Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, after most of you guys suggested that I should go out and set up some AC, I did so. However, I haven't been allowed access to open fields yet, so I set up some AC in the woods. I know this is probably not how most of you would go about this, it's the best I can do right now until I am allowed into a pasture or something. The temps have started reaching 55 F here almost every day, but still too early to expect anything to be out yet. I did however decide to scout out some new places and see if I could find some AC already dumped in the area............and there was a TON to use.

Since I have never set up AC before, I don't know what works and what doesn't. I assume that metal is more "attractive" for snakes as far as thermoregulation goes. I didn't know how far to space the AC either. I settled on a spot about a quarter of a mile to a half a mile away from a lake.

Here's what I'm up against.....I'm sure FR remembers the thick TN bramble and a perpetual half a foot of of leaf-litter.

I even accidentally found a "GeoCache" while searching for suitable places.

Found this thing in the woods.

....and this?

and another.

And a truck!

And I found some material to use for AC...like I said I'm new at this, so don't laugh. Well, actually laugh all you want, but please give me some pointers or suggestions, thanks!

A large black(figured it would heat up fast) plastic box.

Some kind of ventilation panel...it's hollow in the middle

A couple pieces of plywood

A black piece of metal that is concave on the inside

A paint can....don't honestly think it's going to do much, but you never know.

Large sheet of iron

Some drainage cover(metal)

....man I hop my tetanus shots are up to date.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

Its EASY to find stuff to set up as you see. One tool I always bring with me is a claw hammer. Many times you can either rip or pound apart larger pieces to make them more manageable. Another thing you will find is old outhouses....take out your frustrations with the hammer and rip it into 5-10 usable pieces! Things to avoid:
tires, gas tanks(that have had something in them in the last 10 years).
ANTS.
Things to look for:
Holes in the woods canopy: if you set up AC in a hole that gets GOOD lite alot of the day its the same as a field! I have even been known to take down saplings and small trees to make a hole in the canopy where there is an abundance of AC already there....
Other things: use natural slopes and landscape when you are spreading things out....different AC holds different humidity as you will find out. Using different AC varies humidity levels--increasing the chances at least ONE is optimum the day you hunt.

lol @ tetanus shots( they are good for 7 years I think)
that stuff looks like a old playground spin thing I forget what we called it.That sopt will produce snakes it may not produce the ones you want unless you get a bit of sun.I would check that spot several times from april to june. Bring your camera and share your finds.

PS: if you fins a gravid black king, message me ill give you my address.
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"Wake me when its April"

Doug L

I agree, that merry-go-round? looks ideal! Forget the iron, use lots of plywood and sheet metal if it's there, skip the paint can and the black plastic thing, keep the black concave box, who knows? Stacks are good, several pieces one on top of the other, but with a stick inbetween to make a small gap, usually the snakes are under the last piece, but sometimes in between. As it gets warmer, they will head up, too hot they go back down. Try many things, I usually put 3-4 pieces in a spot, go about 50 feet and set up another spot. next to small creeks, dry or flowing are good, be sure to get above the high water mark. If you find crayfish holes under your a.c., it could be golden. I find many snakes, even rat snakes will use abandoned crawdad burrows. Be careful when lifting, use a rake or hook, never put your fingers under the edge, you might get a nasty surprise that could ruin your day! mostly, I keep a "map" of the spots so I can remember how many sites are at a location. Be sure to reset your bottom board into its' "nest" and I kick leaves and dirt around the edge to protect the moisture seal. Good luck and take tons of pics!

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Todd Hughes

I'm not sure whether tin or wood is more attractive, but I just go w/ what is more abundant, and that's ususlly wood. Some of that stuff out there looks promising cuz it's probably been sitting there for eons. Here's one of my former board sites (fire destruction in area caused me to lose it).

reako45

... this is the snake those boards produced. Nice big female annectens from a local area no longer open to the public.