What can I find in Charlotte, NC??

[zakocsm]

Hello,
I live in the south suburban area in Charlotte, North Carolina. This isn't really considered field herping, but I have a pretty large backyard.
I love going out each morning to go herping. I normally can find frogs pretty easily, and I have found some really nice and pretty frogs with really cool patterns, but I have yet to find a single snake.
I have only seen a snake here once, and that was a copperhead out on my neighbors lawn, but of course I am not looking for venomous snakes.
I was wondering what kinds of lizards, frogs, and snakes I can find out here in south charlotte, if possible. I doubt many people on the forums live down here, but it was worth a shot to ask to see if I could find some information about the kinds of herps I can find down here.
Thanks for any help I can get!
~ Mitch

[ssshane]

We see a lot of black rats, a few Eastern Kings, lots of Dekays browns, red bellys, and ring necks.

[zakocsm]

Thanks! Haven't seen any. Do you know the absolute best time to find them? I usually go out in the early morning than the middle of the day because the frogs love to hide in the under-the-house storage area for my lawn mower and stuff, so I can usually find 2-3 frogs, but never a snake. Maybe I should go into the deep shrubbery and trees near the back of my backyard.
Should I check the crawl space under my house? I just fear of finding a copperhead and getting bit since if I'm down in my knees I wouldn't be able to go fast to escape.
Thanks for the help!

[Albert Clark]

Watch out for the Eastern garters and the corn snakes as well. Happy herping!

[ssshane]

Crawl spaces are perfect for finding black rats. Look around the floor joists for shed skins. Try going out after dark with a flash light, shining it in the lower branches and shrubs looking for green snakes.

[zakocsm]

yea, it would be nice to find a black rat. I just found this HUGE frog, but it got away unfortunately. I have a cat that is my best buddy and he will meow and jump up and down when he sees something moving, so he helps a lot. I have an awesome cat ;)
Tonight I'll go take a look at the shrubbery and see if I can find anything. I'll also go looking in the crawlspace if I can today.
Thanks for your help!

[rubbertoes]

any updates?

[zakocsm]

Nope. I looked about all yesterday and a bit today. I can't find anything other than a CRAP ton of common frogs. Kinda sucks. Checked at night around the shrubs and low branches for about an hour, no luck. As you can tell I am very bored as it is getting to the end of summer and I have nothing else to do :)
Any strategies for finding some rats or green snakes? I really can't find any. Do snakes just not ever live in suburbs down here in south charlotte? Or am I just as blind and stupid as a rock?
Thanks for your help.

[rubbertoes]

try looking in some nature preserves or state parks in your area. flip logs, rocks, look in te trees, in woodpiles, everywhere! Something of significance will turn up. I always find rough greens in vines and bushes near creeks and ponds. As for ratsnakes, I have basically only found them by noticing them laying on the ground. (4-5)

Edit: temps may be too hot for decent herping in your area. I know they are where I live! Highs reaching 108 and above 100 almost all day. You may need to wait till fall, but dont let that discourage you from looking! Try going at dawn and dusk.

[zakocsm]

Alright. There are a lot of nature preserves and state parks around my area, most of them I have already been to for camping, so I will look around next time I go :)
Thanks for the tips!
The temps dont get TOO hot up here, at most it's about 92 each day at the peak. I will look again in the fall of course, but I have 2 crawlspaces under my house and I haven't checked one of them, so I might do that today.