Reptiles a Creepin'

I'm finally starting to see reptiles on a somewhat regular basis. On my way home from Oregon I spent about 10 minutes chasing a large (about 4') gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer) out of the middle of highway 205, not a very busy highway, but I didn't want it hanging out in the middle of the road anyway. I found a long stick with a crook at the end that I was able to hook around it's body and carry it about 20 feet off the road. There were some downed junipers so I set it close to one and it decided hiding under the juniper was better than dealing with me.

A couple of mornings ago I went for a run along Leonard Creek and saw a very pretty long-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii). Leopard lizards are beautiful, they have nice big spots on them which make them look like they're wearing a spotted suite. Also, while running that day I almost stepped on a little (about 1') rubber boa (Charina bottae). It had a nice gray back with a yellowish belly, soooooooo cute. I'm very glad I didn't step on it. When I got back from the run there was a three foot gopher snake hanging out on the goat trail. I ran and got my camera.

Gopher snake

Gopher snake

Long-nosed leopard lizard: picture from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Long-nosed_leopard_lizard.jpg

Rubber Boa: picture from http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/wildlife/species/reptiles-amphibians/snakes.shtml

and I just have to add this picture of the cutest goat in the world