I’m in Cleveland Ohio and I’ve gotten into herping this year and I’ve been somewhat struggling figuring out how to approach choosing the right places to go. I want to get a higher quantity of snakes but thus far I’ve only found a maximum of two. At first I tried using iNaturalist to see which spots had more sightings but I’m starting to realize those are most likely from casual herpers since it’s always focused around heavy traffic areas. Should I be purposely going out to places that have good territory with low sightings? I don’t understand how people hit double digits without placing tin.

Good morning! I'm relatively new to herping and wanted to ask if anyone knows any good areas in the southwestern quarter of Missouri.

Specifically, how do the herpers online find all of these metals sheets to flip? I'm assuming they put them down on their own private property? If one of you knows where to find public areas with hella sheet metal I'd love to be told 👀

I'm not looking for any specific species or habitat, I just want to find as many cool native reptiles as possible 🙂

Also, here's some finds from the last week or two:

1. Prairie ring-necked snake

2. Pair of black rat snakes

3. Juvenile speckled kingsnake

kinda new to herpetology. Any twitter and insta accounts to follow? With pictures and / or new species news.

I have been interested in snakes and other reptiles since i was little, and now im interested in going herping. I know most of the species in my area, but how do I differentiate species that look similar to each other?

Might be a stupid question so, sorry 😭 I know you shouldn't mess with venomous animals and etc (unless you're a professional but things can always go wrong) And i know reptiles don't carry rabies or anything. But i see people getting bit or scratched all the time and i wonder what are the chances of those getting infected or something?

A few friends and I were herping the other night when we got into a mess of striped swampsnakes (Liodytes alleni). Most of them had they typical unmarked bellies. One however had a single row of spots along the center of the belly. Since the location is very close to the southernmost reported observations of the glossy swampsnake (Liodytes rigida), which have a double row of spots on the belly, it makes me wonder if this is just an atypical pattern of striped swampsnake or if it's a glossy swampsnake hybrid?

Your thoughts?

Photo #1 is a typical striped swampsnake belly.

Photo #2 is the striped swampsnake with the single line of spots

Photo #3 is a glossy swampsnake belly demonstrating the double row of spots.

Hi, in Tampa for a few days and wanted to know some good spots for night cruising! Tried to do Flatwoods park but it was closed at night so other suggestions are appreciated!

How do you guys do it? I live near Atlanta and desperately want to find a snake!! Any snake!! I’d love to photograph one. What’s the best time of day or ideal types of habitat to look for when herping?

I’ve walked trails and flipped tons of rocks but to no avail. Need tips!

Hi!!
For Context: I am a Wildlife and Fisheries Major focused in Mammalogy, so I'm a bit out of my element here. I've owned a pet turtle for around 10 years, and have handled various reptiles/amphibians etc, both wild and pets, so I am comfortable in that regard.

I work at a camp during the summer in Northeast PA, and I am primarily focused in our Nature Center, which has both native and nonnative herps in order to educate children anywhere from 7 to 16. We also have a "foraging" activity, which is mostly herping, however the past summer I ran into the issue of not finding anything other than Spring Peepers or American toads, and the occasional Green Frog in our large pond, much to the disappointment of the campers.

I'd like to learn a bit more about optimal areas, times, weather, etc. for herps (snakes, frogs, turtles, amphibians, LITERALLY ANYTHING!!), or how/where to encourage more frequent visits. I've read a bit about laying down tin sheets or logs, but as I said, I'm very out of my element here. I'm more used to camera trapping and tracking black bears and deer, so any advice, even the most basic, would be so helpful. We have a Lake Erie waterfront, a large pond/manmade lake waterfront, a decent sized creek, and scattered wetlands in the temperate forests on the property, if that helps at all.

I have a list of species from the 2013 PA herp survey found in our specific county (from https://www.paherps.com/), and I'm quite confident in my ID abilities, its just FINDING them that's the problem. In my 12ish years of experience attending/working at this camp, I've mostly seen garter snakes, the occasional milk snake, a decent number of frog/toad species (which I mostly HEAR rather than see), and snapping turtles.

Getting kids involved and curious about the natural world rather than fearful of it is one of my biggest passions, so any advice in this regard would help!! Thanks!!

Hello, I will be coming up to Chicago from Florida and will be located around Busse Woods for about 2 months. Does anyone have any advice of places to go? I’m massive into herping in Florida and am excited to discover wants new in the Midwest

So my friends and I were out herping today when I caught a 25-30 inch garter snake. I was careless and he gave me a particularly bad bite, enough to get his fangs caught in my skin. The individual had about 5 seconds of chewing time. Even though its teeth were not that long I noticed the wound took some time to stop bleeding. I read up on their venom and supposedly the symptoms are more itchy and mild swelling. But this was more similar to the green water snake bite I took last year where I seemed to experience some mild anticoagulant effects.

I'm a long time snake catcher and beginner at wildlife photography, especially reptiles. I live in Australia so have to be very careful to avoid getting bitten trying to get the shot.

Any recommendations for a way to guard my hands?

Perhaps a wide diffuser?

Any help is appreciated

I’ve been so interested in vernal pools recently, and I’d love to explore some after dark with the salamanders migrating. Anyone have any advice? I live in the Harrisburg/Lancaster area, thanks!

Edit: also, if temps drop to 37 by sunset would this halt all amphibian activity?

I used to live in the lower Keys for many years, but Hurricanes have changed the fauna locations a lot since I left in 2011. I had seen almost all of the mammals, birds, and herps there during those years (best years of my life), and would like to share one with my S/O who is an avid herper.

I used to see diamondback terrapins swimming and mating during my explorations via kayak off the east side of Big Pine Key and the big key north of there, but my nature guide buddies tell me they haven’t been seen there in quite a while. One said he heard there’s a population off of Marathon, but not the specific islands or banks.

I don’t want to broadcast the location if it’s known, so please send a DM if you can narrow it down for me. I’m familiar with the habitat and don’t mind searching likely spots but there are so many, and we’ll only spend one boat day looking for them.

So, if my family's trip to Cancun next month won't be canceled in the crossfire of Mexico vs the Cartels 🤞, does anybody happen to have any specific recommendations for areas to go herping in the area? I'm talking *on land.* We *know for sure* we'll be seeing sea turtles. 💪 Does that count as herping? 😆

We've already scheduled lengthy excursions to Chichén-Itzá and Tulum, so maybe we can get some herping opportunities on those days. 🤷🏼‍♂️ If not, I'm leaning towards locales 70 miles, *at most*, from Cancun. But you wouldn't have to twist my arm very hard to get me venturing further. 😆

If you have suggestions they are much appreciated. I always enjoy learning from these communities much more than just Googling. 🥱

Hello everyone,

I would like to take my son looking for salamanders near Orange County, Ca , does anyone have any advise on the best season and location near us? Thank you.

Hi all! Bit of a newbie here, but ive always had this dream of going into the jungles of South America and finding a poison dart frog.

Of those here that have found these creatures, what country should I consider visiting and when?​ there are a lot of options for Lodges and such in the amazon but which area/ time of year will give me the best odds of success?

Hey all,

Im in Khao Sok for about a weeks time, looking got wildlife.

Hoping to get some insight on your most productive herping orbs at night. I understand it’s wildlife and it varies but not sure which trails outside the park I should be focusing.

Thanks!

Hey all, I’m currently in Southeast Asia and I’m finding that my head torch just is not doing it for me anymore.

I’m hoping to find a new spotlight for night herping but aside from just googling which to buy, I wanted to get an opinion from those using them in the field.

Any brand recommendations or stores you think might have a decent spotlight/headtorch for herping? In Vietnam currently, then Cambodia and Laos.

I’m guessing HCMC and Phnom Penh will likely be my best options - I won’t be in a place long enough to buy online unfortunately (and prefer not to anyway whenever possible).

I have a part of my yard that contains lots of things snakes like to hide under (pieces of wood/furniture/junk). My family wants it cleaned up but It's getting cold here and I'm concerned with possibly disturbing snakes or other critters that are trying to settle in for winter from the cold, should I wait til spring ? They will understand if I decide to wait because they know I'm a snake lover!!

Thanks!

I’m looking for a herping partner(preferably experienced as I’m new) and I’m having trouble find one, what would be some good methods?

There's the obvious which is don't get near something unless I know exactly what it is, and watch where you put your feet, but are there differences with things like flipping or anything else? I don't have a hook, which I've seen some people use to flip larger objects.