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Speak Out: Road cruising

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Anonymous on 2003-06-13
Road crusing is the best!!! I road 3 times a week about. Copperheads everywhere! Its great. Im heading to AZ on the 18th!! I hope to find some great things by road cruising!!!

Snakeman1982 on 2003-06-11
Hey NickVenom911,
I know you weren't talking about me as far as Johnny with a snake stick, if so you need to grow up and watch who you talk to. My "photographing" and protecting snakes doesn't take away from your harming and exploiting wild animals. Asking people who have experience in other parts of the country where a few good roads are isn't a beginners trick, especially in southern Arizona. I wasn't asking for anyones personal best hotspots, just a few good roads. If someone asked me where to find snakes in the Everglades, Oklahoma, or the Northwest which I have extensively lived and herped, I would tell them some good roads that I liked to help them out if they wanted it. Now if I thought they were just going to keep a bunch of snakes for their own greedy pleasure and exploit them like so many wanna be herpetologist then I wouldn't tell them anyway. I have been catching snakes a heck of a long time and know the ropes around the people as well as the animals. You say you live in southern Florida congratulations it is one of the best spots to herp, but I lived in the Everglades and know that any idiot with one hand can find and catch snakes in southern florida which is just like Arizona is suppose to be. No one really needs help to find snakes but it is good to have some better advice to help out a little bit. Whether I get advice or not on certain roads to travel doesn't matter because I will still find the roads that will lead me to a bunch of species, it isn't that hard. It would just be nice if someone knew a couple of roads that are better than others.
Seems like you are in it just for yourself. Don't want to give out hotspots, fine, it doesn't affect me any. But you seem to not want to give out hotspots because you are afraid of competition. I don't care if you or everyone else on this website has caught every snake north of the Rio Grande, it doesn't affect me at all. If I want to catch a snake, I'll find it. Keep your "hotspots" a secret. I have already caught most the things in the southern Florida and don't need to catch them twice. But don't be a jerk and act like some one is going to wreck all of your herping adventures because they ask a few good roads, in a place you live no where close to I might add. Herpetology isn't all about you. You aren't the only person who likes snakes. You should be trying to get more people involved so they can help you save the animals you love away from extinction, not be scared of others successes. Just for the record I care too much about reptile and amphibian conservation to keep snakes. I only catch and photograph them, so it wouldn't be spoiling anyones herping anyway.
Robert C. Jadin
P.S. if that is not the way you intended your post to say then I apologize but it looks clear to me that I am not the only one who took it that way.

cottonmouth on 2003-06-09
I agree MATE! Juno Road is known by everyone and I am never dissapointed when I cruise that spot. As long as you don't find and wipe out dens, there is plenty to share for everyone.

sceniccityreptiles on 2003-06-09
While we appreciate everyone using this forum, our purpose for this thread is developing a sense of community among field herpers. It goes without saying herpers will keep their “HOT SPOTS” to themselves. No one would expect you to give out directions to the places you have put in work: researching, laying out tin, etc. If you do not wish to be a part of the community, then there is really no need to post. We will keep this subject limited strictly to those who wish to help out others. And it is a personal pet peeve of mine for experienced herpers to degrade beginners. We all started somewhere. Any further comments like “Jonny Hobbyist and his snake hook” will be deleted immediately.

Chuck Hurd
Speakout Mgr

NickVenom911 on 2003-06-09
My opinion is that "HOT SPOTS" should be kept secret!!! so every Jonny Hobbyist and his snake hook dont crowd the spots and take all the goods. Keep your spots to your self, please dont make road cruising involve traffic jams.

Snakeman1982 on 2003-06-08
Hello Everyone,
I am planning a road trip into southern Arizona from Oklahoma with another biologist from the end of July to the middle of August. The trip will take atleast 12 days and will consist mostly of road cruising for reptiles through southern Arizona but also New Mexico and possibly a little of California.
Our main purpose for the trip is to travel to the southeastern part of Arizona to not only get great photographs of herps but also birds and insects. We don't keep or harm any animal that we see (except some insects for collecting); we only catch, take a lot of photographs, and then release them.
Over the years I have herped all over the northwest, central, and southeastern U.S. but never the southwest so my question to you guys is where are some of the best roads for cruising in southern Arizona to find awesome snakes? We want to find as many different species as possible and are very interested in rattlesnakes of course but I personally have a goal to catch night snakes and mountain kingsnakes. Although I know it is probably a little too warm to catch rosy boas I would really like to catch one of those also since I have already caught the Rocky Mountain Rubber Boa. Please let me know where some hot spots in southern Arizona are and what snakes they are good for so we might make a detour from our planned trip in order to get the best herping done. Another one of our prime goals are tiger rattlesnakes and mojaves. Also good roads for Gila Monsters. Man there are soo many cool herps in Arizona!
Anyone know where to get Green Rat snakes or brown vine snakes? Thought I'd give it a shot.
Thank you for your time
Robert C. Jadin

sceniccityreptiles on 2003-06-07
A friend and I are planning a herping trip to the Brunswick County, NC and Horry County, SC area over the July 4 weekend. This is my first trip to this area. We are looking for tips on roads to cruise and also a place we can set up our tent. Anyone from that area with any info can email us at info@SCReptiles.com or call toll free at 888.449.2493. Thank you for your time.
Chuck Hurd
www.SCReptiles.com
www.VenomousReptiles.org/managers
www.ChattaNature.org
Phone: 423.580.7513 Fax: 503.217.8695
Chuck@SCReptiles.com

Langaha on 2003-06-07
I have a very successful road to find Osage Copperheads on. I really doubt anyone would visit the area I live however, but I will throw it out there just in case. On I-44 in Missouri, if you get off at the Leasburg exit and take highway H for about 6 miles or so, it will eventualy turn to gravel(after crossing the river and Onandoga Cave). Once this turns into gravel it is smooth sailing the rest of the way for finding coppers on a mild summer night. The gravel road goes on for a good 20 minute drive(not much but enough). I turn around right at the next bridge you come to, I'm not sure if it crosses the same river or not. There is a turn around spot there. Also, right after that bridge the gravel turns to pavement and I believe into a new highway, so it is easy to know where to turn around. Surrounding the road is the Huzzah Conservation Area and State Forest. I don't really start having success on this road until summer really hits hard, but once it does, you will usually find a copperhead or two every single night. On an end note:Leasburg, Missouri is about 70 miles southwest of St.Louis directly off of I-44, between Cuba and Bourbon. If you are coming from St.Louis you will turn left off of the ramp, if coming from the other direction, you will turn right. As soon as you do, you are already on H. Unfortunately, this road can be a bit busy because of it leading to a campground and cave. It is best to visit it on a weekday night. If anyone from MO reads this and checks it out, good luck!

Langaha on 2003-06-07
Anonymous: I don't have your e-mail address or I wouldn't post this here. I live in East Central Missouri(80 miles southwest of St.Louis). My eyes lit up when I heard of the forest you are explaining. I would like to visit it soon. Is it necessary to cross the bridge in downtown st.louis to get here, or can I maybe take I-55 south to the area? Also, about how far do you tink it is from St.Louis? Sorry for all of the questions, but the info would be greatly appreciated. Maybe I will look up the area on the net as well. I am willing to travel a few hours for a good herping spot! Even if it means going to another state.

Anonymous on 2003-06-06
Well there is no collecting allowed but, if you want to see alot of snakes, there is a place in southern illinois that is the best I have ever seen.In the Shawnee National Forest there is a place called the "LaRue Pine Hills" that boast more snake life than any other place I have visited. If coming from St. Louis just take route 3 south, you'll pass through Red Bud and Chester (home of the popeye statue) and I think the road to look fo is about 40 miles south of chester. Take a left on muddy levee rd. This rd is IMMEDIATELY after you cross over the Big Muddy River bridge. Cross the R.R. tracks and when you get to the bluffs you can only go L or R go right and you are there. To the east (right off the left side of the rd) is the towering bluffs where the snakes den in the winter time and to west(right off the right side) is the swamp. I did my zoology research paper on the area and its herpetofuana. 3 venomous sp. Timbers C. horridus., cottonmouths A. picivorous, copperheads A. contortrix. Cottonmouths are by far the most plentiful of any sp. you will encounter except for maybe gartersnakes. Rat snakes and racers are also very common I have also caught ringnecks, mudsnakes, and blackhead snakes (Genus Tantila, rear fang very mild venom) all the fogs one could possibly ever want to see, several sp. of lizard and turtles. But the turtles are hard to get closer that 50 feet to. Every summer this road is colsed to traffic and only allows bikes horses and humans to proceed due to the fact of large amoubts of snakes and frogs croosing from the bluffs to the swamp. Rd, closes in early April and opens in late November. But like I said collection is PROHIBITED but if you just want pictures or great experience the the LaRue Pine Hills of the Shawnee Nat. For. is a great place to check out.

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