Your favorite tips for Herping.

[Selkielass]

So what are some of your favorite ways to spot garters (And other reptiles) in their native habitat.
I've never had much luck spotting anything but frogs, turtles and very rarely the retreating tail of a snake disturbed from its basking.
I now birdwatchers have their tricks, what are yours for snake spotting? Good places, times, methods, etc.

I've already reviewed some guides to native snakes in the area, but what next?

[guidofatherof5]

Patience, still watching.
They see you long before you see them. They are the masters of their environment.
I found stopping and watching a particular area usually lets me see them.
Many times they are so curious about me they will come towards me as long as I'm still.

[infernalis]

My tip is more for the safety of the critters, and I only say this because I have killed two snakes this way and it was avoidable.

when flipping over debris, Logs, boards or whatever, after you have taken your photos, reach down and spook the animal away before you return the item back to it's original location.

Last summer I flipped over a board and found a young garter snake, when I returned the board to where it was the snake had gotten pinned in place by the board and perished. I found the poor things corpse the next time I flipped the board.

Happened again this spring, only this time the weight of the board squished the poor little snake.

So like I said, always move the snake out of the way before returning the hiding place to it's original state.

[guidofatherof5]

Good point to bring up, Wayne.

[ConcinusMan]

Patience, still watching.
Many times they are so curious about me they will come towards me as long as I'm still.

That reminds me of a really awesome moment back in April 2003. I was just walking around and exploring along the north bank of the Columbia River (separates OR/WA) on one of the first warm days of the year. It was about 80 degrees. Hadn't seen any critter of any kind, except for birds and I got a bit overheated and sat down in the shade of some cottonwood trees. I'm just sitting there and I hear a rustling in some dry leaves. A huge female T.s. concinnus was coming straight at me. She stopped right by my foot and looked up right at me. A few seconds later, here comes 3 males, hot on her tail. When they caught up to her, she took off, making them chase her. That was so cool but that area is now condos. No more snakes. Anyway, that was the only time that sitting still worked for me. Mostly, I keep on the move but at the right times and temperatures.

But to answer the question, you have to find the right habitat. Explore all kinds of places that have plenty of water and food for snakes. Best time to discover good places is in the first few weeks of warm weather in the spring. That's when I found the spot in Oregon that is just teeming with T.s. concinnus and T. ordinoides. I returned a few weeks ago, and there is still no shortage of snakes to be found in the grassy open areas around a nearby wetland. However, this was a rather hot day. There were plenty of snakes in the A.M. basking and warming up. From noon to about 5pm, I didn't spot any snakes since it was sunny and mid-80's, they avoid the mid day heat and sun. But once the sun was low in the sky again, they were everywhere. Couldn't walk two steps without spotting several out in the open. Got this video around 7pm on a 85 degree day, after it had cooled off and the sun was going down. It was on the edges of a flooded grassy area where plenty of frogs and newts could be found:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_aGZxUjY0nk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_aGZxUjY0nk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


In the heat of summer, early morning sun, while it's still cool, where there are plenty of amphibians and some cover would be good. Also, again in the evening. On overcast days in the upper 60's or low 70's, they are usually active all day. this time of year, find their food, and you'll find the snakes. Michigan has plenty of wild areas and plenty of ponds and lakes. That's where I would look.

[Selkielass]

Sounds like a morning trip to my Local metropark may be in order to practice.
In a few weeks I'll be visiting family outside Pittsburgh PA. Their home backs up on a small state park with deer filled woodlands, a lake, and a very moist meadow- it sounds like a good place to look!

I hesitate to go tipping debris thought- there *may* be copperheads in the area, and I'd hate to surprise one up close with a 5yr old participating.

Pretty snake in that video! I'm hoping to spot something different, but we'll see what crosses our path.

[guidofatherof5]

I found here in Iowa, cemeteries are a good place to find garters. Not a good place to flip stones though.:D
Many small/old cemeteries don't weed eat a lot so there's a lot of hiding places for them.

[Mommy2many]

I found here in Iowa, cemeteries are a good place to find garters. Not a good place to flip stones though.:D



That paints a pretty funny picture in the mind!

[infernalis]

Just watched your video Richard, another beautiful Snake. You are very lucky to live where you do.

[ConcinusMan]

That paints a pretty funny picture in the mind!


Me too, since I used to flip them for a living. (Worked for the V.A. at Portland's National Cemetery)

Oh, the things we find under there. It would blow your mind.

[ConcinusMan]

Sounds like a morning trip to my Local metropark may be in order to practice.
In a few weeks I'll be visiting family outside Pittsburgh PA. Their home backs up on a small state park with deer filled woodlands, a lake, and a very moist meadow- it sounds like a good place to look!

I hesitate to go tipping debris thought- there *may* be copperheads in the area, and I'd hate to surprise one up close with a 5yr old participating.

Pretty snake in that video! I'm hoping to spot something different, but we'll see what crosses our path.

Sounds like a good place to flip some gorgeous milk snakes! No big deal if you flip copperheads or rattlers. Just keep your eyes peeled and your hands(and kid) at a safe distance. The snakes usually just freeze in place rather than attack.

[Selkielass]

Every Massagua I've crossed paths with (Literally- they liked to bask on the sandy path to a cabin I was living in.) was a peaceful critter, eager to get away from the big, scary humans. I gave them plenty of room to do just that.

All the 'horror' snake stories I've heard involved cornered snakes, so I've tried not to make them feel cornered.

[ConcinusMan]

Agreed^^^You literally have to be asking for it to get bit. "accidental" bites are extremely rare. I handled rattlesnakes across much of the west and they are either downright tame and handle well, or they are cranky, rattle a lot, but all are reluctant to actually bite. You really got be teasing them and pushing them - asking for it. From what I've seen, most of the venomous snakes in the south are the same way. They don't want to waste precious venom and unless angered and teased, most bites are dry anyway.

Copperheads if found by flipping, will just freeze or flee. Maybe, and just maybe, they'll put on a threat display and strike toward you. If you're mindful, it's perfectly safe to go herping and flipping in copperhead/rattler territory. I think your chances of dying in a car accident on the trip are better than getting a fatal bite from a snake.

Not a bad idea to have anti venom on such a trip if possible though.

Oh, and wear your seatbelt.:D