Chapter 8
Seeking Rosy Boas in the Field
This
chapter
discusses
all of the techniques that can be used to find Rosy Boas in the field. If you've ever wanted to see one of the handsome snakes in its natural surroundings you will receive all of the tips and direction on how to accomplish that in this chapter. All of the popular methods such as road cruising, rock turning, spotlighting, and lantern walking are discussed with direction on when and where each method can be successfully employed.
Chapter Preview:
"Field Herping is the art of seeking out reptiles and amphibians in their native habitat. Originally the pastime of a handful of naturalists and museum curators, field herping soon became a source of income for many commercial collectors supplying the pet stores, zoos, and private collectors of America. By the late 80’s and 90’s the herpetoculture industry began to boom and hobbyists were making so much headway in the art of captive husbandry that the wants of the reptile hobbyists across the country were beginning to be satiated through captive produced specimens. The age of the commercial collector, in the United States at least, was coming to an end. A new type of field herping hobbyist was appearing on the scene. These new herpers were less interested in collection and more interested in the sport of catch and release snake hunting, they were a new breed of naturalist.
My first foray into this new era of herping began in my sophomore year of high school when I sought out my very first Rosy Boas in the field. At that time I had little idea where to look for Rosys or exactly how to look for them. All I knew was what I had read in books; that many places in the desert they could be found by driving roads at night. I received a crash course in field herping that year when I met friend and herping partner Seth Rigamat. Seth attended my high school in La Crescenta California and had been on several herping trips to Arizona, Texas and the local favorite, Whitewater Canyon. After mentioning my enthusiasm for snakes of all kinds, Seth arranged for me to accompany him and another friend to Whitewater Canyon for one of my very first attempts at locating the Rosy Boa in the field." Image Preview:image x. Examples of just a few of the images that will be used in the book. Photos Courtesy of William Wells, Kent Vansooy, Bill Townsend, Ryan Shatto, Ben German, Tony Lanzi, Kevin Law, Terry Basey, Jeff Teel, Gary Nafis, Ross Padilla and Jeremiah Easter
( To read the complete chapter please purchase a copy of Rosy Boas) |
|
