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

Anyone in South Florida interested in going on a day trip to the Glades? Before it starts to get too damn hot to be out there (with the skeeters and all)?

I know the area really well, from one end of the swamp to the other. There's the touristy National Park, with the two southern points of entry (Florida City and off of Tamiami Trail); some good spots for herping out in Big Cypress (Turner River Road and Loop Road) and Fakahatchee (Janes Scenic Drive) out west, and Loxahatchee to the north (Palm Beach). Gators are everywhere, but I've had most luck finding snakes in the southern and western spots.

Snake hook and "snakeproof" boots required!

Let me know and we can make it official. I was thinking early to mid-April, on a weekend.

Put me down! Where do I get snake-proof boots?

Maaan, do something cool like this in December :P I visit my parents once a year in Cape Coral, and have always wanted to go to the Everglades with my pops.

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Originally Posted by MuzeBallPythons

Put me down! Where do I get snake-proof boots?

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Cool. I don't remember where I got mine, either at an army surplus store (there's on one Davie Road, close to Griffin), or at Bass Pro Shops. Really anything that's like a combat boot, but taller and thicker, should protect you from most snakes.

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Originally Posted by reaxion07

Maaan, do something cool like this in December :P I visit my parents once a year in Cape Coral, and have always wanted to go to the Everglades with my pops.

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I'm sure we could make this into a regular thing as time goes on :gj:

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Originally Posted by MuzeBallPythons

Put me down! Where do I get snake-proof boots?

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Cabellas.com

Mine are similar to these: http://www.boots99.com/order/rocky/7510.htm

When do you plan on going?

are you sure that legal?

im down in if it is. just need to know the whens and wheres and all.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

When do you plan on going?

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Let's shoot for April 11-12 (one of these days), or 18-19. Which date works best for everyone?

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

are you sure that legal?

im down in if it is. just need to know the whens and wheres and all.

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Nothing illegal about it, as we won't be collecting anything. Just finding critters, documenting them, shooting some pictures, and moving along.

I would shoot for either the national park, by Florida City and Miami, or Fakahatchee and Big Cypress, closer to Naples. We'd need to meet up somewhere and get an early start, and stay out till we want to. Some parks have a small fee ($10 per vehicle).

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Originally Posted by freelancer

Nothing illegal about it, as we won't be collecting anything. Just finding critters, documenting them, shooting some pictures, and moving along.

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darn i woulda went if i coulda tooken home a alligator or something.

That sounds awesome. I'd go, but I will be out of town for the month of April. Maybe next time?

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Originally Posted by azpythons

darn i woulda went if i coulda tooken home a alligator or something.

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Where we'll be going you'd only see little ones anyway, maybe 10 feet or so. You wanna take home something nice, rent an airboat and bring some major balls (and I don't mean pythons!). I'll tell you where to go, but don't expect a search party if you don't come back in a couple of days... :weirdface :D

lol

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Originally Posted by cshouston

That sounds awesome. I'd go, but I will be out of town for the month of April. Maybe next time?

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Sure thing. I'll post this stuff in events once I get the details sorted out. Could probably make it a monthly thing if there's enough interest, at least until we're deep into summer.

I'd be careful with the snake hooks.

I visit a state park here often and this one ranger always whines at me for having a snake hook. While the other rangers encourage it over using hands..?

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Originally Posted by freelancer

Where we'll be going you'd only see little ones anyway, maybe 10 feet or so. You wanna take home something nice, rent an airboat and bring some major balls (and I don't mean pythons!). I'll tell you where to go, but don't expect a search party if you don't come back in a couple of days... :weirdface :D

lol

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i got major balls my friend

major league baseball baseball
national football league footballs.
the works

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

I'd be careful with the snake hooks.

I visit a state park here often and this one ranger always whines at me for having a snake hook. While the other rangers encourage it over using hands..?

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I've had the occasional worrisome ranger, but most down here will leave you be if they see that you appreciate what you have around you and don't mean to cause trouble. I've been out there with a snake hook before and didn't have any issues, but good call.

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Originally Posted by azpythons

i got major balls my friend

major league baseball baseball
national football league footballs.
the works

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Good, 'cause some of those gators out there look like they could be good linebackers. Instead of throwing the pigskin, though, you might just wanna throw the whole pig and maybe they'll leave you alone...

All kidding aside, there are spots out there, accessible by canoe mostly, where you'll find some big boys - over 12 feet long and about 4 feet wide at the belly. And they don't like us too much, because they're not too used to seeing people.

When herping, though, we'll be much farther inland ;)

Dude I wish I could go with you... too bad I'm in Texas. Not having too much luck finding good herping spots...

Houston's too far from what is probably good herping grounds - the desert. When I was in Las Cruces, NM, I'd constantly be seeing warnings about rattlesnakes everywhere I hiked. It was too cold then for them to be out and about, though.

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! :)

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Originally Posted by freelancer

Houston's too far from what is probably good herping grounds - the desert. When I was in Las Cruces, NM, I'd constantly be seeing warnings about rattlesnakes everywhere I hiked. It was too cold then for them to be out and about, though.

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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.

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Originally Posted by tdietz87

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! :)

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Hopefully we'll have some cool stuff to show.

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

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.

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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!

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 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

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

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.

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Originally Posted by 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

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Originally Posted by Emilio

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

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

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Originally Posted by 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

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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?

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Lakeland's not that far! :D 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 :gj:

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?

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.

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Poisonous snakes in Florida huh... :rolleyes:
:8:

Hi,

That's actually been bothering me lately. :weirdface

I was waching a tv show which mentioned some snakes actually being poisonous as opposed to venemous owing to their diet.

But my google-fu is seriously weak and I cannot find any actual scientific literature to back it up.

I did find this on answers.com;

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Venomous snakes include several families of snakes and do not constitute a formal classification group used in taxonomy. The term poisonous snake is mostly incorrect - poison is inhaled or ingested whereas venom is injected. (There are... two examples - Rhabdophis sequesters toxins from the toads it eats then secretes them from nuchal glands to ward off predators, and a small population of garter snakes in Oregon retains enough toxin in their liver from the newts they eat to be effectively poisonous to local small predators such as crows and foxes.)

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Kind of threw me for a loop.


dr del

I have to work darn it

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

That's actually been bothering me lately. :weirdface

I was waching a tv show which mentioned some snakes actually being poisonous as opposed to venemous owing to their diet.

But my google-fu is seriously weak and I cannot find any actual scientific literature to back it up.

I did find this on answers.com;



Kind of threw me for a loop.


dr del

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Very interesting...Thanks.

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Poisonous snakes in Florida huh... :rolleyes:
:8:

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Poisonous, venomous, whatever. When you feel like throwing up are you feeling nauseous or nauseated? (Don't look it up!) :D:D

It was explained to me that this forum prefers the potentially more accurate term venomous, but after spending years and years reading the word "poisonous" in all the books I've read and park literature, it's going to stick.

This conversation reminds me of a very cool spot that used to be out in Big Cypress, that was absolutely crawling with snakes. I had accidentally dropped an exposed roll of film (film??) while shooting these snakes from a boardwalk, and I had to jump down into the muddy pit to get it back. So first I had to look carefully to see if any of the snakes were poi... venomous. But they were just water snakes :gj:

Unfortunately, they redid the boardwalk and I'm not sure if that spot is still there. It's on the way to everything else, though, so we'll stop for a quick look.

Yeah, I'm just very anal about poisonous and venomous. There is a clear difference between the two, and there are poisonous snakes.

i won't be able to make it. that is the weekend my wife's family is coming over for her b-day.

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

Yeah, I'm just very anal about poisonous and venomous. There is a clear difference between the two, and there are poisonous snakes.

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I never really thought about it, but yes, there is a difference. Either way, though, I know not to touch them out in the wild.

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

i won't be able to make it. that is the weekend my wife's family is coming over for her b-day.

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Well, for those of you that can't make it, I'll set up another date next month, or maybe earlier, and we'll head down south to the national park.

sounds great! let me know what the date is in advance so i can plan for it.....i need to get some boots!

I grew up in Florida, near tampa, and I never did get to do down to the everglades.

I wish I could go :(

o tampa.....how i miss the city!!

if this happens i hope you guys take a video camera so we can see the real truth to the burm/boa myth. also if you do see some remove them, unless it would be too risky

from what im told its like $200 fine and they take the snake and kill them.

I wish I could go, I can't find my goshdarn snake boots! I think I left them in NC :taz:

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

sounds great! let me know what the date is in advance so i can plan for it.....i need to get some boots!

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Cool deal. Let me get the logistics down this time around and then I'll put up something in Events, so keep an eye out for it next week.

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Originally Posted by dizzy

I grew up in Florida, near tampa, and I never did get to do down to the everglades.

I wish I could go :(

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Hey, you won't even have to cross the state to go with us if you're still in Tampa, just go south (look up a tiny little city called Jerome, should be SR29) :D

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Originally Posted by nixer

if this happens i hope you guys take a video camera so we can see the real truth to the burm/boa myth. also if you do see some remove them, unless it would be too risky

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

from what im told its like $200 fine and they take the snake and kill them.

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We won't be taking any snakes, but what's this burm/boa myth? There are, without a doubt, Burmese pythons out in the Everglades, though I've only seen them in the southern parts (the national park by Florida City). I have a picture of me next to a gator that had a dead Burm in its mouth. It's on my old hard drive and I can't access it yet, though.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

I wish I could go, I can't find my goshdarn snake boots! I think I left them in NC :taz:

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So... get another pair :D I know, they ain't too cheap, but they'll be put to good use by the time summer rolls around.

I would definately be down for this, unfortunately I have back sugery coming up in a few weeks. After may I should be able.