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In Search of Texas’ Reptilian Riches and Abundant Amphibians

March 28, 2023 | By Asher Elbein

Slither Into the Outback Oasis Motel for a Lesson in the Snakes of West Texas

August 29, 2019 | By Asher Elbein

The hills outside of Sanderson teem with snakes: long-nosed snakes with rusty stripes; rock rattlers and diamondbacks; tiny, cat-eyed nightsnakes; and coachwhips like swift red racers. Walk the right roadside bluff at the right time, and you might see the most sought-after prize of all: the gray-banded kingsnake. The West Texas town is a treasure trove of desert reptiles, and the Outback Oasis Motel holds many of its finest jewels.

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