Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National Park

To go “HERPING” is to do the reptile and amphibian equivalent of “birding.”  You go out to places where you can look for and perhaps find and observe wild specimens.  Herpers sometimes keep life-lists like birders to, tallying up which species they have been able to see in the wild.  Because most herps are harmless, there is little more danger to herping than there is to hiking or other outside activities.  Even our venomous snakes may be approached and observed from a fairly close distance if you have some experience or go with someone who has the experience to identify the snake and know how close is safe.

Field herping is the kind of thing that is best learned through mentoring.  That is, although books and articles are helpful, there is no substitute for going out with an experienced person and learning through guided experience.  It is common for nature centers to offer guided walks within wildlife refuges, and that would be a great experience.  School or university field trips might be another avenue.  And there is often a local herpetological society where several experienced people can be found and are often very happy to help you get started.

Cypress slough, Big Thicket National Preserve

During 2011, we (Michael and Clint) planned to offer several outings at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.  In April, we did one of these and had a lot of fun (see “A ‘Herp Walk’ at the Nature Center” at our blog, “Notes From The Creek”).  Later in the year, the extreme heat and drought made it unlikely we would see many herps - or many participants, for that matter.  Hopefully, we will be able to offer herp walks in the coming year.  For more information, please see the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge website:

http://www.fwnaturecenter.org/

We get out as often as circumstances allow, and almost anywhere that herps are found might be a destination.  Our favorites include the Big Bend country out west, the Big Thicket of southeast Texas, and some places around home that are familiar and well-loved (such as the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, as well as the LBJ National Grasslands).

We tend to prefer protected and undeveloped areas, like the Big Bend National Park or Big Thicket National Preserve.  Since we are only rarely collecting anything, the rules forbidding collecting are not a problem for us.  Much of Texas is private land, so the best chance of seeing spectacular places is found within refuges, preserves, and parks.  We do follow the rules about not collecting, and we are careful not to damage habitat.  If you flip rocks or logs, please put them back just as they were - the shelter, temperature, and humidity will be different if the rock or log is left out of place, and chances are it will not be usable for herps and other wildlife for a long time to come.

Some of the preserves maintained by the Nature Conservancy or Audubon Society allow visitors to hike and photograph.  Check their websites for more information.  Local parks and nature centers are sometimes incredible jewels, such as the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge or the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.

If you are looking for a place to collect a few herps to keep at home, please do so responsibly, taking only a few and following the relevant laws (see the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department website below for more information)

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/faq/huntwild/nongame_permits.phtml

One additional, very important note ...

Road-Hunting:

This is the practice of driving on back roads, mostly at night, to find herps.  Read more about it by clicking HERE.