Field Herping Beginner’s Guide!
“WHAT IS FIELD HERPING?”
Field herping is when you strap on your boots and go out hiking into the outdoors in an attempt to find native species of reptiles and amphibians in their native ranges and habitat. These animals are photographed and each individual has a long list of animals they want to find and take pictures of. This is often known as one’s life list. The excitement comes when you roll over that rock or log and there is that animal, the one you’ve been looking for all year!
“WHERE IN WISCONSIN CAN I FIND REPTILES OR AMPHIBIANS?”
Reptiles and amphibians are found throughout Wisconsin. Many can even be found within walking distance of your where you live! They are all around us, and often go unseen. They inhabit Wisconsin’s forests, prairies, wetlands, and even suburban/agricultural areas. It all depends on what species of animal you are looking to find. Research the biology and natural history of the species you are most interested in finding, especially where it may pertain to the herpetofauna of your state or region, and look for areas with their most preferred habitat. Sometimes, asking around locally, or using Google Earth to view the terrain and features of an area can also lead to finding good spots to look. Looking to places online where photos are posted can also give tips as to what other people have seen at the particular location, or as to what species may be in the general area.
Many species of Newts and Salamanders can be found in cool, damp, forested habitats with plenty of ground cover in the form of rocks, downed bark or logs, and other leaf litter debris, as well as temporary ponds or other wetlands nearby which they will migrate to and from every year for breeding. Some species of more aquatic salamanders can sometimes also be found by turning over flat rocks or other debris in shallow sections of streams or rivers.
Frogs and Toads prefer cool wet areas such as along the margins of shallow lakes, ponds, ditches, marshes, and other wetlands, where they need bodies of water to lay their eggs. One can also often locate the areas in which there are frogs and toads by their calls, during their breeding seasons of the year. Many amphibians can also be found moving on land and across roads, sidewalks, or yards during wet and rainy weather in the spring or late summer and fall.
Snakes and Lizards can be found in a variety of habitats, but most often enjoy warm, sunny places to bask during the day, and can be found under logs, rocks, and other debris. “Edge” habitats along forest lines, fields or prairies, marshes, and along or near ponds, rivers, and other bodies of water, especially if they have plenty of cover and shelter in the form of rocks, logs, old pieces of corrugated sheet metal (or “tin”), or plywood boards and other “junk piles” and debris are also good areas to look for snakes. Other rocky hillsides, road cuts, or railroad grades with discarded ties might also often be worthy habitats.
Many species of Turtles can be seen basking during the day on rocks, logs, overhanging or downed trees, or on banks of ponds, lakes, marshes, rivers and streams, and other wetlands, but will often dive into the water when approached too closely. One may consider using binoculars to better view these basking reptiles. Many turtles are also seen or encountered on land, while crossing roads, trails, and backyards in search of nesting sites. Many species of reptiles and amphibians are also crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the dawn and dusk hours during morning or evening, and can often be found by driving on roads in and around likely habitat, which is known as “road crusing”. Some species of amphibians and reptiles that are rare, threatened, or endangered are only found in certain areas of the state as well.
“WHAT DO I DO WHEN I FIND ONE?”
First we’ll talk about snakes. Most snakes will try to avoid being captured or seen, so you need to be very careful and slow when approaching them. If you decide to attempt to catch it to handle one, be aware that many snakes release a strong odorous musk and may bite you in defense. We advise not attempting to catch them, and moving slowly to get a good picture of your find. Do not attempt to approach, capture, or handle any venomous or unknown reptiles unless trained or experienced in doing so! Many turtles can be seen basking on rocks, logs, or shorelines from a distance, but will dive into the water if approached too closely. Larger turtles such as snapping and softshell turtles can deliver a painful bite and should be handled carefully.
If you find any amphibian, such as a salamander or frog, make sure your hands are wet and clean of any chemicals before touching them. Their skin can absorb anything you have on your hands, and if your hands are dry, they will actually dry out the amphibian. Once you’ve gotten some good pictures, make sure to put it back where you found it. If it was found under something, pour a little water there for it and lay it back down gently, or put the object back down and set him next to it so it can make his way back in again. Not doing so can accidently injure or kill any animal you may find. Always be sure to put anything back that you move or flip as closely as possible to how it was found. If a rock or other object is too large or heavy, or dug in for one person to move, do not move it, and skip on to the next one. Also consider that not all areas may allow for bringing of “snake hooks”, “tongs”, or other field herping equipment. Please be aware of, and respectful to not only the animals, but also to any local and state rules, guidelines, and/or laws for visiting certain areas when it comes to herping and good field herping etiquette.
There can be many other signs or clues one can use to look for whether reptiles or amphibians have been in an area recently. Shed skins might be found, particularly from snakes, in areas where one or more snakes may be using to shed their skins. Nests and/or eggs, whether hatched out or predated upon might also often be seen, especially in open, sandy areas and river banks for turtle nests, and underneath rocks, within logs, rotting stumps, or other piles of debris for snakes and other reptiles. Oftentimes, amphibian egg masses are left behind in shallow water, and can look like string-like or jelly-like masses. Sometimes, tracks or footprints in sandy or open, loose soiled areas can also give clues as to herptile activity, although when it comes to reptiles and amphibians, it can often be more difficult to identify the exact species who made them, other than guessing the most likely species which may occur in the particular habitat or area. Sometimes, other forms of evidence might be seen as well, such as empty turtle shells (which are the remains of a turtle which has died at some point). Be sure to be observant and look high and low, all around you for other clues that reptiles or amphibians might be around!
On the Wisconsin DNR website, a list of all of the species in Wisconsin can be found. That list can also be found at our website. Use it as a checklist as you make your way around the area and explore our beautiful state and the amazing animals that are in it. One can also find a list of the native reptiles and amphibians of their state on their respective state’s department of natural resources website, or other reference websites.
*Lastly, We don’t advise keeping any animals that they may find. First of all, it is difficult to keep many of these animals and they don’t always transfer into captivity well and often die. Secondly, there are regulations in place that prohibit the capture of many animals even if just for a pet. So please, take pictures, enjoy them, but leave them in the wild. If one is seeking a pet, there are many captive bred reptiles & amphibians to choose from that usually make better pets. Thanks, and happy herping!