Yeah, not many things to be seen in northern Pa in July. Add on the fact that it was the driest June in 20 years making it
slim pickins for the most part. But, I did scare a few critters up. Had the family with me so had to be sensitive to time spent.
A few years ago, I had a nice new spot where I could find greens, redbellies, ringnecks, etc. Then the gas drilling companies moved in.
A pipeline was also installed on top of where we flipped everything... that was two years ago. I was po'd.
Gas companies are drilling everywhere, swarming in like locusts, then leaving when things run dry.
Here is the same pad now.
and what has replaced our flipping site.
However, like all of us, power line cuts and gas right-of-ways can turn into some great habitat.
While we are temporarily "put off", the pipe line installation has unearthed a lot of cover rocks.
My daughter Kacie at the spot where she flipped her first smooth Green Snake two years ago.
We flipped a lot of rocks and Kacie did find a single Northern Redbellied Snake... We figure in a year or two, we should flip
plenty more, and hopefully some green snakes.
On our way back, we stopped a few other sites for some quick flippage...
Kacie flipped a green snake at the first rock...
Also flipped a few Northern Redbellied snakes... (15)
Just about all the females were bulging.
This one had a cool blue-ish racing stripe.
The next day, we continued on our trek to visit several state parks and do some geocaching. Herping of course is a given.
While stopped on a rural road, I was looking for rocks to flip for more fossorials when my wife and son yelled "snake" simultaneously.
Out of her window, my wife spotted this beauty.
Kris wanted credit for the find so I had the girls pose.
Looking for geocache's can lead you to some cool spots...
Kris - eagle eyes- spotted these little peepers.
Also saw this odd specimen... not a peeper.
My son Konnor makin me proud.
He was proud of himself anyway...
He also scooped up a couple metamorphosing bullfrogs...
Behemoths...
It was a nice few days... here is some parting shots.
"No Hellbenders here dad..."
