|
1-7 of 7 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
My staff doing a little S.E. U.S. herping....need
|
Reply
|
|
by Rob_Carmichael on March 17, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
....some help. My three keepers are having a little time out away from the zoo and decided to do a last minute herping trip to the southeast U.S. These are hard core field herping guys and are firm believers of picture only/no collecting philosophies. None of them have been to this area so they are going in sort of blind (even though they are like bloodhounds in the field). If anyone has some decent destinations please let me know so that I can pass on some places to them (or, if anyone is around to show them a place or too, even better). They'll be down there this week and leaving Thursday to come back home (they better!).
Thanks in advance,
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
|
| |
|
RE: My staff doing a little S.E. U.S. herping....n
|
Reply
|
|
by jared on March 17, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Where in the Se Rob? I am in Se VA (not to far from Hyde co nc) Let us know, lots of SE people on this page,
Jared
|
| |
|
RE: My staff doing a little S.E. U.S. herping....n
|
Reply
|
|
by Rob_Carmichael on March 18, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I know they are heading into Georgia and into the Florida Panhandle. They've got their cell phones on 24/7 as they need some direction on where to go - nothing like going blind into a herping trip:-)
|
| |
|
RE: My staff doing a little S.E. U.S. herping....n
|
Reply
|
|
by jared on March 18, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Bit of a ways from me but if they get north let me know and maybe we can get them some data and pics for there records :-)
Jared
|
| |
|
RE: My staff doing a little S.E. U.S. herping....n
|
Reply
|
|
by herpboy on March 18, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Rob, I sure wish I would have known a little earlier. Things are just starting to get cranked up down here.
Hope they see some good stuff,
take care
Bryan Hudson
|
| |
|
RE: My staff doing a little S.E. U.S. herping....n
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on March 18, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Rob, your herpers are heading to a great area, as the temperatures are getting warmer and the rains are coming in. The biggest mistake they are making is that they are going to be herping under the full moon.
If it is warm enough to road cruise late at night, (not very likely this early)they will find decreased activity, but still should find some herps on the roads, just because they are so numerous there.
From late afternoon until the temperatures cool should produce for them. The Apalachicola National Forest in Florida is good, and has hundreds of miles of sand roads they can cruise. It does not have very much tin to flip though.
What they need to look for are County maintained paved roads and sand roads that show few tire tracks and that have road side ditches that contain water. Those types of roads will produce Cottonmouths, Pygmy Rattlesnakes, Water Snakes, etc. And there is always the chance of seeing an Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake, Coral Snake, Pine Snake, Hog Nosed Snake, Corn Snakes and things like Gopher Tortioses.
The roads that run East to West recieve sunlight all day long, and tend to stay warm longer in the evening. Roads that run North to South cool much quicker as they are shaded by the tall pines much of the day.
Those same sand roads can be cruised in the early, early morning right before sun-up if they want a good chance to see Pine Snakes and Coral Snakes.
They should drive paved back roads looking for tin and boards from about 8:00 am until 11:00 am, or they could walk wooded areas and try field herping. That can pay off if you find a good area. Also, if they park where the sand roads cross creeks, and walk along the banks in the early morning before the dew lifts, they should be able to find Cottonmouths and Water Snakes.
In the hot of the afternoon, if a rain storm comes in, they should get out and drive in it before, during, and after the rain. That will produce Grey Ratsnakes, and Corn Snakes.
When picking paved roads to cruise, they need to look on the map and find the rivers. Then they need to look for the smallest paved road that closely parallels the rivers. Rivers that twist and turn are best, as they are usually slow moving and have large flood plains. Roads that go between towns often have too much traffic to hunt. What you also need to look for is what used to be the main road between two towns, but has now been replaced with a larger, more modern road. Those old roads often have abandoned buildings, and old signs that have fallen because all of the tourists started using the main new road. If a road like that parralles a river, so much the better.
Another area is the general region in SW Georgia that is below Albany, and on the way to Apalachicola. There are sand hills in that area that produce some great looking and highly dangerous Canebrake Rattlesnakes and Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnakes. These areas have old farms on the smaller roads, and in the late afternoon until an hour after dark can be good.
Finding water in road side ditches is very important when herping the SE. Those areas have the frogs and toads that the snakes feed on.
When they cross a bridge on the small County maintained roads, they should look up under it, and in the tall grass clumps along the banks. There are some very interesting King Snakes that have been turned up that way.
Also, during the night, snakes will be road killed. The airforce (crows and vultures) remove them from the road quite early. If they drive early in the morning and find road kills on a particular road, chances are that road will be good the next day also. By 10 am most of the road killed snakes will no longer be there.
Some of the best snake hunting times are when folks are wasting an hour having breakfast or supper. It is better to be out on the road cruising at those times, and eat supper much later at night after it cools down.
The rafters in abandoned barns and farm buildings can be scanned at night with a powerfull flashlight, and the white underbelly of Rat Snakes will show up that way. However, there are the dangers of unsean nails sticking up from boards when hunting like that, and the very real chance of running up on a viscious feral dog that is living in an abandoned building.
Also, small Southern towns get a lot of revenue from speed traps. Chicago plates means your hunters become the hunted. Watch the speed limits in towns. And dont be surprised to see a state trooper sitting out on a road in the middle of no where with his radar on, as he knows that a long straight road like that will cause folks to want to drive 70 or 80.
One other thought. If the County maintained roads go through flat fields of soy, cotton, peanuts, or other crops, go somewhere else. The wildlife in those areas was long ago killed off by pesticide use, and even though there might be farm buildings, there are very few reptiles living there.
These are just a few suggestions that have payed off for me while hunting those areas the last 37 years. I am giving away some powerfull secrets here, LOL ! I will keep a few for my book. Hopefully, they will work for your herpers.
If I get a chance, I will try to EMail you a few road numbers and locations that are more specific. But if your herpers follow what I have suggested above, they will find snakes, despite the cool nights and full moon.
Best Regards JohnZ
|
| |
|
RE: My staff doing a little S.E. U.S. herping....n
|
Reply
|
|
by Rob_Carmichael on March 19, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Geez John, I'm pumped - maybe I'll hop in the car and start driving south! I'll call my guys right now and pass on this great info. We really appreciate it.
Rob
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
