Favorite place in the US for herps?

[mainbutter]

So what's your favorite place in the US, as far as herps go?

I spent most of my life in the south, born in Houston and lived there until I was 8, moved to alaska for a year and a half, then moved to Lafayette LA for 5 years, and then moved back to houston till the end of high school. I've spent the past four years going to school in Minnesota. I've spent numerous summers in Michigan and numerous spring vacations in Florida, to visit grandparents.

Of all these places, Louisiana was most certainly my favorite. I lived a 10 minute walk from trails next to a bayou. In the right season, it was prime tadpole territory. I raised many young frogs as a kid, releasing them back into the wild when they were grown. Along with this territory went dangers of running into cottonmouths and copperheads. It was always exciting to see one of these guys, and I gave them my total respect when one was around. If I was VERY lucky, I could run into a mud snake, these guys are super pretty with red bellies. Supposedly, they have a "sharp" scale at the end of their tail they can poke(or "sting") with, but I left these guys well enough alone so I can't personally confirm this, but still a very odd adaptation for a snake.

Of course, no Louisiana herping is complete without a trip to gator country. My parents would take the family out regularly to a place called Lake Martin. It looked like a pretty typical louisiana swampy lake, with cypress trees and water so dark that could hide the loch ness monster. Walking on the trail that went around the lake, you could see all sorts of cool stuff, from deer to schooling catfish splashing at the surface. And of course, GATORS!! All kinds of gators, big gators, small gators, baby gators, mid-sized gators.. Sometimes you could see a big ol' 12'+ male sunbathing in the mornings.

We would often canoe in this lake, and one of the coolest creatures they have here(although not a herp) is the alligator gar. These guys can breath air, and will on occasion pop up to the surface and take a big gulp. I've had them surface not 5 feet away from the canoe, and it sure is a surprise to have a big 100 lb or bigger fish come out of nowhere, see you and get spooked, and splash you as it dives back under!

So where's your favorite place for herp wildlife?

[Colin Vestrand]

well i don't know about my favorite in the US, but my favorite locally is a large tract of privately owned conservation land. it houses hundreds of strategically placed boards and tins, as well as the full gamut of land types, from hardwood forest to prarie, to swamp. although i've only had the privledge to get out there a handful of times, each time has yielded dozens of specimens, including rattlesnakes, milk snakes, garters, amphibians, rare turtles, etc etc.

[Jerhart]

I agree with Colin on this one.

Conservation sites and site of habitat restoration offer a great habitat that has very little human disturbance.

I also am a tin fan. Back home (Kansas) I made a few friends with some folks who had some acreage. I was allowed to lay tins and boards out where I was almost always sure to find something even on the slowest of herp trips.

I really miss herping back home in Kansas. There is a great diversity of herps in the state. The Flint Hills are amazing. And one can pull over on the side of the road and search thru a road cut if they please, great spots for red milks!

[whytepizza]

There is a few thousand square food nature preserve in Watching NJ. I loved it there. Great to go and find lots of snakes. Never caught anything because it's a nature preserve for a reason, and there are alot of woods walkers around there, but it's a nice area.
It's connected to a resevior so there were tons of frogs and newts too.

[fattielumpkin]

I am gonna have to say the southwest, primarily back home in arizona. So many different bugs and reptiles. Plus Desert Tortises. And wild gila monsters. And Rattle Snakes. And Coral Snakes...I saw one of them up close...even petted it...in the wild....ooohhhhh....

[Colin Vestrand]

you petted a coral snake?!

[fattielumpkin]

you petted a coral snake?!

yep,

it was really quite docile. pretty small too. definitly a coral though. they are not really a threat, especially when they are small. It would have to get you between the fingers or some loose skin to do any damage. It was probably the most beautiful snake I have ever seen in person.

[Colin Vestrand]

my uncle was nearly killed by a neonate in florida, FYI... i don't know, maybe there's some variance in the species. they're in the same family as cobra and have extremely toxic venom.

[fattielumpkin]

That is crazy. Also a good FYI. Yeah, I dunno about variance in species, I do know when they are very small, the chanes of them puncturing your skin are not high, or even biting for that matter is a very rare occurance. And I must say they are not aggressive. they steer clear of people for the most part. Most people never get to see one. But all that being said, I am also aware that it is one of the most toxic snakes in the US and I should have left well enough alone. But Alas, the nine year old inside me took over and I did really well just touching it considering I wanted to love it, and hold it, and pet it, and snuggle it