| This is a quick guide to different field herping | | | | times, will determine whether or not you have a |
| techniques that are quite common and productive for | | | | successful day. If 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. are your favorite |
| field herpers across the globe. As well as providing a | | | | times of the day then you may very well be cut out |
| few different techniques for you to employ, I've also | | | | for field herping. During the early morning when |
| added a quick "tips" section that deals with weather | | | | temperatures are just starting to rise and at twilight |
| conditions, timing, and some different topics that | | | | when the sun is setting is when most herps are |
| need to be dealt with by most herpers. | | | | actively searching out food and their next hide, so |
| Techniques | | | | this is the time to find them. During the summer, the |
| Flipping: Flipping debris can be extremely effective | | | | only times that will most likely be suitable for herps |
| when looking for herps and is the method that most | | | | to be out and about will be during the early evening |
| field herpers employ regularly. Flipping can refer to | | | | and into mid-morning because afternoon |
| anything from natural cover like logs and rocks to | | | | temperatures would kill them. During spring, however, |
| artificial cover like tin, wood, and trash (that's right, | | | | I have had a lot of luck between 1-5 p.m. on days |
| trash!) Snake and other herps love to utilize cover | | | | when the high reaches about 76F. I find lots of |
| because it gives them the sense of security they | | | | snakes basking in the warmth of the sun, and this |
| need, and it is easy for them to thermoregulate by | | | | seems to be the perfect temperature to find many |
| hiding below it during the hot hours of the day. But, | | | | diurnal snakes during the months of March and April. |
| flipping seems to be extremely good during the | | | | Road cruising is normally best at dusk, and when |
| spring and fall seasons as a rule of thumb. Caution | | | | twilight hits I normally like to be at the road that I |
| should be taken when flipping because you never | | | | plan to cruise that night. So, important times to |
| know what is going to be under the next log you flip | | | | remember are morning and twilight if you want to |
| and you don't want your hands to be the first thing | | | | have the best luck finding herps. |
| to find out. When flipping, remember that as you flip | | | | Time of Year: The best times of the year for field |
| debris you are changing microhabitats and that you | | | | herping seems to take place during the spring and fall |
| should try to put everything back EXACTLY where | | | | months when the rains are more frequent and they |
| you found it to keep these vital microhabitats intact. | | | | daytime highs are not at an extreme. I have found |
| Bark Ripping: Bark ripping is basically a way of | | | | most of my herps during the months of March, April, |
| searching for milk snakes and other small terrestrial | | | | May, June, September, October, and November. |
| animals that love to squeeze between the trunk and | | | | During the early spring and late fall months are when |
| bark of downed trees. You do exactly what it | | | | flipping natural cover and road cruising tend to |
| sounds like, taking a potato rake or snake hook and | | | | produce the most herps for myself, and habitat hikes |
| ripping the bark away from the tree to reveal what | | | | produce a lot of finds for me during these times too. |
| lies beneath. This is not a tactic that I don't employ | | | | Artificial cover tends to produce a lot of finds during |
| much because, ethically, I have a problem with it. I | | | | all of these months as they are normally better heat |
| feel that caution should be taken when doing this | | | | conductors or insulators than natural cover and |
| because you have to remember that there is | | | | provide better cover when temps begin to rise or |
| another microhabitat living between the bark and the | | | | drop to more extreme levels. During the late spring |
| tree and when you are destroying it, you are | | | | and early fall months the technique that has worked |
| destroying that hide for another herp and any | | | | best for me has tended to be habitat hiking later in |
| microhabitat that may have been thriving before you | | | | the evening with lamps because many herp species |
| came along. | | | | are very active at this time and you'll see a lot more |
| Hiking in Habitat: If properly done, this can render a | | | | of them crossing your path than you would imagine. |
| lot of finds in the field. It takes a lot of preparation | | | | As a final note, it is obvious that in extreme cold and |
| and research to strategically hike in habitat looking for | | | | heat snakes and other herps cannot survive very |
| visual encounters, and finds can be very spaced out | | | | well outside and field herping is very difficult if not |
| with lots of walking and work in between. I | | | | impossible during these times. With that said, many |
| personally use this method a lot and have had | | | | people in the South and in California have found herps |
| moderate luck with it by researching what types of | | | | during the winter months, and I have had luck in the |
| habitat my quarry is going to be located in. Most of | | | | North and Midwest during July and August where the |
| the habitat you'll want to walk will be where two | | | | midday temps don't get quite as high. |
| habitats merge like a tree line; the perimeter of | | | | Wet/Dry: Wet is always going to produce more than |
| ponds, streams, and lakes; rock outcrops; and | | | | dry! That is just a field herping fact. The only time |
| sloughs seem to be very productive in my | | | | wet will be a detriment to your finds is when the |
| experience. I find it enjoyable just to walk out in | | | | microhabitats under natural or artificial cover are |
| nature as well and if you want to hike first and herp | | | | flooded or overly damp. Most species will not thrive in |
| second this could very well be the choice for you! | | | | these conditions, but some amphibians find this |
| Road Cruising: This is considered the lazy man's | | | | perfect. But, if it is considerably or extremely dry |
| herping, and can get very expensive with the current | | | | outside, you'll see your field herp finds drop off |
| gas prices. Basically you want to try and locate very | | | | quickly. Most species will go into a state of |
| remotely driven roads that pass through good | | | | "hibernation" during this time to conserve as much |
| habitat. Drive slowly because your target is normally | | | | water as possible and survive the period of drought. |
| small and can be difficult to see. I like to try and | | | | During these times your best bet is to only check |
| keep it around 20mph, but you have to figure out | | | | places in close proximity to a water source, or to |
| what is the right speed for your eyes to adjust and | | | | wait until a rain comes because the herps will come |
| search effectively. I also like to turn my fog lights | | | | out in full force. This is another reason why spring |
| (low beams) on because I feel that in my car it lights | | | | and fall are the best times of year because most |
| up the street that much better. Generally the best | | | | precipitation comes during these months and the |
| times to road cruise are in the spring and fall, right at | | | | herps will be out and moving. Road herping can be |
| dusk/twilight. Road cruising also seems to produce | | | | phenomenal for finding herps after a good evening |
| more finds in the southern US than other places due | | | | rain, and if you don't need to get up early I would |
| to the extreme temperatures during the day and the | | | | suggest hopping in the car and taking a drive if one |
| considerably cool nights during the spring and fall. If | | | | of these light showers occurs because it will most |
| you are wanting to road cruise for amphibians, going | | | | likely pay off. |
| during or after light rains is perfect and has produced | | | | Moon Phase: Some field herpers swear by moon |
| a lot of finds for me in the past. I would suggest | | | | phase and wind speeds, but I haven't seen much |
| giving road cruising a try, as it deserves a very | | | | evidence that supports this case. It is documented |
| proficient place in field herping, but if you really want | | | | that nocturnal species are not going to be very |
| to experience herps in their natural environment then | | | | active during new moons or full moons because there |
| this probably isn't the method for you. | | | | is more light and thus, less cover for them to move |
| Dip Netting: Dip netting is a technique that is | | | | under. I have seen some evidence that wind does |
| specifically used for finding amphibians that reside in | | | | have a factor however when it comes to road |
| shallow water. You take a net on a pole and basically | | | | cruising because herps tend to avoid open spaces |
| walk the shore line and skim the shallow water for | | | | during winds over 10-15mph. I've still found plenty of |
| herps. I don't do this much as I don't like to carry the | | | | herps in habitat during these winds, but road crossing |
| net out with me, but it is one of the most efficient | | | | during these gusts is almost null and I would suggest |
| ways of finding many different species of | | | | refraining from using this method and stick to places |
| salamanders and definitely deserves a place in the | | | | where gusts are blocked by trees and other natural |
| field herping methods. There are many people who | | | | barriers. |
| are very skilled with this method, and it takes time | | | | Where do I go?: The question I find most beginning |
| and practice to truly learn how to dip net efficiently. | | | | field herpers ask is, "Where do I go to find herps?" |
| The one note I'd like to add is that care should be | | | | Here is the best answer I can suffice, and this is how |
| taken to check the net often as you can catch a | | | | I went about getting into field herping and targeting |
| herp quickly and drown it by dragging it through the | | | | certain species. The best way to find herp habitat is |
| water for a long period of time. | | | | to contact people and do as much research as you |
| Funnel Traps: Funnel traps are a good survey tool for | | | | can. Good places to start are field guides for your |
| various herps, but are generally used for snakes | | | | area and to contact people on various forums. There |
| more than anything. Normally these traps can only be | | | | are many forums specifically dedicated to field |
| used on private land unless a permit is obtained for | | | | herping, and most people are more than willing to |
| surveying purposes on public land. A funnel trap is | | | | share information with you for the area you're in. |
| constructed of a wooden box with hole on each side. | | | | Another great place to start is by contacting your |
| The top should also have a hinged lid of some sort | | | | local Parks & Wildlife department or Natural |
| so that the trapped animals can be retrieved safely | | | | Conservation Museum. The receptionist may not be |
| and easily. Then a ¼ to ½ inch chicken | | | | able to provide information, but normally somebody |
| wire is normally used to make a funnel that the | | | | on staff is familiar with the local herps and more than |
| snake can pass into, but can't get back out of is | | | | willing to help out a novice herper in search of |
| created at the four holes that you created on each | | | | information. Public lands are normally easy to find (i.e. |
| side of the trap. From that you should be as much | | | | parks) but you need to make sure that herping is |
| black, tarp fencing as you can and make equally long | | | | legal in these areas, and if you are planning to collect |
| strings of it out from the traps so that animals that | | | | you need to make sure that it is legal or you have |
| run into the fence have the option of going around | | | | the permits necessary to collect native species. If |
| the fence, or directly towards the trap. These traps | | | | you talk to these people enough and get into their |
| should be checked often as the snakes can get | | | | circle, many times you can end up being asked to |
| cooked in the sun, dehydrate, or eat one another if | | | | accompany herp surveys and help out if you are |
| they are there for too long. Many people like to | | | | known to provide good records and ethical standards. |
| make sure the trap is shaded and they'll put water | | | | Another great resource for scouting good herp |
| containers into the traps to try and reduce the fatal | | | | habitat is Google Earth. This gives you an amazing |
| importance the problems present. I have not used | | | | topographical map that will tell you elevations and |
| funnel traps, but if you're trying to conduct a survey | | | | show you landmarks of interest that can really |
| of an area or find a targeted species this is a great | | | | improve your field herping experiences. If you've |
| way to approach it. | | | | contacted these places and are still having trouble |
| Tips | | | | you are always more than welcome to email me with |
| Time of Day: The time of day that you go out | | | | inquiries and I'll be more than happy to help you get |
| looking for herps can be very important and, many | | | | started in the field in your area. |