Hi guys, I am currently visiting family in the San Diego and Las Vegas area and was hoping to get some tips on herping down here in the deserts. I am originally from near Chicago so I am pretty excited at having a ton more possible reptiles to observe!!
So far I haven't seen too much variety. I see tons of little side blotched lizards, whiptails, and fence lizards but not too much else. Driving through the Mojava national preserve one night I saw a couple of sidewinders crossing the road just after sunset and those are the only snakes I have seen in close to a month here. I did see one dead gopher snake in Red Rock park near Vegas.
As for lizards, I have seen one banded gecko crossing the road at night in the mojava preserve, one desert night lizard flipping logs near red rock during the day, and one chuckwalla up on the side of a pretty steep cliff near Nelson's landing in southern Nevada. I believe I may have seen a few Desert Iguanas as well but they were so fast and would take off before I could even get within like 30 feet of them so it was hard to get a good look.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to better find stuff? It seems like everything around here is fenced off except for state parks/forest preserves so that's where I have mostly been going. Would I have more luck going right at sunrise? Is mid day no good? Back home everything I found was always near ponds or some kind of water, should I look for that here as well? I would like to find more snakes but anything is good. I used to have a California Kingsnake as a pet as a kid so that would be cool to see.
Any tips or advice at all would be appreciated. Thank you!!
New to the area, looking for some tips
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
I will also be driving to the Sacramento area this week, so any good places to stop between Sacramento and Las Vegas would be appreciated!!
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
if youre in san diego just head east and find a quiet road. theres all sorts of good stuff out that way.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Same thing for the upper desert. Find a quiet road. People on this site are reluctant to give out specific places until your known better. Keep posting and let everyone get to know you better. Also let us know what you find...John/Ricrabt IBMmattg wrote:if youre in san diego just head east and find a quiet road. theres all sorts of good stuff out that way.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Ok makes sense. When I get a chance I will upload some photos/videos of the stuff I have seen so far.
As far as time of day goes, is dawn gonna be the best chance? I'm not usually a morning person but am willing to do it if it increases my odds a lot. I've had a bit of luck at sunset but it's harder to get good pictures in their natural environment when it's dark.
As far as time of day goes, is dawn gonna be the best chance? I'm not usually a morning person but am willing to do it if it increases my odds a lot. I've had a bit of luck at sunset but it's harder to get good pictures in their natural environment when it's dark.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
For the desert night driving is your best bet. Temps are really climbing so early evening may be to hot. Watch the temps and adjust accordingly. As far as the coastal areas, things have been really bad in my area (north west la county). Drought has had a negative impact. One last thing you'll never find it if you don't look.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Ok guys, here is everything I've found so far. Mostly just checking out decent areas in my spare time. I will be taking my first herping trip next week, going down to Arizona and possibly into Southern California.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263@ ... ed-public/
One of two sidewinders I found driving through the mojave desert one night.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Seen lot's of these guys. The only one I put the effort in to get my hands on.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
The only Chuckwalla I have seen. He was up on the side of this steep rocky mountain, by the time I went around and got up there, he had climbed down to where I was before!! Didn't have my camera with me so only got a crappy picture with my phone. Can you spot him?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Found this little banded gecko near Baker in Southern Cal.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Found this toad up near Sacramento trying to cross the road.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Luckily I stopped to help him accross because he did not move at all when my car approached. Would have been road kill for someone else.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Easily my best find yet. Found this guy at a rest stop near Lake Tahoe driving from Reno to Sacramento. He was down near a pond hanging out in some tree roots. Barely moved at all when I picked him up.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ted-public
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
He finally started moving around a bit when I put him back at the base of the tree I found him at.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Final find was this baby garter snake crossing a road one night in Oroville CA.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
I was driving down the highway through some prairies not even looking for anything. Luckily I saw him just in time to swerve and help him across safely.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263@ ... ed-public/
One of two sidewinders I found driving through the mojave desert one night.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Seen lot's of these guys. The only one I put the effort in to get my hands on.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
The only Chuckwalla I have seen. He was up on the side of this steep rocky mountain, by the time I went around and got up there, he had climbed down to where I was before!! Didn't have my camera with me so only got a crappy picture with my phone. Can you spot him?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Found this little banded gecko near Baker in Southern Cal.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Found this toad up near Sacramento trying to cross the road.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Luckily I stopped to help him accross because he did not move at all when my car approached. Would have been road kill for someone else.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Easily my best find yet. Found this guy at a rest stop near Lake Tahoe driving from Reno to Sacramento. He was down near a pond hanging out in some tree roots. Barely moved at all when I picked him up.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ted-public
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
He finally started moving around a bit when I put him back at the base of the tree I found him at.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
Final find was this baby garter snake crossing a road one night in Oroville CA.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/132801263 ... ed-public/
I was driving down the highway through some prairies not even looking for anything. Luckily I saw him just in time to swerve and help him across safely.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
When I tried to use the Img thingy it didn't work. Anyone know why?
- shredsteban
- Posts: 199
- Joined: April 7th, 2012, 8:53 pm
- Location: Riverside, Ca
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
First off, good job! I hope the advice people gave was enough to land you in some decent habitat. Congrats on all of the finds. That rubber boa is awesome. I've only seen the Northern Rubber Boas in Oregon but I was lucky enough to see my lifer Southern Rubber Boa earlier this year.Deng09 wrote:When I tried to use the Img thingy it didn't work. Anyone know why?
As far as posting from flickr to the forum is concerned, you have to post the BBC code. When you click the arrow to share your photo, you have to choose BBC code and then you can choose what size you would like to export the photo in. Then copy and paste the code into your post and boom. Your photos will appear instead of links to your photos.
Click the arrow on the bottom right. (Specifically, the arrow that is pointing right, also.)Screen Shot 2015-07-06 at 10.44.49 PM by Nick Barrientos, on Flickr
Choose a size in the field that gives you the option of sizing. Once your size is chosen, copy the code in the field below and paste into your post.
Screen Shot 2015-07-06 at 10.45.04 PM by Nick Barrientos, on Flickr
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Good job so far. Keep it up.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
A few new findings guys!!!
Made another trip to the mojave desert and found the following:
20150707_000943 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
California Kingsnake
20150706_233954 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Shovel nose snake
20150706_223635 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Scorpion!!
20150706_200656 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Very colorful...Spiny lizard? Not sure exactly what this one is.
After that I went down into southern Arizona and made a few more discoveries:
20150710_105549 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Patch-nosed Snake was hiding under a tipped over road sign
20150710_085422 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
One of two Texas Horned toads I found crossing the road.
20150709_105210 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Zebra tail lizard. The only one I was able to catch had a replacement tail with no zebra coloring. Oh well.
20150709_122338 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Lesser Earless Lizard I believe. Found him digging himself a little hole.
20150709_173950 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Rattlesnake!! He had the white and black banded tail so I'm guessing western diamondback even though he had a very grey coloring.
20150710_230159 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Black tail rattlesnake was just about dead unfortunately.
Made another trip to the mojave desert and found the following:
20150707_000943 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
California Kingsnake
20150706_233954 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Shovel nose snake
20150706_223635 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Scorpion!!
20150706_200656 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Very colorful...Spiny lizard? Not sure exactly what this one is.
After that I went down into southern Arizona and made a few more discoveries:
20150710_105549 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Patch-nosed Snake was hiding under a tipped over road sign
20150710_085422 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
One of two Texas Horned toads I found crossing the road.
20150709_105210 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Zebra tail lizard. The only one I was able to catch had a replacement tail with no zebra coloring. Oh well.
20150709_122338 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Lesser Earless Lizard I believe. Found him digging himself a little hole.
20150709_173950 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Rattlesnake!! He had the white and black banded tail so I'm guessing western diamondback even though he had a very grey coloring.
20150710_230159 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Black tail rattlesnake was just about dead unfortunately.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
I need to ask what do you guys do if you find a snake on the road who has been hit by a car but it not dead yet? I found two rattlesnakes who were stil alive but just barely and probably an hour or so away from death. DO you just move them off and let them slowly die? Do you put them out of their misery? I wasn't sure what to do so I just moved them off the road and left them there.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Put them out of their misery. ..
- MarcLinsalata
- Posts: 562
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:50 pm
- Location: Los Angeles / New Jersey
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Thick handkerchief pressing their head down and razorblade to the back of their neckDeng09 wrote:I need to ask what do you guys do if you find a snake on the road who has been hit by a car but it not dead yet? I found two rattlesnakes who were stil alive but just barely and probably an hour or so away from death. DO you just move them off and let them slowly die? Do you put them out of their misery? I wasn't sure what to do so I just moved them off the road and left them there.
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
I'll bet your looling forward to that new show "the bastard executioner"....MarcLinsalata wrote:Thick handkerchief pressing their head down and razorblade to the back of their neckDeng09 wrote:I need to ask what do you guys do if you find a snake on the road who has been hit by a car but it not dead yet? I found two rattlesnakes who were stil alive but just barely and probably an hour or so away from death. DO you just move them off and let them slowly die? Do you put them out of their misery? I wasn't sure what to do so I just moved them off the road and left them there.
I run over their head...
- MarcLinsalata
- Posts: 562
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:50 pm
- Location: Los Angeles / New Jersey
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
I always feel like running them over that I'll somehow not kill them or they'll squirm out of the way and they'll still be alive because I missed their head !!!ricrabt wrote:I'll bet your looling forward to that new show "the bastard executioner"....MarcLinsalata wrote:Thick handkerchief pressing their head down and razorblade to the back of their neckDeng09 wrote:I need to ask what do you guys do if you find a snake on the road who has been hit by a car but it not dead yet? I found two rattlesnakes who were stil alive but just barely and probably an hour or so away from death. DO you just move them off and let them slowly die? Do you put them out of their misery? I wasn't sure what to do so I just moved them off the road and left them there.
I run over their head...
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Yeah, if someone is with me I have them make sure....
Re: New to the area, looking for some tips
Well this is way late but depending on how far south you were that's either a Desert Spiny Lizard or a Yellow-Backed Spiny Lizard. It's really brightly colored which makes me think Desert but they can be hard to tell apart, they were only recognized as separate species a few years ago. Check the pages on California Herps for range maps:Deng09 wrote: 20150706_200656 by Joe Smith, on Flickr
Very colorful...Spiny lizard? Not sure exactly what this one is.
http://californiaherps.com/lizards/page ... ister.html
http://californiaherps.com/lizards/page ... ormis.html
Also good job on the catch, those guys can be ridiculously skittish.