Big Herp

I made a random decision to head out to Phoenix for the weekend to get out with one of my favorite people to hike with. Joe Ward isn't a herper per se, but he's down for the cause and always in nature. And he got last part in my skate video I made years ago. I was actually expecting to knock it dead during our night hikes and fill in the gaps with some day hikes in the mountains. Instead we got skunked for the most part hiking washes at night, but we scored during the day. A couple of Banded Rock Rattlesnakes (Crotalus lepidus klauberi), a Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus Molossus), and my first Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus Cerberus). Pretty awesome weekend. Editing this was a great reminder and I'm ready to get out as again as soon as possible. Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Post Image: Myself Joe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instabroseph/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

When I asked my Mom what she wanted to do for Mother's Day, she said, "Let's go on a hike!" And she meant she wanted to go look for snakes with me. We tried a Mojave Rattlesnake den to start the day and got nothing. I was expecting to get it. So we decided to drive pretty far from where we were to go road cruise a super popular California road. While on the way, I told her I was hoping we'd see a rosy boa and we got one on the first pass. And from there it was rolling. We didn't last long, but she told me she didn't want to see any rattlesnakes, and we didn't. She held the rosy boa, a long-nosed snake, and glossy snake. We also saw some frogs and toads, and a banded gecko. We ran into another Mom and son combo, and were surprised to run into the homie Zach and my partner in crime Preston Poole. And we were out by 9:30pm! Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Post Image: Myself Preston's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orcuttiputty/ Zach's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingsnakeandthelizardwizard/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

Our fantasy basketball season had just ended. I was in the finals and in the last 3 minutes of the last game, my opponent tied us up. If you care, our league is H2H, 9-cat and he tied us up at 4-4. And I lost the tie-breaker, totally not fun way to lose. So on this day we had our trophy ceremony where we handed off the trophy to our new champion, 2 Live Luke. After lunch with crew and with my tail between my legs, I ran up into the mountains to meet up with Preston where we (mostly he) found 7 specks and 2 rubers in a couple of hours. It was just what the doctor ordered. We didn't pull the snakes out to get awesome video or anything. So most of this is just glimpses at pretty snakes. But it was a fun day none-the-less. Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Post Image: Myself Preston's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orcuttiputty/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

Preston and I had been talking on hitting this range together for a while and we finally got after it. I've had a good amount of both good and bad luck here, but this trip was super fun. Any time you get your target, it's a good time! We got a couple specks (Crotalus pyrrhus) both white, but one with a slightly cooler hue and the other slightly warmer. The warmer one was basically invisible! In-Video Photos: Preston Poole Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Preston's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orcuttiputty/ Aaron's Instagram: Doesn't exist. My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

Went to Phoenix because my wife, Monica Torres, was skating in the Phoenix AM skateboard contest. Jason Rothermeyer also goes to this every year, so although our priority is the contest, we try to get out and see what we can find as much as possible. On the practice day, we joined up with RJ Yeager and came across a Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) as well as my lifer Blackheaded Snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi). Jason, Monica, and I got skunked on Gilas (and anything else) on the way to Phoenix, so after the contest the next day, I took her to find the lizard again and we found another! Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Jason's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rothdigga/ RJ's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flipflop_he... Monica's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicatorrs/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

Although every time you go out, you run the risk of getting skunked. If you don't try, you 100% will get skunked. We put in work this weekend, hiking 20+ miles, but we found what we were looking for. Got some gorgeous Speckled Rattlesnakes (Crotalus pyrrhus) a few Sidewinders (Crotalus cerastes), two Glossy Snakes (Arizona elegans) and a surprise Resplendant Desert Shovel-Nosed Snake (Chionactis annulata). Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Chris' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissid24/ Nate's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/specksnleps/ My Socials YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bigherp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

Although it's been a wet and cold winter down here in Southern California, we're obligated to test our luck and stretch our legs when weather permits. And we had some luck! My first snake of the year was an orange creamsicle Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus) and we followed that up with a pair of Coastal Rosy Boas (Lichanura orcutti) that Travis and I found at the same time. And then Chris went and got a Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) while we were admiring the rosys. Wild few minutes. And we rounded out the month with a surprise Shovelnosed Snake (Sonora occipitalis). Fun times and hopefully we're just flirting with what's to come! Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Preston's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orcuttiputty/ Jason's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rothdigga/ Chris' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissid24/ Travis' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisrazz/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

While visiting the wifey's family in São Paulo, Brazil I took as many opportunities as I could to get out into the Atlantic Rainforest. I linked up with Herping Brazil http://herpingbrazil.com/ for a 24 hour rocket run where we saw tons of frogs, some pretty beautiful ones. Things weren't moving pretty much the whole two weeks I was in São Paulo due to lack of ran and who knows what else, but my guide Eduardo and I put in work and had a great time. Later I went out near Monica's aunt's house and found my first tropical viper, the classic Atlantic Forest inhabitant, Jararaca (Bothrops jararaca). Again, it had been pretty dry the two weeks we were there, so I had to put in work. This will probably be an annual trip, and I couldn't be happier to continue to explore this region. I have a lot to check off, including the Painted Coralsnake (Micrurus corallinus) and the Neotropical Rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus), both of which I found DOR. Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Eduardo's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superherpeto/ Monica's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicatorrs/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFqEwlmN27gWRlCB7QQUqTA

With a few targets in mind, we set out for New Mexico. This was my first time hitting anything other than the western portion of New Mexico. We struck out on Trans-Peco Ratsnakes (Bogertophis subocularis) but we found a few Eastern Black-Tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ornatus) which are awesome snakes and our ultimate goal, Banded Rock Rattlesnakes (Crotalus lepidus klauberi). The last snake of the trip might be the most beautiful snake I've ever seen in the wild. I'm writing this mid-winter, can't wait for things to warm up! Oh and road-cruising a Desert Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola) was a huge bonus for me! In-Video Photos are all Jason Rothmeyer's, Post Image photo is my own. Intro and Motion Graphics by Justin Meyer: https://www.instagram.com/justinmeyer__/ Logo by Mike Hakker: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhakker/ Jason's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rothdigga/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFqEwlmN27gWRlCB7QQUqTA

A montage of some of the snakes we found on our annual trip to Snake Road, not all the snakes are at Snake Road. Fun trip with good people! I didn't shoot this really with making a video in mind, so it's not ideal. But fun to put together anyway. Handling anything at Snake Road is not permitted, the grey rat snake was located in a different part of the state. Jason's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rothdigga/ Brian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briantreitler/ Josh's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuarayburn/ My Socials YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFqEwlmN27gWRlCB7QQUqTA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_

We went out with the goal of getting a Coast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) and Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus) in the same evening. This quick in-n-out trip down to San Diego County for the night got us five species including a California Striped Racer (Coluber lateralis lateralis) that sprinted off too fast for me to get more than my eyes on. We also San Diego Ring-Necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus similis), Colorado Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens), and both of our targets! In-Video Photos are all Preston Poole's, Post Image photos are my own. Preston's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orcuttiputty/ My Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lancehakker/ Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ashburyeyew... Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigHerp_