Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We got a little rain yesterday in Black Gap and the Christmases. We're getting some more right now in the Christmases. Not much so far, but enough to bring out the toads.

Based on radar and various weather sites, it looks like more rain in falling in several areas, but I've been fooled by radar before.

I was in the Gap last night and the Christmases tonight. I'd still be out cruising the leading edge, but our electricity went out, so I had to come home to set up the generator.

Hey Daryl,that is good news for my group coming out Weds. Thanks for the update. Can't wait to get there. Chris

>>Hey Daryl,that is good news for my group coming out Weds. Thanks for the update. Can't wait to get there. Chris

I'm looking forward to seeing y'all.

Daryk-how do you get over to the Gap from where you are? do you cut through the park? Or make the big trip up to Alpine, Marathon then south again?
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

n/p
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

>>Daryl-how do you get over to the Gap from where you are?

I drive through BBNP with blinders on. Before entering the park I ALWAYS move any hooks and equipment to the bed of the truck (under camper shell) to comply with park rules. I also avoid stopping for any herps if is dark so that I don't violate the ban on artificial illumination of wildlife. While on my way to the Gap, I'm 90% sure I saw my first blacktail and desert king of the year, but was barely able to get a glimpse of them due to the extreme enforcement.

IF I ever find anything in the Gap that I just MUST collect, I'll have to take the long way home through Marathon and Alpine. I'm currently trying to LEGALLY collect a few banded geckos for the SANC and another researcher. Even though I have a permit to legally collect them, I'm not allowed to transport them through BBNP.

I've taken the dirt road thu to Black Gap from The Terlingua Ranch a few times. The road is not marked and sometimes impassable . It was better than going around but I would not want to get stuck back there.

>>I've taken the dirt road thu to Black Gap from The Terlingua Ranch a few times. The road is not marked and sometimes impassable . It was better than going around but I would not want to get stuck back there.

I've taken it also. It's a little shorter, but takes a lot more time. Also, it is often impassable, especially if there has been rain. The other problem is that much of it is INSIDE the park, so the park rules still apply.

The first (and only) time I ever took that road my (now) wife out to westTX we cut across on that road. This was about 10 years or so ago. We were in a rented 4 wheel drive Suzuki Grand Vitara. Well it was a normal BRIGHT,HOT and SUNY day at the begining of July. Well about half way into the stretch things got REAL DICEY. It was one of those things where you are afraid to go forward and you you are afraid to go back. Every time we came to stretch of road that was Muddy/flooded I prayed a little and kept pushing forward. It must have taken us 3-4 hours to drive the road. When we made it to Terlingua ranch headquaters, (and after cleaning my britches), I was so flustered, and did not want to end up going through more of the same, I asked for directions to 118. The man in charge there just looked at me in puzzlement and asked where I had come from. I told him and his first comment was "IN THAT!!!!". Turns out some levy had broken and the road had been impassable for about a week, service crews could not even get down the road. Promised my wife we would never take that road again!!

Good thinking Rob! Been there also done that!

Yea.........Maureen didn't appreciate that shortcut either !

LOL. Nice to know I'm not the only one with a negative experience on that road.

The Christmases got much more than I had realized. According to a friend of mine that lives just south of there, they had about an inch two nights ago and more last night.

The River Road got hit hard just before sunset last night and minor showers continued after dark. I couldn't resist the call of the toads and went to check it out. There were LOTS of toads, but still no Green Toads (my main photo target for the trip). Saw one suboc, two nights, and my first blacktail for the season. I also saw a large rock slide on the Big Hill. Luckily, the only other vehicle west of Lajitas was a highway department plow truck that cleared the beach ball sized rocks in very short order.

Hey Eby... I might be able to help you with Green Toads! I noticed that they tend to breed in deeper water like Red-spotted toads... Last year I found a area that pooled up to 12 inches or so of water, and it was loaded with red-spotted toads and greens. No spadefoots in there at all... Probably 30 greens and hundreds of red-spotted... The way I find them is to cruise with the windows down and listen for toad calls, and when you hear a ton, go check it out!! I also find them under cover alot. Might help, might not! lol..

Thanks for the toad tip! I've found 'em before, just never got any decent photos. I'm sure I'll stumble on some more eventually. I've likely driven by several already this year. After stopping for the first couple of dozen toads, I tend to just swerve around them. I know that's not a very effective way to find toads, but I'm more into the scaly herps.