Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in Central Indiana and would enjoy becoming a more avid herper but I can't ever seem to find anything. I look everywhere that I should but no results. Can anyone give me any tips? Is there anyone from this area who knows of public areas that can be searched with success? Also I try to drive roads at night but the only thing I ever find are DOR, and those are rare. At what times should I be driving? Should I drive country roads or something even more secluded? I spend hours but nothing. Any advice would be appreciated.
Justin

If you have herps in your area, there is no better way to find them IMHO than to set out artificial cover objects. Pieces of corregated tin or plywood work well. It may take a while but they should become quite productive. Try different locations. Some grasslands, near woods, etc.

My suggestion is to find locals that know how/where/when to find things in your area. This forum is a good place to start. Look for a Herpetological society that meets within driving distance of where you live, go to meetings, and make friends with people in the know. If there is a major university around (purdue?) go talk to the professor(s) that study reptiles. Chances are that they, or their helpers (grad students) go collecting, as part of their research. They may not want to give you info (afraid that you will go out and "mess up" their study population) but they may help you out if you approach them right.

It is also possible that there just aren't many snakes living near you because of urbanization, agriculture, or severe winters, and you need to make field trips to farther away places that are "crawling" with herps. Ask the guys at the nearest herpetelogical society about it.

I did a quick search:

Hoosier Herpetological Society
http://www.hoosierherpsociety.org
P. O. Box 40544
Indianapolis, IN 46240-0544

Mid-Mississippi Valley Herp Society
Mike Ladato
925 Park Place Dr
Evansville, IN 47715

TRI-STATE AMPHIBIAN & REPTILE ASSOCIATION
http://www.geocities.com/tsara99/tsara2.html

http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/

Good luck!!

I'm up around Purdue. I actually just graduated from here and although i haven't had a a lot of time I have a few spots around here I've found snakes. They are rare because of urbanization and farmland. I find a whole lot of frogs and toads. I would suggest to look in abandoned barns empty lots with lots of debris and other similar areas. My best luck has been on the border between illinois and indiana up near kankakee. Again I have very limited experience and most of it is very specific to this area. I would say your best bet is to try as many areas as possible. I'm sure many other herpers would agree that a lot of the time you find snakes were you least expect it. I usually find them once I've put my camera away and put my snake hook back. Well anyway good luck and make sure to post your result but be careful on specifics bad herpers read these posts as well.

The best advice I can give you bro, is night drive the roads on which you see DORs. Now finding the right time is crutial. The best time is on warm dark nights 70's or higher, an hour before sundow. Also avoid areas that are illuminated, and avoid nights with bright moons(yup, no snakes on full moon ususally), key thing is the darker the better. Also nights after a rain are good to road cruise. You can also flip debrie after rains. Regardless, try different conditions, and after a while you will known when conditions are right for your area. Best of luck.
-Doc Rojas
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Swift, Silent, Deadly