I need help with exploring, first person to answer gets best answer but it has to be good.?

Question

I want to find some reptiles but I never can find any. I live in Texas and there is a creek by our house that me and my friends like to go exploring in but we never find anything.

Answer 1

There are two general ways to 'field herp'...

'Observation' means to know where herps are likely to be (warm roads as the night cools, roads after a rainstorm, calm ponds away from a stream, warmed rocks in the early sun, etc.) and going there. This takes research and experience to get good at. This is the way to find frogs, toads, turtles, toads, lizards, etc.

Best times: when the warm weather starts, early in the morning as they get their first basking done, OR later in the year when nights cool off- find them on warm roads and rocks getting some last minute warmth.

'Debris Flipping' is a common way to deal with many herps, especially snakes. For this, you need a safe way to flip boards, signs, bark, flat rocks, etc. Gloves are great, but if there is a chance at a venomous snake, bees, nails, etc. you may want a snake 'field hook'- a light pole with a hook on the end that can grab and flip stuff over (usually pulling it up towards you so the item acts as a shield for a moment.)

Flipping takes some practice as well- you quickly learn what looks or feels right. Tin sheets are usually great, roofing tile rarely does anything. Working old dump sites off the side of a road usually does wonders!

IF you do flipping, remember the Main Rule- PUT IT BACK! ALWAYS RESTORE THE HABITAT! You can always tell when a 'dirty herpper' goes through an area- it looks like a war zone. When a 'clean herpper' is done, you can barely tell- AND someone can re-herp it a week later and find good stuff again!

Answer 2

It depends what time of day you go out at too. If you want to find snakes for example go out at dusk. If you want frogs I've always had better luck in the mornings. If you just want to find a lizard I would go befor or after the heat of the day. You can try under rocks, wood, ect. also make as little noise as possible and disturbe as little or the vegitation. There may be tonnes of stuff around but it might be getting scared off.

Answer 3

flip over big flat rocks near the water, wear heavy leather gloves and always pull the rock up towards you so you have a barrier against rattlers.if you find a rattler, dont smash the rock back down, take a step back, and jump back and pull the rock with you as you go. never do it alone, i used to, but in retrospect, it was dumb. always have a friend, and a cell phone doesn't hurt. if you get bit, the ambulance can meet you. always have a tourniquet handy and know how to use it!

Answer 4

you are best to just set quietly they can hear and feel vibrations and will often go into hiding.
If you set quietly they may come out.
Any animal you really want to explore about you need a lot of patience it just takes time. even specialist can go looking and not find what they are looking for.
Well good luck