Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a chance to visit Angel Island in February and am hoping to get to observe S. hispidus in the wild. Does anyone know if the big 'Angel Island' (in a bay area, with Berkeley CA to the east and Tiburon CA to the west) is the right place to watch the big chucks? I don't know if Angel Island chucks are really found on this particular island or if they're scattered among lots of smaller, unpeopled islands. I've read of both possibilities.

Also, if this IS the right island, do any chucks living there hibernate (brumate?) in February or are they likely to be out running around?

Also, does anyone know if the chucks live where tourists can go, or do they live where visitors are prohibited?

Thanks for any information anyone can share - Sue

I'll bite. If you are serious and not just pulling our leg.
The Angel Island you are looking for is in Baja. Its the big island straight out of Bahia de los Angeles. Chucks also inhabit some of the smaller closer in islands. Good Luck

Uh - I missed something here ... EXCUSE ME for asking what must have been a REALLY dumb question. A dubious thanks for a confusing response. The upcoming Berkeley trip and chuck-watching seemed pretty exciting, but guess not?

The mockery's WAY over my head ... join me briefly on ground level ... are you saying Angel Island chucks (S. hispidus) DON'T live on the Angel Island between Berkeley and San Francisco? Who would guess? Was simply trying to CONFIRM that I will (or WON'T) be in the right place to see big chucks and to find out if they're holed up in rocks for the winter and therefore, not observable. Truly need to know about this - no sense spending a bunch of time and money getting to Angel Island from our Berkeley hotel if there are no big chucks on the island.

So sorry about my ignorance. I'm not pulling any legs; I'm from the Midwest, not California (which, actually, is NOT the center of the universe). Never heard of Bahia de los Angeles but sounds like it would be fun to go there - Sue

If you were serious I am sorry. I just thought you were posting a question to laugh at the answers.
Anyway you would be wasteing your time and money in that bay.
S hispidus is endemic to nearly a dozen islands in the Gulf of California off of the coast of Baja.
Maybe this Feb. will not be the time you see island chucks but it is worth a (future)trip down to LA Bay. It is very beautiful there.
P.S. Feb. would not be a good time for a visit to the islands.

THANKS for the info ... I'm REALLY glad to know the trip to the island would have been a big mistake.

What time of year is best to visit those more southern islands to watch big chucks?

Um...Yea, The Island you want to see "chucks" is in the Sea of Cortez. Hundreds of miles south of where you are. You can Get to it but its not easy. I went there on a deep sea fishing trip and was lucky enough to stop there.

If you visit the best time to go would be in may. Dont waste your time on any Island other than Ventana. The Chucks are really moving around alot then getting ready to breed. Its only a couple miles from Bahia de Los Angeles , but will cost a small fortune to be dropped off and picked up by a local boat.