help me find hot spots?

[K1LOS]

I live in ottawa and am looking for some specific "hot spots" for some species. If you don't know any particularily great specific locations, perhaps you could suggest general locations and where to look (ie edge of marsh). These are what i'd like to find next summer...


Black Rat Snake
Eastern Milksnake
Smooth green snake
Ring necked snake
Eastern hognose snake
Spotted turtle
Wood turtle
Spiny softshell
Spotted salamander
Five lined skink

If you know of some good locations (and i know some of you do) of these species let me know! I didn't really get to do any herping last summer and i want to do LOTS next summer. I just want to have areas planned out for whatever day i have nothing to do, so i can just take off and catch some snakes!

[K1LOS]

nobody willing to help a newby field herper out?

Geoff

[emroul]

I would say your best bet would be to go out and find these snakes yourself. That's how most people probably do it, unless you "know" someone. ;) I'm from the US, so I definately can't help you, but I know that's how I found snakes and locations. Just go out and start looking for snakes where they like to hide. :)

Also, most people don't just "give out" locations, ESPECIALLY to people they don't know. So, don't take offense that no one is willing to help you. That's the best I can do for you. :)

Jennifer

[Jeff Hathaway]

Jennifer is right, Geoff... Generally people don't like to broadcast specific locations of animals, especially rare species like wood and spotted turtles, to people they don't know, or worse, on a public internet forum.

Milks, greens, ringnecks, and spotted salamanders can all be found in the Ottawa area. Virtually any Canadian Shield forest habitat should have spotted salamanders. In the summer, however, they're usually underground- hence the name 'mole salamanders'. Ringnecks and greens are widely distributed but very hard to actually find. For milks, try old farm areas.

For the other species, you'd need to go farther afield. Hognoses and skinks don't come as far east as Ottawa. They peter out north of Belleville/Kingston area. Both are tricky to find except in a few places for skinks. Black rats occur south of Ottawa in the Frontenac axis area. Some of the provincial parks in the area are known for them. For woods and spotteds, you generally need to go to very specific locations, none of which I will disclose.

Consider getting involved with others who are doing various field activities, and eventually you'll learn lots about where things are. There is an Ottawa area herp group (OARA), plus a turtle rehab group (TurtleS.H.E.L.L.?) in the area, and various other things throughout the province such as our Pelee Island trip, volunteer turtle surveys, etc.

Good luck, and remember to leave the wildlife in the wild!

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[K1LOS]

thanks jeff, i'll try checking out farm areas and open fields around ottawa, and head over to kingston and belleville as well. Is the OARA still active? they're website doesn't seem to have any action. I would like to check them out, even though i have heard some bad things. Thanks again

Geoff