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Copperhead/Rattlesnake
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by Invisionary on April 11, 2006
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I am in Tarrant County Texas (Fort Worth). I am native of Michigan and will be here in Texas for 6 more weeks.
It has always been a desire of mine to catch and release a venomous snake.
I have flipped alot of boards and have only found a Prarie Kingsnake as of yet. I am in a area with alot of houses (sub-divisions) although, there are areas with small trees and feilds.
What is the best time of the day around this time of the year to find a Copperhead or Rattlesnake? And what places are best to look? I assume boards are not idea this time of the year being I have flipped hundreds and have only found ants and crickets. (Apart from the one Prarie Kingsnake that I found under a piece of cardboard)
I assume a copperhead in Tarrant County is more realistic to find than a Diamondback Rattlesnake.
If you have any advice for finding one I would apprecitate it. I hope I can find at least one venomous snake before I return to Michigan
Thanks, Jeremy
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RE: Copperhead/Rattlesnake
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by Cro on April 11, 2006
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Jeremy: You might want to visit the Fort Worth Zoo Reptile Department and talk with some of the keepers about areas you could search. It is quite possible that they could direct you to some good areas.
If you have access to a car for road cruising, you should head out to the Fort Worth Prairie, (ask some locals where it is), and start cruising the back roads through the prairie from about an hour before dark until a few hours after dark, if the temperatures stay warm.
There is a good chance you might see an rattlesnake or copperhead out there. If I remember correctly, the prairie area was North of Fort Worth off of 377, near Keller. But it has been many years, so ask people in the area.
Hope this helps. JohnZ
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RE: Copperhead/Rattlesnake
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by Invisionary on April 11, 2006
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Thanks, John.
I will definately look more into this.
Perhaps its a bit to cool in tempratures to find them
under boards?
If I took a picture of the area of woods and how the grass is, would that help in determining if its a good place to look around?
Frawwg, sure I will fill a profile out.
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RE: Copperhead/Rattlesnake
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by Cro on April 12, 2006
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Jeremy: Thanks for filling in your profile. It is a bit early still for flipping tin and boards, but some people are finding snakes that way. It could also be that you are checking in an area that just does not have many snakes. There has to be a food source for them to stay in an area, and some areas where there has been agricultural spraying of crops have had their snake populations sharply reduced.
A lot of the best collecing during the day in Texas can be field collecting in rocky areas. You can walk along dry stream banks and look up under vegitation for rattlesnakes seeking shelter from the sun. You can also shine a flashlight into rock cracks and crevases and sometimes find smaller snakes that way. A coat hanger wire formed into a small hook can often be used to reach into areas like that and hook snakes out. You can flip large flat rocks (be sure to place them back after flipping them) and find snakes.
When searching for areas to field collect, try fringe areas where two or more habitats come together, such as the edge of woods and fields, or streams and grasslands, or rocky outcrops surrounded by fields.
Also, try driving some back roads in the early morning. If snakes were crossing those roads at night, you might see some road kills, if you get there before the Airforce (crows and buzzards). Then go back to the same roads that night to road cruise.
If by chance there is rain mooving in, try to get out before the rain, and after it. That often can cause snakes to be very active.
Hope this helps some.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Copperhead/Rattlesnake
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by Frawgg on April 12, 2006
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John, you took the words right out of my mouth. I've traveled to Ft. Worth a few times (I live in Houston) and am not that familiar with the roads. The best (nocturnal) road cruising I've had for herps in SE Texas always seem to be after a good rain. This time of year the temps aren't quite that warm and I've had some luck road cruising at dusk intercepting snakes as they bask on the asphalt. Here in SE texas, copperheads are ubiquitious. It amazes me to see how many posts there are inquiring about copperheads. I guess I have taken then for granted. Trash piles are always a good bet. Yeah, it takes some exercise & effort to get out and flip debris, but it does the body good. I remember some time ago I was flipping debris for HOURS and was getting discouraged. I perservered and was rewarded with 3 Crotalus atrox under one plywood board! Copperheads may not be as abundant in Ft. Worth as they are here in SE Texas, but they may be locally abundant in some locales. I would seek forested areas with a water source. If frogs are present, chances are copperheads will be near. Good luck, happy herpin', and be safe!
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RE: Copperhead/Rattlesnake
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by Invisionary on April 13, 2006
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Thanks, no doubt I will keep all this in mind.
There are mice everywhere here, so hopefully something pops up under some boards soon.
Thanks again, Jeremy
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RE: Copperhead/Rattlesnake
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by snakebite22 on April 13, 2006
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Just wanted to let you know that last year about this time me and a buddy went about an hour west of where of Fort Worth to Palo Pinto county. We did some back roading on some county and mountain roads right before a storm and caught a few western diamond backs. Also alittle further down the road is Abilene and it's really good for rattlesnakes also and it's full of county roads to cruise. Have fun and good luck.
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