Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'll be leaving for a 10 day Az. herp excursion in a week and I have my route sorta planned. However, on the way to Portal I want to spend a couple days exploring an area I haven't been to before. I'm asking those of you who have spent time in the Sky Islands, Since I don't have time to do both, Which of these two mountain ranges (Santa Ritas Or Huachucas)would my time be better spent exploring in search of Pyros and Rock Rattlers? Thanks in advance

Its hard to beat Carr Canyon in the Huachucas. Its Holy Ground and argubly overworked, but I recently had to stop the car to shepard a pyro off the dirt road leading to the Reef Mine Townsite (the very same road that so frightened Kaffield in the 1940s). And the hillsides to the North of Ramsey Canyon(park in trailhead parking)have produced too.
Its cool youre going to Portal. That has to be one of my all time favorite spots. I hope you get just enuff rain...good luck! And if you go thru Rodeo, NM (I'm not necessarily recommending it) but if you do, think of me. That place is OUT there!
Bill

What's in Portal?

Its the confluence of the Rockies, Sierra Madre, Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts...a "sky Island". Remote, wild and beautiful. World class birding and herps, some subspecific,some probably not: blacktails, rocks, Willards, pyros, etc. Google "Chiricahuas" for some info.

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Well, at least in the Chiricahuas; "undoccumented reports" McCrystal (in Perry), as reported by Campbell and Lamar. Also in the adjacent Peloncillos and Animas Mountains.

Herped the Huachucas a week & half ago. Found one C. lepidus and 0 pyros. Good luck.

reako45

twin spots ? The Huachucas are noted for twins as we found numerous. But some time ago. Also noted for bands of Coatie Mundies the chief predator of the snakes there. Isn't Carr and Ramsey a bit of a walk ? I seem to remember it was. Watch it. I don't know now, but a very patrolled area at one time. Being up there with ANY catching contraption or else could cause a problem ?
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

Point well made re: collecting, esp. protected species. AZ has numerous laws on the subject generally too. Ramsey is a private preserve, while Carr is open to thru vehicular traffic. My recent pyro encounter was illustrative of the "collecting conundrum"...what with a snake on the road I could have DOR'ed it (oops, sorry but legal) or stopped to see it out of harm's way (marginally legal). But legal niceties aside, be advised AZ regs are in place and enforced.

Ramsey Cyn is a nature preserve, but only up to a certain point. We went up along the Hamburg Trail outside of the protected area. That's where we found the lepidus. Only patrols we saw were Border Patrol. Ran into an agent ghosting a trail about 20 yds off up in the brush. He said once you get out of the Ramsey Cyn protected area you run the risk of running into illegals or mules (of the 2 legged, gun & drug toting variety, that is). One of the guys I was with up there discovered a smugglers camp for about 150 to 200 illegals, full of empty backpacks. Apparently illegals sneak over in the mountains, find backpacks full of American clothes, change out of their Mexican clothes, and wait for the "coyotes". Happy herping.

reako45