Saturday, January 9, 2010

Camera Critter #92

During the summer months I can generally be found walking around the High Desert, camera in hand, looking for anything and everything to photograph.

For years, I have wanted to image one High Desert critter, but it has always escaped me. It's not that I haven't seen any...I've seen three. But each time, they never stayed in front of me long enough for me to get a shot of them.

Well, those Houdini critters are rattlesnakes. There are two species located in my area -- the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake and Great Basin Rattlesnake.

My brother and his family live in Texas and at one time, had a house in the hill country of San Antonio. There, they came across rattlers on a regular basis. But that did little to eliminate my nephew's fear of snakes. While he and one of his sons were visiting me last August, we went to nearby Cline Falls State Park to check things out.

As my brother and I wandered around tree area looking for bird we could hear, my nephew let out a shriek and loudly announced, "Snake!"

My brother and I immediately ran to him and asked where the snake was. He pointed down in some weeds near the river and I saw movement. Happy I had camera in hand and in front of the critter, I squatted down to get a better look. I snapped off a few images before the snake disappeared in the brush. When I joined my family, I told them it was nothing more than a Wandering Garter Snake. It was the first I had seen in Oregon, and the first snake other than a rattler I crossed paths with, so the sighting wasn't a total loss.

Wandering Garter Snake

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

16 comments:

said...

Super snap!

Michele said...

Oh terrific!! I am sure u were happy to get this shot... cause I am glad u did. Very nice indeed!

MJ

Jane said...

Great capture Ash wondefully framed too. Thanks for sharing:)

i beati said...

yikes come to my yard and take them away

EJ said...

Nice! ssssss.

My camera Critters Post

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Nice shot! But I am with your nephew, I have a large overblown fear of snakes. We have garter snakes in our yard, but I have managed to make peace with them, I stay totally out of their way.

EG CameraGirl said...

Even though most snakes are harmless, something in our subconscious tells us otherwise. I try hard NOT to jump when I see one...amd I am getting better.

Your shot didn't make me jump though. ;-) Good one!

Green at Heart said...

Great snake! Thanks for sharing :)

Misty DawnS said...

As you know, I like snakes too. But, as you also know, I prefer the ones that can kill me or make me sick to stay away from me (and my pond hehe).

eileeninmd said...

Nice capture of the garter snake.

rinelle said...

Nice Catch! Mine is up!

Michael said...

As long as they don't bother my mice I am ok with snakes. Nice pic.

ellen said...

Nice post! :D

Martha said...

Great shot. I see snakes for less often her in PA than in FL. I do have fond memories of the one ribbon snake we saw, it had beautiful markings!

My CC

Rechie said...

ohhh so awesome capture...i would not dare capture live snake..but I got a dead snake

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