Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I consider myself fortunate to live in Arizona, so rich in great herps. Not to denigrate other regions--I still get envious when I see all the Rubber boas from California, or wild Indigos in Florida, even pix of Milk Snakes from my native New England get me wistful, but Arizona has a rich endowment of herps, and neat ones at that.

I went to the East side of the Chirucahua Mts, near Portal, that mecca of natural history research, for a few days last week. Five miles into Cave Creek Canyon lies the Southwestern Research Station, managed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York. I've known all the directors of SWRS, some better than others. The current director, who I know only to talk to on my increasingly rare visits, is Wade Sherbrooke, HL scholar and author of a very fine little book, just out, on HLs.

I had come to Portal in part on a quest to film Texas and Round-Tailed HLs, and Wade was kind enough to let me film some of his research animals, which took all the pressure off the trip by the end of the first afternoon. Next day, I found some wild Texas HLs sunning slong the Portal Road, and filmed them too. Alas, I am too much of a technodweeb to be able to post multiple images in the new forums, so those wanting to see all the pix will have to bear with multiple posts. Bygones.

First up, habitat. The Chihuahuan Desert near Portal, the barrier cliffs at the mouth of Cave Creek Canyon on the horizon. This area is home to Round-Tails and Texas HLs

Now for a Round-Tailed HL. Shy little things. Don't do well in captivity. Generally feed on smaller ants, and only a few at a time--too many in the cage at once freaks them out. Best left in the wild, IMO.

Here's a Texas HL. Big, spiny, and tough. One bit me this trip. First time I've been bitten by a HL. Surprisingly impressive strength and tenacity. Ow, in other words. This was the species so exploited in the pet trade once upon a time. Still legal to collect for personal keeping in AZ with a hunting license, but not legal to sell any AZ herp, period. Texas HLs might have a chance in captivity with a large, outdoor enclosure and a proper diet, but I still like them just where they are.

A Texas HL standing tall by the side of the road.

Last and by no means least, a fine Short-Horned from Wade's group of study animals. I've seen many of these over the years, in surprisingly Alpine habitats, too. Sometime I'll post a pic of a lovely Alpine meadow lined with Aspen trees near Flagstaff, AZ, where I once found a huge Short-Horned on a cold rainy day.

:Looks like you had a great adventure. Wade is always a great source of information and just an all around good guy. Good pics of the HLs too. Portal is always a great to visit and watch horned lizards in their natural settings. You definitely have to watchout for those nasty bitting Texas HLs though Lester G. Milroy III

I'd like to visit AZ this summer. I'm most intersted in natural history photography particularly of herps. I'd like to collect some specimens for personal projects and educational purposes.

Is the summer a good time for herps or is it too hot for them too? What is the best part of the state to visit for herping? I'd really like to hike, camp, take photos and collect a few herps.

Thanks for the info,

Brian also from New England