Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm making a trip back to my home state of MD to do some field herping. Mainly I'm going out in search of Timber Rattlesnakes. However, I'm meeting up with a friend to do some herping for Eastern Hognoses in the Potomac/Patuxent Rivers area. I've never encountered an Eastern when I lived back East. So, I'm looking to make this as successful a trip as possible.

Anybody out there with some good advice on where and when would be the places to look? I'm assuming that looking along the outskirts of marshy areas is a good place to search, given the plentiful source of amphibians.

Gimme some pointers, I could use them, especially since I'm a rat snake guy myself. I can find rat snakes all day out East, but hognoses have always eluded me.
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Finis Coronat Opus! - "The End Crowns The Work!"

Here in MN I find E. hogs in areas with sandy soil and sparse vegetation. These sights are usually near a wetland of some sort.

Best of luck,
Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

I agree. Out here in west Texas, easterns are most prevalent in sandy soil. In your area, I would look for them in sand dunes along the river. Id see them in oklahoma along the arkansas river in areas sparsely vegetated, sunning or on the hunt just the same as westerns. Sunny, sandy, and sparse, and you should do well.
Same as your ratsnakes, flip for them. I've seen them under limestone rocks, tin, etc.
Good luck and post pics. Some of those places have snakes with nice colors.
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes

www.spiderhognose.com

http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/index.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

I have better luck looking for hogs (both easterns and westerns) on overcast days. Light rain off and on is OK too.

Cheers,
Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

I agree entirely. Overcast days post rain in the habitat suggested is optimum.
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes

www.spiderhognose.com

http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/index.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg