Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's a couple of herps i ran into at Joshua tree over the weekend. The Sidewinder was in the campsite 30' from my tent. The Chuckwalla was basking on a rock on top of a hill around 2pm. The long nosed snake was crossing a road just after sunset. I'm new to California (moved from florida) and this was my first outing where i actually looked for herps. Any comments or tips would be appreciated.

Nice finds , since your new to california i will give you a little warning about the( psycho gungho wannabee god rambo park rangers ).DUDE dont get caught touching any reptile out there these rangers will literally hunt you down at gunpoint, even if your 100% clean and legal they will find a reason to fine you .E xample memorial weekend i was road cruising near josh tree but outside the park by about a mile when i was stopped and harrassed for an hour , i was 100% clean and he wanted to give me a fine for not wearing my fishing license above the waist WHILE DRIVING. THE LICENSE WAS HANGING FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. Now thats chicken sh@t. oh and by the way thats a speckled rattlesnake .

happy herping
jason

jason
Did you get stopped by Kyle Chang? He's the one that watches Whitewater and lays rope across the road

No it wasnt that s.o.b. it was another one , this guy was white and about 45 years old . I GUESS THESE GUYS JUST HATE HERPERS.

JASON

Thanks for correcting my rattlesnake ID. I can name a florida snake at 65mph in the dark, but i still have to get used to what's out here.

If only park rangers hassled every bird watcher caught with binoculars. They were the same in Florida. Sometimes i'd see more snakes the rangers ran over than alive in the wild.

I for one would like to know what his name was.

If you are stopped outside the park again, let me know, Im a biologist and I work with CDFG alot, I know the Warden for the Coachella Valley and I will be glad to pass the word on. If it was a park ranger they are outside their jurisdiction and know it, they rely on a guilty conscious and fear to get their quotas filled. If you are outside the park and its a BLM ranger than as long as you have your license and you are polite they should not hassle you. Whitewater is a public road, they cant do anything as long as you are legal, and as far as wearing your license above the waist, pin it to your shirt and you will be fine.
I would like to meet some of these overzealous little men, MY permits allow me to collect in parks, out of parks, and I can work with Gilas, not too mention Ive got more time on the toilet than most of these youngsters carrying guns around have in the field.

Sic 'em, lateralis!!! LOL! Cool pics and getting that chuck tells me you don't need many skill related tips!
Todd

Thats a cool looking Speckled Rattlesnake. I've seen them beneath picnic tables in that Campground (if its the one i'm think it it) and sidewinders on the campgroud road. Thats a cool place to spend a weekend.