Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In So.California
Does anyone think we will see any Herps out in the burned areas
such as in San Diego County this spring?
I would think the underground survivors will be hungry and about,
Although their cover to hide from preditors is all but gone....
Does anyone have any similar experiences?

I found a spectacular rocky site in an ajacent county that is burned but looks like great habitat if it were not burnt.
Thank in advance,
Tony

I don't live in So. Cal., but have learned a little about behavior and habitats of herps. Actually burning or clearcutting often adds to the desireability of the site. In northern Michigan forest predominates over the land unless man or some natural calamity happens to change the ecosystem. Ecosystems in nature are always changing, not static, some not often, but some very regularly. For instance, our Jack Pine forests would burn at least every 100 years before man starting supressing fire. Fire leaves the landscape seemingly barren, but herps tend to thrive there because most prefer the habitat to be more open.

Very few snakes can make a decent living in an old forest in n. MI. As time goes by and man has had his affect on the land some species are moving north taking advantage of the new opportunities (eg: blue racers). I tend to take advantage of open sites to find, look at, and photograph herps in the wild. Snakes spend most of their time underground anyway. As long as they can find food, they'll be there.

I don't recommend destroying the environment for the sake of reptiles. As a conservationist, I want to preserve habitats. But I do alter some habitat on our property, so that it will be more favorable for herps. This springtime scene shows brush being cut to open up a small pond and wetland surroundings. Afterwards it was much better for amphibians, turtles, and natricine snakes.

TC

That photo looks like my favorite snake haunts look like now. I like winter for the most part, but miss the herping!
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Tim

>>That photo looks like my favorite snake haunts look like now. I like winter for the most part, but miss the herping!
>>-----
>>Tim

Hi, Tim.
Yeah, I like to make plans in winter and also alter some habitat, cover, etc, if it needs it. "Dream Time", dreamin' of spring and summer

Send me an e-mail if you see this, so I can get you in my address book.

TC

I have experience on the east coast with burned areas. In the S.E. controlled burns on the tree farms enhance the habitat by burning out root systems in stumps, This creates good places for rodents to nest and snakes to brumate. Spring burns remove underbrush making it easy to spot basking snakes. I have also seen wild fires burn thru some of my favorite timber rattlesnake dens in the N.E.. This also did not effect the snake populations but made it easy to find snakes after the fires. I think you guys in California are going to have alot of fun this year if you can break away from the board lines long enough to do some field collecting!

fires do effect snake populations, in the way that makes them easy to see. If its easy for you to find snakes because they are in the open, it is just as easy for preditors to see the snakes. Silly Rabbit - Snakes are for birds!

you hit it right on the nose . i walked some burned areas in sandiego the first week of january. i flipped a gopher snake and a southern pacific rattler ,both were in perfect health . i then spotted a snake down the road ,as i approached it ,it was a freshly killed southern pacific rattler. it had many open wounds . i think it was a redtail hawk that got the snake ,not positive though. i also found bones of two other snakes that were most likely burn victims. thats my story jason snyder

Thank's alot everyone.
I apreciate the insight from fellow Herpers.

Tony