Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm planning a trip to Joshua Tree National Park over Memorial Day, and I was considering trying to find some wild herps while out there. I've never done this before, so is there any advice you can offer a newbie, or good books/websites on the subject?

I would check the laws before herping in a National Park.

I was more talking about just spotting rather than collecting.

it will probly be realy hot in the day time and most herps will not be verry active, so in the day time a good way to look would be to get a hand held mirror and use the reflection from the sun to look into rock crevises in the shad, and in brush, but to see them out and about i would look at sunrise and just before sunset and at night just after dark i would go road crusing good luck

Joshua tree is a great spot for herping. Im not sure how the temps are out there right now.... but if its hot you should have luck night driving/ hiking. Ive seen longnose, mojave rattlers, rosy boas, gophersnakes, and speckled rattlers that way. YOu should also hike some of the trails during the day and watch out for chuckwallas, patchnose snakes, red coachwhips, and horned lizards. I suggest the oasis hike or whatever is called.... its always a good bet for herps. Hopes this helps
Matt

The oasis mentioned is called Cottonwood Springs