Andrea's herpday Party 2-16-2013

Well, this February has been snow storm after snow storm and it looks like we won't be able to find an actual wild herp this month. Drat! We'd hoped for at least one every month this year! BUT... with Andrea's birthday being in this bitter, cold month, I decided maybe some herps should come to her instead!

Rainforest Reptiles to the rescue! I have seen this crew many times over the years and knew they put on a fun and informative show, so I gave them a call and booked a cold Saturday afternoon. A few family members and good friends made the trek over to share in the experience.

The set-up is very professional, with pictures, props and, of course, many live animals. A wall of display tanks started our excitement!


The normal colored Chacoan Horned Frog in the upper right corner (bottom pic) was very cantankerous, moving around all day and entertaining us! I could hear the Fire-Belly Toads chirping a few times too. All of these beauties kept us enthralled until the show began.

Mike Ralbovsky put on an informative and humorous show for us, explaining facts about the animals and how Rainforest obtained them. Most of them are rescues. First up was a massive Cane Toad, who blew himself up to impress Andrea!


Another special guest was a Gila Monster! He had pooed his carrying tank, but we didn't care... how many other folks in New England had a Gila Monster poop in their living room last week? NONE!


Cinnamon, a 45 lb Boa Constrictor was also there! She was in a shed, but very well behaved.


It appears that Andrea is holding a young Nile Crocodile here. She is!!


Whitey, the American Alligator was also in da house!


Two big smiles... I like that!

So, after the talk, we all got to touch and learn more about the animals! Lilah got to touch her first Nile Crocodile! I had to wait 50 years... she only had to wait 7 months!


This Black Throated Monitor, who has a cantankerous reputation, found his favorite place on Earth... being held like a baby in Andrea's arms.

It was pointless for anyone else to try to butt in... the lizard was completely happy here.

I got to hold some animals too! Here's Cinnamon taking me for a ride!


My Gila Monster puppet show was a flop...


I can't recommend Rainforest Reptiles enough! Though they usually set up at schools and children's parties, an adult party is, obviously, also an idea! Many many thanks to Mike for helping us get over our cabin fever this February with a fun, hands-on show!


Set up your own adventure with Rainforest Reptiles...  http://www.rainforestreptileshows.com/

February 9th, 2013... Blizzard Herping!

Well, with weather reports of snow not bothering us in the least, we decided to try out a new place in Suffolk County MA... a place by the name of Dillage Vale.

We got there at about noon...


We immediately started flipping, not really expecting anything, but we hoped to be surprised.



We took a promising-looking trail and found a  discarded rug. Thinking about our success with such AC (artificial cover) at Boyden in the past, we decided to flip...


Andrea yelled "snake" and I got this quick in-situ shot...


Luckily, her quick reflexes responded and she nabbed it...


Was this our long sought after Hognose? The field guides to the herps of Massachusetts that we'd brought  along didn't help our IDing any!



So, we're calling it an Eastern Garter, because they can be so variable... if anyone can ID it any better, then you're a better herper than I!

Spurred on by our luck, we decided to ascend a mountainous trail that leads to potential good habitat.


This vernal pond had dried up, though I'd heard about a Red-Eared Slider sighting here in the past...


Andrea, always keen on finding venomous snakes, tried her luck in some good looking Timber habitat... but there was nothing...


I found a cave and explored it, but there were no herps... just some scat, probably mammal.


On the way down the mountain, we took a side-trail and I made a very exciting find... a lizard!


Now, there aren't supposed to be any lizards in Massachusetts, but here was one!!! 5-Lined Skinks have been found in Connecticut, however, and with this global warming upon us... we're pretty sure that's what we have right here!!


So, not bad for February!! 2 herps, one new to Mass!!! This will look good on the database!

COME ON, SPRING!!! HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS SHIT DO WE HAVE TO TAKE????