Do your part to voice your opposition to the Python ban. Please take the time to defend your rights! There is no scientific basis for the legislation. Large constricting snakes have caused fewer human injuries than other companion animals such as dogs. Their true potential for habitat invasion is restricted to extreme southern Florida where they have already established themselves. This law will do nothing more than destroy the hobbies and businesses of thousands of people nationwide.

Stop the Python Ban, Click Here!

I went out on a local hike today with my best bud. I am still trying to find reptiles emerging from winter dormancy. Reptiles can often be found basking, foraging, and mating this time of year here in the Phoenix area. I also hoped to photograph a Great Horned Owl that we saw the last time we hiked this trail. As we approached the rock pile where we had found the Owl last week, we saw her again! I carefully approached to try and take a photograph. I only have a 100mm lens so unfortunately I have to get closer to the bird than I would like in order to get a good picture. Unfortunately, I “spooked” the owl while I was still a good distance away and it flew into a distant tree. We decided to carefully approach the nest to see if the owl was incubating eggs. To my surprise, this is what I saw:

After we took our photos, we left them be. We decended into a nearby was and hiked it for a while. The wash had steep rocky walls on either side. We walked along the rocky and at times sandy wash without finding any further wildlife other than a few whiptail lizards. I was running short on time and had to hurry back to my truck to head home. I cut through some rocky areas as a “short cut” that may also yeild the discovery of a basking snake or possibly a desert tortoise. I looked at the time and had to speed up my pace since time had already run out. While rapidly walking, I noticed at my feet a small Desert Patchnose Snake sunning itself in the late afternoon sun:

The snake lay motionless. Occasionally it would flicker its tongue. Since the snake seemed cooperative, I got on the ground and crawled closer to get a better photo of its head and its “patch nose”:

After photographing this spectacular animal, I quickly rushed back to my vehicle and sped home, arriving back home almost exactly on time (depending on whom you ask!).