Geary, I hadn't thought about it but you are right. The area around the spring does seem like good habitat for cottonmouths even if the water is rather cold. I can't claim to be a herpetologist but have always been interested in snakes and the reptilian world. I have caught (and released) a couple of large water snakes while swimming in The Frio on the river road near Concan with my daughters. One was about five feet in length and I believe that it was a diamondback water snake. Property that I owned near Columbus, Tx. had numerous Texas Rat Snakes, some of which were five feet or more. There were also abundant Southern Copperheads of lesser length. A year or more ago at her Austin home, daughter Jenny took careful note of a Tx. rat snake climbing along her cyclone fence. Later measurement showed it to have been seven feet long and as big around as your arm (mine). I wish that I had been there to attempt to catch it as it may have been a record. I would have given it to Andy for further study. Fritz
________________________________ From: Geary Schindel [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 11:24 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 Well, caps can also be used to emphases a point and I think Fritz was saying is that you need to careful about snakes in the area. Now, Bob C. and Kurt M. have also warned folks that there are cottonmouths around Honey Creek. So a couple of years ago, I was walking around down there changing out some samplers and saw two cottonmouths. Now, as an amateur snake guy, I realize that many folks think that any snake near the water is a cottonmouth but Bob and Kurt know snakes and I think I'm pretty good with them also. So, not only did I think they were cottonmouths, I took a picture of one of them and it keyed out in the snakes of texas book and yes, it was a cottonmouth. Didn't see any diamondbacks but I'm sure they're around. So, be careful in the high grass and don't put your hands anywhere you can't inspect first and don't walk around after dark without a light. Remember that most snakebites involve the three T - tequila, testosterone, and tattoos. Two out of three is probably close enough to warrant a bite from a snake. Geary From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 10:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 Why are you screaming? Joe On May 1, 2009 10:30am, Fritz Holt <[email protected]> wrote: > > KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR WESTERN DIAMONDBACKS IN THIS AREA. ABOUT > THREE YEARS AGO AT TCR I SAW A THREE FOOTER CROSS THE STRAIGHT DIRT ROAD A > LITTLE BEFORE IT SLOPED OFF TOWARD THE SPRING. OF COURSE, THEY CAN BE ANYWHERE > IN CENTRAL TEXAS. > > FRITZ > > > > > From: Kurt L. Menking [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:54 AM > To: > [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Honeycreek trip May > 8-10 > > > > > > > > For those who haven't > heard there is a Honeycreek work weekend scheduled for the weekend of May > 8-10. We will be camping at the spring beginning Friday > evening. > > > > The focus for the > weekend will be taking down the cables, and some old fencing near the spring > entrance. The owner also would like us to pile up the debris collected > along the fences so it can be burned when the burn ban is lifted. If we > are able to burn, we'll have one heck of a bon-fire. If there are extra > people available I'm sure there are other areas that need brush cutting. > I'd say bring gloves, chain saws (if you have one), and loppers. Some > extra tow chain would be nice as well since we'll be using multiple tractors > to > move the cables, and large tree trunks that are against the > cables. > > > > Since this is > primarily a work weekend, I'd say all are welcome (even novices). Most of > Saturday will be reserved for the work projects, but we'll shut down by 4pm or > earlier, and those who want to go in the cave with appropriate team leaders > will > be turned loose. There have been several requests for through trips, QA > trips, etc. But don't show up late Saturday afternoon so you miss all the > work, and expect to go caving. > > > > Saturday evening, and > Sunday morning will also be available for trip leader training for ICS team > leaders. Bill and I, and possibly others will be leading several groups > Saturday evening and probably Sunday morning to different areas from the shaft > entrance, since all ICS trips will use only the shaft > entrance. > > > > We need about 25-30 > cavers to help lead trips to HC during the ICS convention. ICS trips to HC > are scheduled for July 19,22,23,25. This is your chance to meet new > cavers, make new friends, and share one of Texas' best and its longest cave > with > others from all over the nation and world. Contact Bill Steele or Myself > if you want to help lead ICS trips to Honeycreek. > > > > Kurt > >
