| We'll things are still moving to their den sites. In order for me not to miss any of the action, I decided to herp again this weekend. My father and I decided to meet up with Mike Cravens and Mike’s friend Bryan in southeastern Missouri on Saturday. The day wasn't too bad. My totals include:
15 - Broad-banded Water Snakes (3 DOR)
13 - Western Cottonmouths (1 DOR)
1 - Yellow-bellied Water Snake
1 - Midland Brown Snake
1 - Speckled Kingsnake
1 DOR - Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
1 DOR - Western Ribbon Snake
1 DOR - Black Rat Snake
2 - Bronze Frogs
1 - Northern Spring Peeper
2 - Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toads
TMTC - Blanchard's Cricket Frogs
TMTC - Red-eared Sliders
1 - Common Snapping Turtle
2 - Ground Skinks
Sunday we all headed over to Southern Illinois to meet up with Mike Pingleton. We were herping by 11:00 o'clock. It was a great day. We all found something cool. My favorite moment came within the first couple of hours. I spotted a couple of cottonmouths in a crevice. While viewing the snakes, I hear Mike Cravens shout, "Timber!" Mike Pingleton, my dad, and I all ran over to see. While wrangling the rattlesnake for photos, Mike Pingleton peers into a crevice and finds a northern copperhead, completing the slam within minutes. It was a truly wonderful experience! One of the two Mikes will probably post pictures soon. Our numbers varied a little, so here are my totals:
23 - Rough Green Snakes
14 - Western Cottonmouths
4 - Black Rat Snakes
4 - Northern Copperheads
2 - Western Ribbon Snakes
2 - Southern Black Racers
2 - Timber Rattlesnakes
1 - Broad-headed Skink
TMTC - Blanchard's Cricket Frogs
It was great meeting everyone again. It was the best herp trip I have had in months. | 
