help field herping

ok im in central florida. orlando to be exact and there is a nice sized park down the road from me, i want to do a project to find and photograph all the species of snake dwelling in the park. im not really sure how to go about LOOKING for snakes besides just...well...looking...lol what are some specific thigns i should look for in terms of where they would be hiding and places they like to be. any help in field herping at all would be wonderful

i also just read that eastern diamond backs like to live in scrub like areas where gopher tortoises. so maybe i can look for them. where do they seek refuge??

Look under logs, trash, etc.


PS Don't get bit!

lol thanks. im going to be as safe as possible. boots, baggy denim jeans, and using a stick to move brush around

Don't do like me and leave the camera at home. LOL

If there is a lake, pond or stream, etc. ; walk the banks. You should see other reptiles as well, like turtles.

Actually, you should leave the camera at home. It increases your chances.

This time of year you probably won't flip anything. Cruise some back roads that go through forest and swamp and stuff at night. That's a good starting to point. To target specific species, you'll have to road cruise that species' specific microhabitat.

The hours around sunrise and sunset are best. Generally, full moon nights are less productive than new moon nights, and recent rain usually increases your chances as well.

Good luck.

Later, Matt