central WI Herping Bonanza

[dane_zu]

Sorry, no amphibians, but I thought I would share the pictures I took of these reptiles me, and 2 other Wisconsin herpers found.

These were all lifers for me, and rarer Wisconsin herps for that matter(except the Garter snakes and leopard Frog)

first we found an Ornate Box Turtle, an endangered species of WI

We found 2 more later in the day, but my camera decided to take a dump on me.

Next was a Prairie Racerunner, not to common in WI

stunning colors on these little lizards

We found one more, but as I said before, camera took a dump.

Soon after that, we came upon this fella.

a Blue racer, Protected in WI

we found 2 more under some tin before we left, but my camera....

We also stopped at a place for Northern Water snakes, it's a common snake, but they are the first ones I've seen in the wild, we found around 5, but my camera wasn't working when we found them.

Thanks for looking!

 

[John]

Very nice, Dane. How did you catch the racerunner? I can never catch small lizards.

 

[dane_zu]

He was under tin, and it was still early in the morning, so he hadn't quite warmed up yet, but he was still a fast one. He took off when we lifted the tin and then we herded him back to the tin and lifted it back up and snatched him quick.

 

[onetwentysix]

Very cool, Dane! If you were at the place I'm thinking of (public property near a city with 8 letters), it's one of my favorite places in Wisconsin to herp, though I'd only been there 3 times. Great pictures, especially the box turtle! I've found them down here, but it's just not the same as Wisconsin; Ornates are one of the species I'd really wanted to find but never got lucky enough to do so.

Very attractive reptiles all around though!

 

[John]

If I'm ever in Wisconsin you'll have to take me herping .

 

[dane_zu]

Oh yeah, WI has some awesome diversity herp wise.