Going to Arizona, would appreciate some tips...

[RTHawker]

Hey guys, I'm gonna be going to Arizona in June and would love to field tips for checking out lizards.

I am from Washington State, the only reptiles I have ever seen in the wild are our alligator lizards (not often though) and garter snake. We have a few other lizards and snakes native to the eastern part of the state, but where I am its pretty much only those two. Otherwise you can see a lot of chorus frogs and salamanders.

You can imagine my excitement then, this chance to look for other herps in Arizona. I will be in Tonopah, Maricopa County.

What would be a common lizard to look for in that area?
How common are venomous snakes to non venomous snakes and lizards?
Any tips on finding them?
Aside from "Don't lift rocks with bare fingers" any advice on avoiding venomous critters?

Thanks

[millertime89]

http://i.imgur.com/l9FS3jp.jpg

[D Grade]

Welcome to the forum! Kind of coincidential but Im from WA as well and just moved down to AZ in September. Just finally saw my first live wild Buzztail last weekend and it was a rush.

You will find lizards here everywhere, so no worries about those. As for buzztails, you will find alot of C. Atrox (WDB), at this time of year mostly in the AM as the sun comes up and in the late afternoon under shade. When the triple digits and monsoons come, they will be mostly active at night. If you want to find other species (AZ Black, Black-Tailed, Rock, Speckled), youll have a better chance getting up off the valley and onto a hillside or mountain. If you want Mojave's and Sidewinders, youll want to look west.

[RTHawker]

Very coincidental. What part of Washington?
I printed off all the lizards from the reptilesofaz webpage that should be in my visiting area, gotta do the snakes, turtles and amphibians tonight.
What I really want to see though is; Gila Monster, Chukwalla, Long nosed Leopard Lizard, a species of horned lizard and a Sonoran desert tortoise. I wanted to see Eastern Collared lizard too, but they're not native where I am going. I'll be happy if I can just see those ones.
I'm also a falconer, so I'm gonna be looking for Harris hawks too while I am down there.
Thank's for the am and pm and night tips.

[D Grade]

I was born and raised in Tacoma and spent the last seven years up there in Lacey. Yeah there are a bunch of birds of prey down here as well.

[RTHawker]

Oh cool. I too was born in Tacoma. St Joes. But moved out to Spanaway. I now live in Roy/Yelm area which is right next to Lacey. I wish I was able to trap a bird while in Arizona! The Harris hawks are awsome falconry birds.

[D Grade]

Yeah I spent a few years down in Parkland next to PLU.