HumboldtHerps.com
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Humboldt County Herpetological Society
The Humboldt County Herpetological Society invites you to explore our wonderful world of reptiles and amphibians.
We are a local non-profit community hub for herp-related services and informational resources. We have a message
board used for herp-related inquiries and adoptions and rescue referrals, links to experienced local herp-keepers for pet
support, and a community outreach program where we bring the critters to the public! We endorse responsible
herpetoculture and embrace all avenues that may further education and practices in conservation. Our native species
index offers detailed information and/or pictures about local species.
As the society is still a work in progress, we ask that you please be patient while we find the time to write additional
pages for the site. We are a but a small band of volunteers with big hearts, and much of our free time is spent caring for
our slippery, warty, leathery, scaly, or hard-shelled friends.
We are a local non-profit community hub for herp-related services and informational resources. We have a message
board used for herp-related inquiries and adoptions and rescue referrals, links to experienced local herp-keepers for pet
support, and a community outreach program where we bring the critters to the public! We endorse responsible
herpetoculture and embrace all avenues that may further education and practices in conservation. Our native species
index offers detailed information and/or pictures about local species.
As the society is still a work in progress, we ask that you please be patient while we find the time to write additional
pages for the site. We are a but a small band of volunteers with big hearts, and much of our free time is spent caring for
our slippery, warty, leathery, scaly, or hard-shelled friends.
| Herp Societies & Links |
| Captive Herps Photo Contributions |
EDUCATION CONSERVATION PROPAGATION
EDUCATION CONSERVATION PROPAGATION
| THIS WEBSITE ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION |
| WHAT'S NEW for 2011??? |
HumboldtHerps is now 4 years old! Currently, I am the only remaining member, but I have kept up with the HCHS tradition of presenting herps at both the HSU Natural History Museum in Arcata and College of the Redwoods' Science Night in So. Eureka. HumboldtHerps continues to work with Vanessa Blot's California Reptorium in these joint ventures and others (local schools, 4H gatherings, etc.). Both organizations are also working together with the Sequoia Park Zoo to help kick-start its Citizen Science FrogWatch USA program. If you love and want to help out with real frog science, and you live locally, this volunteer endeavor is for you! HumboldtHerps continues to document reptile and amphibian sightings throughout NW California and abroad, however in order to keep the website from slowing down, I will be publishing only those photographs which cover events, new sightings, and unique views or new or unusual phenotypes of already pictured specimens. As time allows, I am also creating dot locality maps of various local species; these are a work in progress, but I hope to post a few in the coming months. Please click Herp News & Events for coming adventures and updated pics! Here you can also explore photographs of previous HCHS meetings and events. Welcome and enjoy! Steven Krause Website-coordinator and Co-founder February 2011 |
Welcome to HumboldtHerps!
Welcome to HumboldtHerps!
RECENT SIGHTINGS
NEW PICS!
| New to the world! These Hypo Motley Corn Snakes broke through their shells late July of 2008! |
| Look what's for lunch! This Coastal Giant Salamander is having a rather sluggish time eating a banana slug. (July 2008) |
| This Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzi) was found out and about on a misty winter morning at Hiouchi Flat in Del Norte County. (Jan. 08, 2009) |
HumboldtHerps.com
Humboldt County Herpetological Society
Early riser!
| CA Red-sided Garter (Thamnophis s. infernalis) This yearling was found active in the woods during a winter warm spell. Ryan Slough area 2011-01-12 |
Oregon Alligator Lizard with ticks. Ticks do not just feed on mammals! Tick nymphs, including those of the California Black-legged Tick, which is a primary carrier of Lyme disease, often start their lives feeding on the blood of lizards and snakes. They may be found embedded in the nostrils, ear openings, and in soft parts between scales. An article posted April 29, 1998 in The Berkleyan pointed out that a protein in the blood of the Western Fence Lizard actually kills the Lyme disease bacterium! Alligator lizards may also have the protein which kills the Lyme spirochete. |
Ticks!
Invasive Species
coming soon!
coming soon!
| Erycines! This CB East African Sand Boa (Eryx colubrinus) shares a unique lineage with California's own Rubber and Rosy Boas via a common ancestor that lived prior to the geologic separation of Africa and South America! |
| BIG RESPONSIBILITY! Black-throat Monitors are awesome lizards that can reach a length of six feet. Consider your personal space before you decide to acquire one of these animals; enclosure size must address varanid vitality, not just what is considered to be basically humane!. Feeding and handling of these animals also requires special attention, as aggressive monitors can inflict serious bites. In an ideal hospitable setting, monitors may be tamed to be leash friendly. Always weigh all the facts. Getting in over your head with a pet isn't good for you or your animal. Photos by Aaron Houser |
| GOT VOLUNTEERS? |
| Spectacular infernalis! This amazing specimen of a California Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) was captured on film by Alan Francis of Gartersnake.co.uk in Pt. Reyes. Many of our northern infernalis have more subdued reds, especially where intergradation occurs with T. s. fitchi. |
| These two Ensatinas look as though they are kissing! Probably some nasolabial grooves at work! Ryan Slough area (January 12, 2011) |
2011
2011
| The HCHS supports citizen science and Sequoia Park Zoo's AZA promotion of FrogWatch USA If you are interested in monitoring local frog song please contact Humboldtherps or contact the Sequoia Park Zoo |
2011 Desert Herp Trip! (March 25 - 30, 2011)
Most sightings (including tortoise burrows) have GPS coordinates; Uta species' dot localities were not taken.
My good buddy Murphy and I decided to revisit the Pisgah Lava Beds area in San Bernardino
County again before we ventured southeast to some Imperial County rock-hounding sites. Last
time we hit the desert was in May of 2009, and it was already miserably hot. This time we came
just a bit too early. The high desert at Pisgah was still chilly at night; that meant no scorpions to
find and no lizard activity until around noon! Well, all except the Side-blotched Lizards - they're
out and about during warm spells all year 'round; they were everywhere. At Pisgah we sighted
only one adult male Chuckwalla, puffed up all nice and snug in a lava tube, and one Great Basin
Whiptail. The "black-top" or desert pavement at Pisgah however did yield some interesting small
pieces of picture jasper and agate.
We then headed to the Hauser Geode Beds area in NE Imperial County (right below the Riverside
County line.) During our travels to the various digging beds we spotted Western Zebra-tails,
Desert Iguanas, Great Basin Whiptails, and quite a few Desert Tortoise dens.
The whole three and a half days we were there we did not see a single tortoise, but alas, on our
drive out we spotted a grand beauty crossing the road past mid-
morning. It looked like it had just eaten some greens and was on its
way to shadier grounds. The
weather was starting to get
hotter as we left.
Desert Tortoise
(Gopherus agassizii)
Leaving the Hauser beds, we went south on Wiley Well Road, which turns into Milpitas Wash
Road. We spotted a Chuckwalla on the side of the road; this one was surprisingly easy to catch.
Our nearby destination was a wash where we had previously found some
psilomelane. Here we spied another iguana. We noticed how these vegetarians'
burrows were always located near creosote bushes, a major
food source.
We then headed south on Ogilby Road to Indian Pass Road to look for petrified palm root. No
palm root, but we did find some dumouritite and an strikingly colored male Side-blotched where
the road turned into Gavilan Wash.
Our last stops were at the ghost town of Hedges at the Tumco gold mine area and Vitrefax Hill
near the American Girl Mine.
We did not see a single snake the entire trip!
Most sightings (including tortoise burrows) have GPS coordinates; Uta species' dot localities were not taken.
My good buddy Murphy and I decided to revisit the Pisgah Lava Beds area in San Bernardino
County again before we ventured southeast to some Imperial County rock-hounding sites. Last
time we hit the desert was in May of 2009, and it was already miserably hot. This time we came
just a bit too early. The high desert at Pisgah was still chilly at night; that meant no scorpions to
find and no lizard activity until around noon! Well, all except the Side-blotched Lizards - they're
out and about during warm spells all year 'round; they were everywhere. At Pisgah we sighted
only one adult male Chuckwalla, puffed up all nice and snug in a lava tube, and one Great Basin
Whiptail. The "black-top" or desert pavement at Pisgah however did yield some interesting small
pieces of picture jasper and agate.
We then headed to the Hauser Geode Beds area in NE Imperial County (right below the Riverside
County line.) During our travels to the various digging beds we spotted Western Zebra-tails,
Desert Iguanas, Great Basin Whiptails, and quite a few Desert Tortoise dens.
The whole three and a half days we were there we did not see a single tortoise, but alas, on our
drive out we spotted a grand beauty crossing the road past mid-
morning. It looked like it had just eaten some greens and was on its
way to shadier grounds. The
weather was starting to get
hotter as we left.
Desert Tortoise
(Gopherus agassizii)
Leaving the Hauser beds, we went south on Wiley Well Road, which turns into Milpitas Wash
Road. We spotted a Chuckwalla on the side of the road; this one was surprisingly easy to catch.
Our nearby destination was a wash where we had previously found some
psilomelane. Here we spied another iguana. We noticed how these vegetarians'
burrows were always located near creosote bushes, a major
food source.
We then headed south on Ogilby Road to Indian Pass Road to look for petrified palm root. No
palm root, but we did find some dumouritite and an strikingly colored male Side-blotched where
the road turned into Gavilan Wash.
Our last stops were at the ghost town of Hedges at the Tumco gold mine area and Vitrefax Hill
near the American Girl Mine.
We did not see a single snake the entire trip!
Pisgah lava tube habitat male Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) (Uta s. elegans) (Aspidoscelis t. tigris)
Hauser area black-top juv. Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus d. dorsalis) W. Zebra-tails [adult female-L] [juvenile-R]
and washes Potato Patch area (Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus)
and washes Potato Patch area (Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus)
Uta - gravid female tarantula burrow Desert Tortoise burrow female adult Desert Iguana
Zebra-tail Straw Beds area
Zebra-tail Straw Beds area
"Rocky" & "Murphy"
more habitat
Whiptails rarely hold still. A gif was appropriate!
more habitat
Whiptails rarely hold still. A gif was appropriate!
Milpitas Wash Road habitat
Water in the desert!
Chucky's missing some toes! adult Desert Iguana
Indian Pass habitat awesome male Side-blotched Lizard! Ocotillo Uta at dawn
sunrise
sunrise
Tumco habitat chrysocolla Great Basin Whiptail adult Desert Iguana
Colorado desert Sidewinder tracks Vitrefax kyanite
| Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) This juvenile was found during a pit-stop at Olompali State Historic Park in Marin County. 2011-03-24 |
Juvenile Pacific Gopher Snake (Pituophis c. catenifer) So. Fk. Salmon River (SW Siskiyou County) August 15, 2009 Valley Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) Crescent Beach (Del Norte County) July 26, 2010 |
| Beyond Humboldt |
| "What is that under there?" |