Reptile & Amphibian Forums

On Saturday we drove from the north end of Death Valley to Big Pine. The drive was about 75 miles, 25 of which was dirt road. There were some spectacular road cuts and fissured hillsides that would seem to be great producers of snakes when the temps are right. Has anyone had any luck seeing any herps on this out of the way road? We would be interested to know exactly what kind of snakes have been seen there, venemous or otherwise. I feel like it may be about thirty or so miles too far north to find any lyre snakes or rosy boas, but I could be wrong. As far as lizards are concerned, are there any chucks in this area? If anyone could help with this info I would be more than willing to help you in our area with zonata information, as far as locales are concerned.

MS

I've been on that dirt road before. One evening I came across three Panamint Speckled Rattler on the only stretch that is paved. If i remember right, its only a mile or so that is paved. They where spaced out about 100 ft. apart. Also, I found a sleeping Desert Iguana on that road. To my knowledge it doesnt range further north. As for as other snakes reported from the road, some include Gopher and night snake. Oh and I also saw a Sidewinder on that road.

Fieldnotes@hotmail.com

About 3 years ago I was involved in a large LEIS for the Timbisha Shoshone and NPS. In total I was responsible for surveying around 8000 acres at the north, east, and west end of the park including buffer zones. I have found both rosys and lyres in the area you speak of. You are most likely to see winders, specks, and colubrids, perhaps a lutosus as well. Be careful though, going into the park with any snake wrangling equipment is againstt he law and you will be cited if found.
Emigrant canyon has some incredibly nice panamint rattlers and with all this great weather over the winter they should be out in force thsi spring. Good luck!

Lat

Thanks for the reply. Is there any signage that indicates when one enters within the boundaries of the Park? I certainly want to obey the law, but would like to hunt permissible portions of that road in the spring and summer. As we were driving the road last week I didn't see any sign indicating we were leaving the Death Valley National Park. Thanks again for the responses.

MS

There usually is a sign posted when entering the Park. It may be small or even in the form a wooden post, but there usually are signs. When I went to Charles Manson's Hiddaway in Death Valley, there was a small post one that isolated and rugged dirt road indicating that I was enter the Park.