Mid-October and the snaking is 'bout done for the year. Captured, weighed and measured 241 snakes this year. That's quite low compared with "normal". Western terrestrial garter snakes are down 81% since 2011 based on my catch-per-unit-effort data. These are the 4 species I handle mostly.

YOY racers don't look anything like the adults.



The adult racers, Coluber constrictor, have interesting colors.



The prairie rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis, only occurs in two counties in Idaho. The pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus, is the most common rattler in the state.



The rubber boa, extremely mellow, can probably get to be 50 years or older.



The most common snake in these parts is the western terrestrial garter snake, Thamnophis elegans, although their numbers are dwindling fast for whatever reason.

Your photos are always so clear and detailed , an artist's dream for reference .

The only snake in all the world, besides the gorgeous Blue Indigos I used to catch and admire, that I want to achieve, is finding a Rubber Boa. I'm always on lookout for one. You will hear my elated shouting all the way up here , when or if I ever do.

Here are some more designs to share with yours...thank you, Jack.

Sticking to the snake theme. Me with one of the bigger rattle snakes I got.

Walked up on a den, saw a lot more than were taken.

A guy I ran with hunting and trapping with one.

This fellow was catching the first rays of sun a couple of weeks back. Gulo, what is his proper name? I've always called these garter snakes but think I've been wrong my whole life.

That's a very nice shot, BP.

I think you got the name exactly right, Beaverpeeler. And that's a very cool shot of that snake among the blueberries/huckleberries. Far as I can tell, that is indeed a Common Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis.

MJM -

Mark, was that boarded monster a Dakota snake, or Texas? Here in Idaho, a four-footer is a monster.

Jack

Those are all AZ snakes. Here in ND a four foot snake is a monster, no mater the type.