Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So as part of my recent relapse into reptiles,I'm trying to learn how to roadherp the last several weeks(never had a car during my last herp period). Got a tip on a good road couple of
weeks ago, but I've been trying to find my own good places this week.

Couple of days ago I did find a good road, and I've been there the last 3 nights. So tonite during my second run thru I get pulled over, police car with at least 6 spotlights on me!!

Officer comes over on passenger side. "Am I doing anything wrong, officer" I ask. He says "I hope not" and asks for my ID, and what I'm doing.I tell him I'm looking for reptiles on the road where they wander at night.He asks if I've been there the last few nights, I say yes, and he said he's been looking for me!!

He explains that the road runs by a WaterPlant which is on high Security for being a possible terrorist target and I've freaked out the security guards inside. Never even dawned on me.

He checks out my ID and license plate, I'm clean, of course.

Then he asks me if I've been carrying around a golf club or something that looks like a weapon.I show him my over sized snake stick,I still kept after making it as a kid (homemade using a broomhandle),I also show him the pillowcases for taking home the quarry.

He clearly believes me, says "I can't tell you to leave,it's a public road,but if you see the guards freaking out in the future, wave or something, so they don't think you are sneaking around". Also, said he will clue the guards in on what I'm actually doing. He said sorry to bother you,and I thanked him for being vigilant.

It's a strange and sad world we live in.

And I just remembered, my other favorite road, runs by an airport.........

BTW, score the last three nights was 4 baby watersnakes,2 ribbon snakes, all of which I ushered off the road to safety, and 1 lovely adult female cornsnake, which I brought home to join my male.

Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens,FL.

Interesting report. Nowadays, we have to think twice about doing anything out of the ordinary that might even remotely be considered suspicious. I'm actually glad they were vigilant. What if it really had been terrorists?

It might be a good idea to stop by the water plant, and if you can get past security, introduce yourself directly to the folks there and tell them what you're doing in the area and when you might be around. They'd rest easier.
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MichaelB

on my last trip to Texas I was asked to leave certain portions of roadways ( not that i really had to but it was suggested ) because of numerous drug trafficing activities going on in which was explained that it could funding terrorisim. So I guess my post can be construed the same being around the border of 2 countries and the alert/warning is on for terrorist activities maybe crossing over from Mexico at some place. I know that on some of the roads I had never seen so many different law enforcement agencies before.

I worked for a guy studying spadefoot toads near the mexico border 7 or so years ago. He would always go introduce himself to local police and border patrol at the start of every field season, and that really reduced problems.

I've been stopped twice in the 90s in NY while crusing on damp nights for toads. Both times people called me in as a possible drunk driver. The cops really had a hard time believing me, and didn't really want to see my SCP for the toads.

Mike