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Q:
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would traping snakes be a good idea?
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Ok Iherp family i need your advice. I was talking to my wife on how many different species of snakes there were out here on the ranch where i have lived for 32 years now. Before we used to see cornsnakes, ratsnakes and garter snakes. I have even seen what seemed to be some sort of multi colored hognose snake, bad part is that it was dead on the road and have not seen another one since, this has been atleast 15 years ago. All these snakes i haven't seen in a good while, We have rattlesnakes, praire racers,bull snakes and eastern and western hognose snakes, these i have seen. My question for yall is would it be a great idea to set out some traps near the canyon where i live to see if these snakes still exist out here? All traps would be built to cause no harm to these snakes, and will be checked every day or every other day. As a farmer I'm always checking on the weather so if there is a chance of rain me or my wife will be out checkin traps cause i wouldn't want any one of them to drown or burn up in the heat depending on the type of trap. Anything cought will NOT be sold or kept this would be all for research i guess u could say. Your advice will be greatly apreciated.
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Assisted Answer
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7/10/2010 2:27:18 AM
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FyreFocks
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I dont think it would be a good idea. Even if the trap is secure, it might lead to some serious predatory attempts from animals that you dont want on the farm. And if these snakes arent around in great numbers like they used to be, then predation would be bad.
Just my .02
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Accepted Answer
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7/10/2010 2:53:52 AM
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gfx
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Instead of trapping, create places that the snakes would like to take shelter and check them from time to time. Snakes like big, flat junk so grab some stuff you've got lying around and put it to use. Sheets of plywood, corrugated roof scrap, various bits of junk in a pile, whatever comes to mind. Take a long stick and flip the bits from time to time to see who's living beneath. If you've got a few scrap piles waiting to go to the dump, poke around and see what kinds of residents you've got. I'm partial to tall muck boots when I'm poking about. Do some Google searches on field herping and see what others search through, I'm sure you'll have a few things laying about that you can make use of. Keep a log book like birdwatchers do and see how many species you can create shelter for.
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Member Comment
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7/10/2010 5:11:40 AM
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Jungledoc
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not a good idea, if you trap you will definitely have some casualties from environment, other predators, or confinement itself
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Member Comment
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7/10/2010 11:38:07 AM
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Member Comment
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7/10/2010 11:45:53 AM
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wintersreptiles
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Try motion hunting cameras, my friend got a picture of a really large garter snake when looking for elk.
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Member Comment
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7/10/2010 12:48:09 PM
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Member Comment
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7/10/2010 3:10:38 PM
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Nitram
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i say n to trapping, yes to field herping. if you go into the right areas around the right time you're bound to find something. as for the right time, i believe spring is the best time of the year for field herping, especially if you want to find colubrae. thats the time when they come out of their cooling period (the winter) and will look to eat as well as breed. good luck dude.
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Member Comment
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7/10/2010 7:25:45 PM
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joe farah
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I'll come out there and find every species on your land in 3 days... deal??? ha ha ha just kidding. Actually gfx summed it up well i think. I do know people who trap snakes as part of an on-going survey and they are constructed from cheap materials and are effective for certain species. It's a lot of work though and in my experience i think you'd do better by field herping and laying cover.
Do you mind telling me what state you're in and what general part of the state? I can offer further suggestions for target species depending on where you live.
I like your idea though and i'm glad to see a farmer who appreciates the snakes on his land.
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Author Comment
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7/11/2010 1:58:24 PM
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MrCoyote
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Thanks fellas for the info, I think i'm gona go with gfx's idea and winters. i just have to know that these snakes still exist out here. Me and my wife are planning on goin down to the canyon later today and kick over some rocks and hopefully get lucky and find what i'm lookin for. And Joe i live in west texas about two miles away from the yellow house canyon, that's where i go herp hunting
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Member Comment
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7/11/2010 3:48:26 PM
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Aimee
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have you contacted a local biology department or herp society? what about TX fish and wildlife department? it may be that if there are changes in local populations they know this and could possibly tell you why?
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Member Comment
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7/12/2010 12:05:48 PM
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sonja
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I think it would be interesting to know what you have around, too. I'll leave it up to the field herpers to tell you how to go about doing that, though. I do think you should have Joe out to herp with you, then he can take some beautiful pics to show us all! It must be cool to live on a ranch!
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