Herping 1985, Jefferson County, Texas

[reptileexperts]

What should I be looking for in a herping spot??
I would really like to try and examine the local flora/fauna here in Cali, but wouldn't know the first place to look lol

Talking with locales, and looking at Range maps for what you are after. You need to know WHAT is in your area, then study what kind of habitat they prefer. Once you know that, it's about locating the habitat that you have acceses to, then searching ;-).

In the states, a really popular method for catching snakes is road cruising, it IS illegal in some states in certain ways, but you can do it in most, and others you simply have to walk the right away (unpaven shoulder). And wear reflective gear. During the day time you can simply go hike a trail in the proper habitat, during the night time its all about cruising the roads in the habitat at about 25-35 mph and seeing what crosses. I was in Cali recently herping San Diego, we took hwy 78 to the Salton Sea from San Diego, and did pretty well, but we didn't start going down the mountain pass on 78 till the sun was going down, and spent from 8 PM till 4 AM out in the desert cruising and searching. Our goals were Colorado Desert Sidewinder, and California King Snake, as well as getting what else MAY be around like - Shovel-nosed, Leaf Nosed, Rosy Boas, etc.

Lastly, find a herp society near you. Google, kingsnake, both of those are good places to start your search for a local society. Many have access to private lands for field surveys where a lot of people gather to survey what herps are find in an area.

Cheers