Herping tips?

[Hornets23]

Hey everyone...I always read about how all of your herping trips are so successful. I find snakes here and there but I don't seem to have nearly the luck of many of you. I have no intention of keeping any WC snakes, I only like to have a good look and take a few pictures....but I thought some of you might have a few good herping tips?

[Stefan-A]

There are so many things that you can keep in mind to increase the odds of finding snakes. I can't get too specific, because we don't have the same type of habitats and animals, but there are a few things that I've found to be useful.

It pays to look for something specific, because then you can limit your herping to the areas where the snakes are most likely to be found. Learn about the snakes, what they eat, when they're active, where they live and what time of year they'll be doing what.

Orienteering maps or any other detailed map type are very useful for finding spots that are likely to have snakes. Planning saves time. Ask the locals, some of them may be familiar with places where there are lots of snakes.

Where there's prey, there are usually predators.

[infernalis]

Very little to add as far as planning where to go... Stefan covered that quite well.

What I do and it works fairly good, Walk slowly and lightly, sweep the ground back and forth with your eyes looking for motion and places to hide.

Chunks of driftwood, large flat rocks, slabs of tree bark, and man made debris, (boards, sheet metals, garbage) I found a nice snake once under an old cardboard box that was almost rotted away.

Patience is always helpful, don't get discouraged if it takes longer than expected to find something.

[Garter_Gertie]

Now, where's my butt? I can't find my butt! (waving hands frantically 'behind' self looking for said butt...)

I think I need to just take a day at the park and ATTEMPT to herp. Get out away from the Visitor Center... Oh! Say! Just a small wee teeny tangent here! :)

A smooth green snake was found on the turn off of to the group camp on Sat and Dave kept it for the nite to use in the Sunday program. We have to have the State Herp Nerds see if if we can keep it, but may be too hard to keep, or return it to the wild as SGSs are not really documented in that county. It may be kind'a rare and they may want to do a study! COOL.

Too, I'm now officially called a Snake Nerd but Dave! I LOVE IT!

Back to trying to find my butt with both hands...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

If you are looking for garters, your best bet is within the vicinity on a body of water of some sort. It doesn't have to be right in that area... but there should be some water somewhere near you.

When herping for garters... here's what i do:

you are always likely to find snakes under stuff, but there are times of the day where it's more likely. At night, if you go out with a flashlight and lift things that snakes are found under, you should find a BUNCH, because garters don't come out at night... in the mountains I did this and since its a bit chilly there at night... I can even reach down and poke one a few times and they don't budge! It makes for an easy find when compared to in the daytime you lift something and 6 of them go zipping in every direction. You can also use this technique in the early morning just before, and a little bit after, the sun starts rising. Once the sun is starting to hit the ground significantly, change your tactics a little. Still look under objects, but move slower and keep an eye out on the grass, on rocks and logs in open areas because now they start to come out and sun themselves. If you get lucky you may come across a whole pile of them sunning in the grass together like I have a few times!

from that time until 12-1pm is primetime for walking around and spotting snakes being active.

During the real heat of the day... usually starting around 12 or 1 and lasting until 3 or 4.... sometimes it gets too hot and the snakes retreat a little bit... again you always will run into the occasional snake...but this is the time of day I have a hard time finding anything. Once you get towards the evening, theyare usually back out and about... and then as the sun begins to set, they will all be retreating under hiding places for the night.

I use these ideas and techniques when I herp and I found about 100 snakes in one weekend in july.

Stefan makes a very good point.... where there is prey (in garter's case worms, amphibians, fishes and possibly baby mice) there are snakes.

[GartersRock]

Good tips everyone!!

[Hornets23]

Thanks for the tips guys...I'm thinking that my problem is likely the time of day that I go...usually when i go looking for snakes i'm on some kind of multipurpose outing and i'm really into birds so I often go in the middle of the day...I think I'll trying going earlier and focusing entirely on snakes. I never even thought to go at night...I'll have to try that also. I think I have a fairly good idea of what kind of areas to look in, but i'll just have to keep practicing. I'm bound to get better. :)

[Zephyr]

Also...
Look where you don't think there's the slightest chance of there being snakes.
One of my personal favorite spots that's always loaded with snakes is across the street from an apartment complex and down the street from a highway. :)

Be on guard; check where the sun hits; if you don't want to be out in the *insert weather here* they won't; sunshine after thunderstorms is your best friend; watch your feet; look before you grab; too early in the season is usually too late; ask the locals; people and snakes don't mix, but snakes and people's property do (lol)
MOST IMPORTANT THING:
If you're wearing shoes, you have two snake bags on hand.
:D

[larrylee]

All excellent tips... once you find a good spot, you can also "seed" the area by putting a few hiding places in yourself (boards, tin, any flatter material) and they will find it. I've checked my hotspots in the evening and have had to move snakes around with my hand to find the best ones. Sometimes a dozen or more gathering for the night - easterns, browns, ringnecks.

[GartersRock]

Also...
Look where you don't think there's the slightest chance of there being snakes.
One of my personal favorite spots that's always loaded with snakes is across the street from an apartment complex and down the street from a highway. :)

Be on guard; check where the sun hits; if you don't want to be out in the *insert weather here* they won't; sunshine after thunderstorms is your best friend; watch your feet; look before you grab; too early in the season is usually too late; ask the locals; people and snakes don't mix, but snakes and people's property do (lol)
MOST IMPORTANT THING:
If you're wearing shoes, you have two snake bags on hand.
:D

Good tips! But I have to disagree with the "if you don't want to be out" comment.
It was steady raining and humid last week and I went out to find a bunch of toads. There sitting along the side of the path in the grass was a 5 foot TX Rat Female watching us. :D

[anji1971]

I don't ever "want" to be out at 6:00 am. But apparently the snakes love it!:D

[Hornets23]

So i have a question that kind of relates to this thread. I guess you could say i'm getting super antsy for spring and for herping season. When do you guys start to see garters or even snakes in general in the spring? I just cant wait...I think the few warm days that we've had have gotten me going. :D

[infernalis]

Here where I live, we see them at different times, usually after a few days of 50-60 (steady)

I have a few "den sites" that I like to go and see if there are any males hanging around by the openings.

[charles parenteau]

lift everything ,rocks,dead trees,tole,plywood,carpet...anything big enough to hide snake....

[mtolypetsupply]

Hmmm, I'm surprised that no one took the safety angle and said, "Don't lift hiding spots with your hands, get a snake hook or even buy a golf club at a garage sale". Our area of NJ is rife with pine rattlers, and other venomous and non-venemous but large snakes. Not all snakes are friendly little Thamnophis!!!! :)

I'm a crappy herper, too, Gertie, I'm in your "butt with both hands (BWBH)club". However, I did follow the herpetologists on site at work, and they didn't lift anything with their fingers, for safety's sake. New herpers, and "BWBH club" members like me, be careful so as not to have to post "My Diamondback bite- gross pics attached!"

[guidofatherof5]

I know that they are suppose to be diurnal but I have found many a Radix out cruising my backyard in the dead of night 1-4am. Their doing what I'm doing. Catching worms. I've even had the opportunity to hand feed a few while I was out. I agree with all the statements about moving slowly. Remember, just because you don't see any doesn't mean they don't see you. Stopping and remaining still, gives you a good opportunity to see their movement. Be patient. They know more about the area than we do. They blend in and we stick out.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/hiding_snake.jpg

[crzy_kevo]

great pic steve i agree luckily for me though the only venemous snake in my area (massasauga rattle snake) is only found in a couple nature reserves in my area ojibway park and possibly point peelee but seeing as i am a good 30-45 minutes from both those places the only things that i know will at least give me a nasty bite are eastern milks eastern foxes and northern water snakes each of which i am not afraid of so im pretty well set with safety

[infernalis]

Steve, That picture would be excellent if we ever have a "hidden snake" photo contest.

Anyone else see the face looking out?

[brain]

Yea good camo... Looks like a checker?

[jitami]

Steve, That picture would be excellent if we ever have a "hidden snake" photo contest.

Anyone else see the face looking out?

Didn't they used to do that on kingsnake? Wherever it was, it was fun! Anyone got pics worthy of starting a new thread?

[infernalis]

A "herping tip" for those who can, Place scrap sheets of plywood on the ground and leave it for a while.

It will "lure" the snakes in for you.

I have all kinds of large flat objects that I place on the property, and so far they have been excellent places to find snakes.

[Sid]

Well, you have a lot of good advise already. The only thing I'll add is to try and place objects that you move back the way you found them. Maintain the habitat:D

[guidofatherof5]

Michael,

That was a picture of our girl "Lucky" on one of her outings. Here's a few more of my favorite "Lucky" photos.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/Lucky15.jpg




http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/lucky7.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/lucky6.jpg

[brain]

Oh radix. Good pic fooled me

You know to me (the novice) and at a glance I could see the black striped face on your radix could be mistaken for the “petco” garter (aka Indonesian garter or Xenochrophis vittatus)

I’m learning to spot the difference.

[misskris]

We have a fishing pond about 5 minutes from our house. I saw several garters there last summer. :) Should be interesting to see how many we see this summer.

[infernalis]

We have a fishing pond about 5 minutes from our house. I saw several garters there last summer. :) Should be interesting to see how many we see this summer.

I am interested in seeing how this season has fared on the local population, Litters were born late, and winter came early.

Some seasons I can barely walk out there without stepping on a Garter snake, others I hardly see any.

Seems to run in cycles.