Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just moved to Whiteriver Az. and have no idea on how and where to herp. I am all too familiar with "find a back road" type response. I guess I am looking for more specifics. I am not too familiar with how elevation comes into play either coming from the flatlands of the southern United States. Is there anyone who could help me shed some light on the subject? I am not a commercial collector or anything close. I would just like to see some of the beautiful reptiles that I know live in this area. I am more than willing to travel to see some herps. Thanks in advance.

Get to an appropriate elevation (6000-8000 ft = oak and pine oak forests) and try hiking canyons in the mornings. There should be pyros and rattlesnakes in your area or nearby. You could also buy Brian Hubbs' mountain kingsnake book. It will describe the habitats and behaviors very well to give you some clues.

I think Whiteriver is surrounded by Indian Reservation, so make sure you don't herp that land. Drive a few miles into National Forest land.

If you get down lower (under 5000ft) you can roadhunt. Roadhunting above 5000-6000 ft is slow, in my experience. Sometimes roadhunting in the day can be OK higher up on dirt roads, but canyon walking is better.
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Chris Harrison

....I hafta wonder how in the... &$#@ does anyone [that isnt an Apache]....go to WR Az...gotta be a fed I spoze...but w/ a name like lepidus...& the fact that this area is a N extention of the madrean=lepidus... habitat.. I'd like to talk w/ you [as I only type w/2 fingers]...I will gladly explain the significance of the herps & other biota you may find in that area. I have a striped whipsnake & a montezuma quail covey locality vouchers for that area. Theres much more possible.
Private email me if you'd like to pursue this concept.

Cheers; John Gunn

I am not a FED. I am a Uniformed Service of Public Health Officer working at Whiteriver Indian Hospital. I just did an inter service transfer from the Navy but the deployments were getting kind of rough on my family. I will email you though for some advice on the local fauna. Thanks.

Ha, sounds pretty federal to me....& FWIW....not all feds are badguys Lots of em are incompetent...witness... 911/our public lands health...our native americans health...etc,... but many are good citizens..trying to make things better...inspite of the speedbumps placed in front of them...
Ill call ya...milksnakes/montane rattlers/???....are all possible fodder for where you are...a real ecological crossroads here in Az