Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have any advice to give to a first time field herper?
i plan to go herping sometime between april 6 and 10. I live in Northern Virginia near several lakes,creeks,fields,forests, and streams. Can anyone give some advice to a first time field herper on equipment needed where to find herps, or anything that has to do with herping.

i hope to observe and photographe these herps

snakes-
cornsnake-Elaphe guttata
black ratsnake-Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta
Eastern Garter-Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
northern Watersnake-Nerodia sipedon sipedon

lizards-
none

anurans-
Eastern American Toad-Bufo americanus americanus
American Bullfrog-Rana catesbeiana
green treefrog-Hyla cinera (not sure if they are in my area)

salamanders-
none

turtles-
Eastern Snapping turtle-Chelydra serpintina serpintina
Eastern Box turtle-Terrapine carolina carolina

if anyone can give suggestions on finding any of these or any herps i didn't mention that are in my area can you please help?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 normal ball python (felix)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

"There are six genes which determine the amount of melanism present in a person's skink"-meretseger

As for tools, I got a Pro-Field hook from Midwest (tongs.com) It was the best field investment I've ever made. I've lost several regular hooks from turning over logs. If you want to catch a snake you will probably want to carry a pillow case. A local (state) field guide is also very handy. If you are looking for frogs, learn the calls the different species make. Many times you will only be able to ID a frog based on its call and you may never see it.

For you want to find, it might be tricky to find all of them at once. The watersnake is active in the day time, most snakes are nocturnal. Its a little too cool in most places now to roadcruise at night. Durning the warmer months this is a good way of catching snakes (just stay off busy roads). If you want to photograph some of the snakes, you might need to catch them at night, photograph them the next day and then release them where you caught them. Unless you have really good equipment photographing herps in the wild and at night, is very tough (and get good pictures). Treefrogs are best found in shallow pools of water or on the edges of larger bodies of water just after a late afternoon rain shower.

Hope this helps some.

i would be amazed if i saw them all in one day, my journeys will probably venture into the summer. Do you know where i can get a state field guide? the only one i have is the national audobon society one.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 normal ball python (felix)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

"There are six genes which determine the amount of melanism present in a person's skink"-meretseger

Its bad luck not to release something when you go herping for someone else to find,lol. It would help too if you mark the boards and what is under them,save on the effort!Kiddin,good luck newbie!J

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