March 3-5, 2019
My favorite from the trip, a Variable Sandsnake at Papago Well.
I found the snake under a well rotted log, caught it by hand and took it
back to the truck where I photographed it on black fabric, then
released it at the site of capture. Lifer Herp! Less than a foot in length.
Another lifer, a Desert Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys deserti). Very similar to the Banner-tailed
Kangaroo Rat but much paler and a little smaller.
Desert Kangaroo Rat at its burrow. They build a large complex of burrows in sand.
Desert Kangaroo Rat
Desert Kangaroo Rat making its escape, kicking up sand.
A Chuckwalla in the volcanic rocks. This may be the earliest I've seen
this species out. Several others were seen.
A Goode's Horned Lizard, very cryptic.
A Mojave Rattlesnake, only the 2nd one I've ever seen and this time much better photos.
I now have snake tongs for handling dangerous/large snakes so I can get them
where I want them. I didn't want to mess around with the black fabric with this snake
though, one of the most venomous of the rattlesnakes. It was probably about 3 ft. length.
Mojave Rattlesnake
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