Berserkr

I found it on land about five feet from a floridian "lake". It was dead and eaten from the bottom so the outside top half was preserved. I assume it was eaten by turtles or maybe ants from the inside out.

I am used to finding and being able to identify most forms of wildlife however this one really threw me for a loop when I found it at this cache: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...82-a6f204430e48 In florida. I thought it was a prehistoric monster fish that would make me rich by finding it, but alas the locals seemed to know what it was. They called it a placostamas (sp?) the same as the sucker fish you'd have in your fish tank.. Only bigger. Much bigger!

This is one of my caches. The people who have completed it like it but it initially raised some eye brows. WARNING: LINK IS MEMBERS ONLY CACHE. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...4c-172139d5990d Berserkr

Ok, I have started adding waypoints to my GPS and saving the cache pages to a CDrom. I think I'm staying at imperial lakes. What is the weather (temp) like this time of year? I need to figure out what to pack. 6 more days! Thanks! Jeff

AMEN. This is why I carry when I cache. (Not to mention everything else I do.) It always makes me smile to see LEO's agree too!

I always sit quietly and watch these but I think it is time to add that I cache and carry too. (PA CCW) I was wondering, has any of us ever been to Front Sight Training Institute in Las Vegas? I am planning on going some time for the 2-Day Defensive Pistol.

I find this quoted line interesting. Are we being led to think that the police can trace GPS units (Since they can not for the record)? Very sad situation. I hope the cache hider never finds out.

I will be vacationing in Mulberry, FL in a few weeks and I was wondering if anyone had any good advice for must see caches and activites. I am looking forward to Puck Mountain, what else is good? Is anyone local to that area? Thanks Berserkr

Waterboy, Your cache has fallen victim to a yellow-bellied cache thief who has plagued this area for about 3 months now. The thief can be attributed to 20+ disappearances in this area. I have lost 3 of my caches, replaced them and lost them again. The thief is a paying member, because when I replaced them I moved them to new locations and made them MOC's and they still disappeared. I have a whole lot more information. I hate to say it, but many of your caches are in the originally targeted area and I fear the worst. Berserkr

Thank you for a quick response! Berserkr

I keep getting an error when I try to submit my finds. "Post a new log There were errors in your submission." There aren't any errors in my log so I don't know what I am doing wrong. Is this something to do with the "server too busy" errors others are getting? Thanks, Berserkr

I have a ghille cache in place right now also. It really breaks up the silhouette of a container. The container was painted flat black. I took rotton burlap which I have aged for quite some time and shreaded it up in to rough pieces which I laced around the cache with bailing wire. Then since the lid and neck are still exposed I epoxyed a chunk of burlap to the lid that over hangs in all directions but should clear the threads. The burlap was then painted OD green which was not really needed, but what the hey...

Or not enough!

Hey... I know her too! She turned -me- into a newt ... well ....I got better.

Your "lizard" is actually a salamander (Lead-back I think based on picture) which is an amphibian and not actually a lizard (reptile). They are very abundant around my area! red-backs and lead-backs. I also found a red eft at the Arrow Island cache (GCJ7GB), and i see eastern red spotted newts at the vernal pools along the trail going to my West Of Totts Gap Cache (GCHZCB) all the time. Wildlife is fun! Edit: I see your from NC, so it probally is NOT a lead-back. I don't know what species are native to your area... Check out Peterson Field Guide of Reptiles and Amphibians.

That is not completely true either. Some species have hemotoxin such as the Timber Rattler. Some species have a nerotoxin which is far worse than the hemotoxin. Lucky for us in the NE, our species is the Timber Rattler, which hasn't been responsible for a fatality in most states for decades. Berserkr

True, But they (rattlesnakes) thrive in a couple of areas; The Pinelands and The Skylands. The Appalachian Mountain Range is loaded with them. There are certain hot spots in each area which could be considered venomous snake country. (like the DWG to blairstown) Remember that there is a much better reason to fear the Rattlesnakes in Arizona over our local Timber Rattlers. The rattlesnakes that you hear about causing fatalities out their have a neurotoxin which attacks the nervous system. If antivenom is not recivied the bite can be fatal. Our Timber Rattlers have a hemotoxin which attacks the blood cells. The bite is rarely fatal to humans and large mamals. Often times anti-venom will not even be administered if the victims white blood cell count is high. The body often times can fight it off on its own. Of course it is said to be very painful. The anti-venom can have side effects considered worse than the injected toxin as long as the body is strong enough to fight it off. On the down side, people can have an allergic reaction to both the venom and the anti-venom. Much like a bee sting. This is why it important to get help asap. I have been told no one has died in NJ from a snakebite in hundred(s) of years. Also, the vast majority of snakebite victims in this state are bitten on the hand.... Trying to handle snakes which they shouldn't have. Berserkr

Just a quick couple facts: All venomous snakes in the Northeast are Pit Vipers (Rattlesnakes or Copperheads & Cottonmouths further south), and have a shovel shaped head. If you have to ask yourself "Is that a shovel shaped head?" then it isn't. Don't get me wrong that doesn't mean you should handle it. Non-venoumous snakes can be more aggressive. It seems alot of people here arn't familiar identifying venomous snakes, and that isn't very good considering our hobby. Also, I know that Briansnat didn't actually smash that Timber but..... If some one had I would tell them that if you feel you have time to kill a snake and not get bit, then why wouldn't you have time to leave the snake alone and not get bit? Last, remember that the Timber Rattler is endangered in most of our northern states and a canidate species in some others. You people should feel lucky to spot them, Not want to kill them! Thanks. Berserkr (Finally something I can feel righteous about!!)

The deer ticks are out already in full force in Eastern PA. I haven't seen any wood ticks yet though. Looks like the start of a great season.

I'd love to hear more about those 250 acres in ND!! Jeff

I have a fairly new cache on SGL. Guess you guys should hunt it soon in case this isn't a miscommunication. This stinks. I sure hope it is a spoiled april fools joke.

I Have been a lurker for quite a while but have started to post recently. My name is Jeff, and I am in Eastern Pennsylvania. Really starting to become addicted to caching! Berserkr

Thank you, Briansnat that is very helpful!

Probably depends on the cache approver. If I was placing a cache in an area that I thought might be a problem, before asking my approver, I would check what other caches are in the area, and contact the owners. Tell them that you are planning on placing a cache, and ask what they have done for permission. If you come up dry there, ask the approver. my 2cents Ok, that is what I pretty much figured as far as the approvers. There are no other caches in the area, but it is County Public Natural Reserved Land, laden with hiking trails. I'll try calling the county during the week. Thanks Again.

Since everyone is so emotional, Thanks.. I have enough information. Thank you.