South FL: Any interest in going herping in the Everglades?

[freelancer]

I am jealous! I would totally go to if I lived in Florida. I'm way up in Michigan! I hope you guys have a blast. be sure to share ALL the pictures!

Hopefully we'll have some cool stuff to show.

There's some nice woodlands and wetlands out here.

However, the state park I regularly visit is plagued by fire ants, wild hogs, and occasional droughts. I think this is bringing the population down.

I always doubt my herping capabilities when I'm down there. But then when I get to my herping grounds in Europe, I spot them all over.

Out here we haven't had much rain until these past few days, so I think if the weather holds up we'll have some good opportunities. But I think I'd rather go herping in Europe!

[hmj75]

I am down in miami,fl and would love to go.On the 11th which is saturday can't make it cause i have school(fire academy).But sunday I would be available.Please let me know at hmj75@msn.com...thanks Hector

[sum182]

I think all of us who live north of florida should get together and rideshare down there, so little cost to gas and whatnot! lol. GL man, sounds like it'll be fun, to bad i'm up there in PA

[Emilio]

I might be able to lake it on sat the 11th.

[Chris Rossi]

i would llove to go but Im in Lakeland, no where near the everglades. I dont think it is legal though to go in the everglades.

[freelancer]

I am down in miami,fl and would love to go.On the 11th which is saturday can't make it cause i have school(fire academy).But sunday I would be available.Please let me know at hmj75@msn.com...thanks Hector

I might be able to lake it on sat the 11th.

Some people haven't replied after I put up a tentative date, though I am easy for either day. (Or both.)

I think all of us who live north of florida should get together and rideshare down there, so little cost to gas and whatnot! lol. GL man, sounds like it'll be fun, to bad i'm up there in PA

Well let's see how worthwhile of a venture it turns out to be. Though I'm pretty sure we'll see a couple of snakes, some frog, a few turtles, and a ton of gators (and maybe crocs, if we go south). What's there for herping up your way?

i would llove to go but Im in Lakeland, no where near the everglades. I dont think it is legal though to go in the everglades.

Lakeland's not that far! But you're talking to the guy who's been to Georgia and back in the same day, on a motorcycle...

I don't know why some of you guys think that herping could be illegal. We're not going to collect anything, and we're not going to disturb anything. We probably won't even see a ranger outside of the collection booth and parking lot, anyway.

I've been going to the various wilderness areas of South Florida for over a decade now, by foot, by canoe - motorized or paddle-driven - by Jeep and other 4x4 trucks, and by airboat. I used to volunteer at Fakahatchee, and saw more of that preserve than the average park-goer will ever see. I've never had an issue, beyond one or two rangers telling me I was "too close" to an alligator. (If you guys wanna see some pics, check out my wildlife work: http://www.gabriel-diaz.com/nature.htm)

Just don't go speeding on the roads to the trails, and we'll be ok

[DutchHerp]

Freelancer,

It's illegal to handle snakes in parks right, but it's legal if you do it outside of parks unless they're protected right?

[freelancer]

See, I don't expect to be doing much "handling" of anything. The snake hooks are more for safety than anything else, like if we have to move a cottonmouth or something. I've had encounters with them before, and really wished I'd had something handy to move them out of the way. (One time I had a weedwhacker, but much to my friends' dismay, whom I was sharing a cabin with, I did not use it and let the snake go free.)

I know which snakes are poisonous out here, but most all will bite so picking them up isn't the best idea. You can do so at your own discretion, but that's on you. I'm just there to see what's out there, shoot some cool pictures, and head back home. We may pick up some rocks, move some brush, etc., but other than that the snakes and other critters should be left undisturbed.

[freelancer]

Set a date and time, please reply here if you are planning on going.

[DutchHerp]

See, I don't expect to be doing much "handling" of anything. The snake hooks are more for safety than anything else, like if we have to move a cottonmouth or something. I've had encounters with them before, and really wished I'd had something handy to move them out of the way. (One time I had a weedwhacker, but much to my friends' dismay, whom I was sharing a cabin with, I did not use it and let the snake go free.)

I know which snakes are poisonous out here, but most all will bite so picking them up isn't the best idea. You can do so at your own discretion, but that's on you. I'm just there to see what's out there, shoot some cool pictures, and head back home. We may pick up some rocks, move some brush, etc., but other than that the snakes and other critters should be left undisturbed.

Poisonous snakes in Florida huh...