Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering who has/does herp the canyon, if anybody has good success or not. I just was wondering if anybody could get me started on the right foot. No specific locales, just some general info. time of year and method of herping. If anyboy wants to help me out please email RJHILO@aol.com. Thanks in advance.

Rudy

Hey Rudy,

San Gabriel Canyon and the entire San Gabriel Mountains for that matter are filled with herps from Legless lizards and Western Pond turtles to Lyre Snakes and Collared Lizards. There are three people that have focused much of their field research exploring the San Gabriel Mountains, two of which are Michael Long of Eaton Canyon Nature Center and Allen Schoenherr of Fullerton College. The latter of which produced his thesis by studying the San Gabriels and, hence produced a book “The Herpetofauna of the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California” If you do not yet have a copy of this book I suggest obtaining a copy from the Southwest Herpetology Society. The book is filled with Observations and pinpoints canyons and roads where species have been documented. Also, let me know if you ever want to go hiking. Once you get out on your feet and beyond the trash and dirty baby diapers left behind by the average visitor, it is not unusual to come across Western Rattlers, Patch-nosed Snakes, Two-striped Garter Snakes and California Mountain Kingsnakes in plain view streached across paths.

Field Observations of California Amphibians and Reptiles

Thanks for replying. Since I literally live two minutes from the base of Azusa Canyon (hwy 39) I would be willing to hike anyday that you or anyone else for that matter wants to go, if anybody is interested just give me a shout.

Rudy
626-862-8576

I grew up in Covina and spent many years herping and fishing the San Gabriel River Canyons and the surrounding area. I moved away in the mid 1980's and now live in Henderson (Las Vegas). I am planning on renewing my outdoor activities in that area so I would be interested in any posts about it. A couple of years ago I decided to go and collect a pair of Two-Striped Garters but they are now protected. I still hope to photograph some.

Randy
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Randy Hallman

William,
Did Schoenherr mention anything about others having obseved C. bottae in the San Gabriels? Or does Mr. Long know of any anecdotal observatons of the boa having been observed in the San Gabriel Mts.?

Richard F. Hoyer

He doesn’t mention any observations, but he does mention theories about dispersal and questions why it has not been found in the San Gabriels. I’ll be emailing you greater info.

The best time I have found to herp Hwy 39 is from April thru June. My best experiences have been mid morning on the June gloom type days where it is overcast in the valleys, but the sun is shining bright a little higher in elevation. I have done real well in late September into October in the late afternoons too.