Venomdoc Forums

[Atrox]

I went back down to the Road to meet up with the friends I've come to enjoy so much. As usual we had great conversations, shared meals, herped, laughed, and lived in the woods: for at least a couple of days...

A few lifers were managed by me which is a trend I'm really enjoying. There are myriad wonders to discover in the Shawnee Forest. Most notably was a Bobcat that was spotted and I didn't know what to think of it. I was like "hey Marty, that cat doesn't have a tail, isn't that weird looking..." He's like "wow, *@%^W%^ that's a Bobcat"! It was a great way to start a trip, to say the least. Sadly I didn't have a camera handy, but it was a really neat experience for us.

So here are a few of the usual suspects that have the fortune to live in my favorite place on Earth, the Shawnee Forest. These aren't in chronological order, as I was using three different cameras so the pics are all jumbled on my machine.

Northern Fence Lizard


My ugly mug


I love these, but we've renamed them from Northern Slimy Salamanders to the "Sticky Salamander".


I can't get enough of these snot lizards. Each one is a little different and they're all awesome.




Since we're on snot lizards I'll keep the trend going.

Spotted Salamander




I've seen this snake a few times, and I think Jeff Lemm knows it too...
"Shawnee King"


This snake wouldn't stop doing this, it was frustrating but I don't have any shots of its venter.


My girlfriend made her first ever find with this Cinnamon colored Redbelly.
Redbelly


Pingleton scared up this Rough Green Snake.

Rough Green Snake


A snake I had not seen for a few years.

Diamondback Water Snake


If you're in Southern Illinois you're likely going to see Cottonmouths. The juveniles are really pretty snakes.

Cottonmouth


These are cool frogs, that get over looked too often.

Cricket Frog


This Otter family was a huge surprise to the group and caused our four footed herper Quinn all kinds of anxiety. I was shooting a salamander and had to quit, and run to see the Otter, so my pics all suck. I was using a 100mm literally on the run.

Otter


Now for the crew, which is so much a part of what makes a good trip.

From the left: Marissa, Marty, Mike P., Curtis, Michael C.


Pingleton is such a treehugger, no seriously he hugs trees.


Quinn is probably the coolest dog I've ever met.


Herpers herping


Sometimes you just have to take a break.


Curtis is wrangling a snot lizard.


Marissa got her hands on a dipnet and didn't look back.


Me at the Road.


Some scenery shots







Hey thanks for looking, I hope you enjoyed it.


Justin
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In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. -Galileo Galilei
herperhaven

[Demansia]

Very cool pics Atrox,
Love the term "snot lizard"

[PitV]

Cool Pics! Thanks for sharing them with us.



Markus

[Xenior1976]

Awesome pics from awesome animals! Thanks for sharing!

Cheers, Ro.
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