School's out and spring is here! That means it's time to start searching for reptiles that are native to Idaho. These pictures were taken last Sunday on the Idaho Herpetological Society's annual trip to Fossil Butte, Idaho. I work very closely with animals found all over the world...so sometimes I forget about what's in my own backyard. Idaho has an amazing collection of reptiles and amphibians including this Great Basin Rattlesnake pictured above.
Look at this cute little horned lizard also known as the "horny toad." These small lizards can be found in Southern Idaho in a variety of different habitats including parries, grasslands, and deserts.
This is a Mojave Black-collared Lizard. Collards are one of the largest lizards in Idaho reaching lengths of up to 13 inches. Their diet mainly includes insects and other lizards. They also eat flowers and leaves.
This is a Great Basin Rattlesnake, a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake. Unfortunately many people confuse these snakes with the harmless Gopher Snake. If you encounter a rattlesnake out in the wild LEAVE IT ALONE! They are more scared of you than you are of them.
Thanks Nancy for sharing all of your great pictures!