion, they are basically one-in-the-same. I'm just barely on the west slope of the Continental Divide (3 miles from my place to the Divide), and I have no doubt that the eastern and westerns cross back and forth through Lemhi and Bannock Passes. I've caught them right at Lemhi Pass (>7,000' elevation), and right now, I don't buy the argument that they are "different" sub-species of snakes. Morphologically, I can tell no differences. You also got the rubber boas over there?
Jack Yes,I have seen they are called Eastern but I don't get it either.They look the same to me.The ones I used to catch back East were gun metal black and grew bigger.I caught one that was 64". Yes,we have rubber boas.I don't see them often but have caught a couple.After showing one to the rancher,he says they find them around their houses occasionally.I also caught a couple,outside of Reno,NV,quite a few years ago.That is a great photograph you show there.
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Re: What kinda snake is this? Idaho
[Re: Taximan]
#6564191
06/28/19 04:21 PM
06/28/19 04:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,491
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon
"American Honey"
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"American Honey"
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,491
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
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Taximan -
Over on your side of the hill, you've got eastern racers (according to the "experts") rather than western racers. In my opinion, they are basically one-in-the-same. I'm just barely on the west slope of the Continental Divide (3 miles from my place to the Divide), and I have no doubt that the eastern and westerns cross back and forth through Lemhi and Bannock Passes. I've caught them right at Lemhi Pass (>7,000' elevation), and right now, I don't buy the argument that they are "different" sub-species of snakes. Morphologically, I can tell no differences. You also got the rubber boas over there?
Jack Yes,I have seen they are called Eastern but I don't get it either.They look the same to me.The ones I used to catch back East were gun metal black and grew bigger.I caught one that was 64". Yes,we have rubber boas.I don't see them often but have caught a couple.After showing one to the rancher,he says they find them around their houses occasionally.I also caught a couple,outside of Reno,NV,quite a few years ago.That is a great photograph you show there. That is exactly what Ive been doing also, hoping to find one of those boas warming up on the round river stones from the residual heat of the house. Howevah.....the vents pour out very cool air from under the cabin even in the warmest summer temps , so I dont search in those places . Cant wait to find one 
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Re: What kinda snake is this? Idaho
[Re: Gary Benson]
#6564195
06/28/19 04:29 PM
06/28/19 04:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,692
Idaho, Lemhi County
Gulo
"On The Other Hand"
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"On The Other Hand"
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,692
Idaho, Lemhi County
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I suspect the rubber boas are very common, but they are certainly shy and you don't find them very often. During the heat of the summer, they are largely nocturnal. I just looked at my notes, and have only caught (or found as roadkills) 79 of them in this country since 2008. I'll keep looking...
Jack
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Re: What kinda snake is this? Idaho
[Re: Gary Benson]
#6564198
06/28/19 04:35 PM
06/28/19 04:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,567
Worley, Idaho
Machias
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,567
Worley, Idaho
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Saw my first rubber boa this year during turkey season, in Kootenai county, very cool snake!
When things are Grim, become the Grim Reaper!
Fred Moyer
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Re: What kinda snake is this? Idaho
[Re: Gary Benson]
#6564337
06/28/19 08:20 PM
06/28/19 08:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,220
Priest River, Idaho USA
SundanceMtnMan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,220
Priest River, Idaho USA
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Gulo
Yes I think it was the racer. We have a lot of the rubber boas so it wasn't that. I also remember a fairly small snake that was super feisty, it wasn't big enough to hit above your boots but it would almost always strike. Unfortunately I can't remember what it looked like. If I have a chance and remember the next time I am out there I will go dig through that old rock pile and see if they are still there.
"They Say Nothing is Impossible,
But, I Do Nothing Every Day."
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Re: What kinda snake is this? Idaho
[Re: Gary Benson]
#6564362
06/28/19 08:45 PM
06/28/19 08:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,692
Idaho, Lemhi County
Gulo
"On The Other Hand"
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"On The Other Hand"
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,692
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Sundance - Your feisty small snake may have been a western racer as well. They are the only Idaho snake that looks entirely different from the adults during their first year of life, and they pretty much always seem to be feisty. Perhaps this little guy? ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2019/06/full-10376-11962-racer_juv_a.jpg)
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