FIELD HERPING IN NEW ENGLAND 2008 

 

 

              Here in New England there are many places to go field herping.  What is field herping?  Well...  it is looking for wild herps in the great outdoors!  I have found many herps in New England... many of the same thing, but I have to say it never gets old.  Though field herping is lovely, there is a danger.  You have to be on your toes for bears, and venomous snakes like rattlesnakes and copper heads.  I am not trying to scare anyone, but it is the truth.  You also need to know what can and can't be touched...   Like Endangered species.  Black Rat Snakes, for instance, are an endangered species in MA.  If you happen to find one, just leave it alone.  Take a picture if you want but just leave it.  When it comes to pictures and being out there in the wild, a good friend of mine said 2 very good things to keep in mind:  " If you are to shoot with anything, let it be a camera."  and " Take only Pictures, leave only footprints."  Herping in the field is a good way for people to see snakes in their natrual habitat.  So long as you are cautious, and know that you should always expect the unexpected, field herping can be a great experience for everyone! 

 

 

 

This is a Black Racer.... note the gash on the back that was caused by some sort of predator........

 

 

Here is another Racer.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a Northeast Water Snake.......

 

 

 

 

Here are some pics from the last time I went Herping.........

 

Here is a male and female pair of Yellow Spotted Salamanders

(male is the darker one in the pic)

 

 

 

Here is a swarm of American Toad tadpoles

 

 

 

Here are some Black Racers, these guys are EVERYWHERE!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

These last pics are of a Northern copperhead, which is poisonous.  Though not usually deadly to people, a bite can still inflict severe harm.  These snakes are also endangered, when I come across any endangered species, all I do is snap a few pics and let it go on its way.