Comments on: Snake in Cactus (with Photos) http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:33:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: reptilist http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-979 reptilist Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:43:35 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-979 Hi Maria, yes, as John said, that is a Western Coachwhip(Masticophis flagellum). They come in a variety of colors; red, green, black and combinations thereof. They are typically unpleasant to catch and handle because they bite repeatedly, thrash about and smear foul smelling musk. The very first snake I caught was a coachwhip...or did it catch me? They are fun to watch and photograph however! They are opportunistic feeders, preying on whatever they can catch; birds, lizards, rodents, snakes...even the occasional rattlesnake! Hi Maria, yes, as John said, that is a Western Coachwhip(Masticophis flagellum). They come in a variety of colors; red, green, black and combinations thereof. They are typically unpleasant to catch and handle because they bite repeatedly, thrash about and smear foul smelling musk. The very first snake I caught was a coachwhip…or did it catch me? They are fun to watch and photograph however!

They are opportunistic feeders, preying on whatever they can catch; birds, lizards, rodents, snakes…even the occasional rattlesnake!

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-978 Maria Langer Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:25:54 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-978 Thanks for the info, John. Glad I didn't get too close. And I don't think he lives in the nest because I saw a bird checking it out early this morning. That means he's probably down in my front yard somewhere. Thanks for the info, John. Glad I didn’t get too close.

And I don’t think he lives in the nest because I saw a bird checking it out early this morning. That means he’s probably down in my front yard somewhere.

]]> By: John http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-977 John Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:52:00 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-977 Hi Maria, The snake is a coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum). Those who pick them up refer to them as "nastycophis" as they readily bite, and have a very high rate of bites per second. Non-venomous eaters of lizards, baby birds, and small rodents Hi Maria,

The snake is a coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum). Those who pick them up refer to them as “nastycophis” as they readily bite, and have a very high rate of bites per second. Non-venomous eaters of lizards, baby birds, and small rodents

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-976 Maria Langer Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:28:31 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-976 Thanks for the tip, Dan. I e-mailed him. Let's see if he can ID it. Thanks for the tip, Dan. I e-mailed him. Let’s see if he can ID it.

]]> By: Dan http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-975 Dan Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:18:56 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-975 Maria, This guy lives in eastern AZ. He could probably ID the snake for you if your interested. http://reptilist.com/ Maria,

This guy lives in eastern AZ. He could probably ID the snake for you if your interested.

http://reptilist.com/

]]> By: Darlene http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-974 Darlene Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:02:00 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-974 MARIA: YOU HAVE OUTDONE YOURSELF....AWESOME !!!! MARIA: YOU HAVE OUTDONE YOURSELF….AWESOME !!!!

]]> By: Grammar Girl http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-973 Grammar Girl Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:37:52 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2007/06/21/snake-in-cactus-with-photos/#comment-973 Amazing! Amazing!

]]>