What can I find in Charlotte, NC??

zakocsm · 08-10-15, 06:09 PM

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 · 08-11-15, 06:31 AM

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

zakocsm · 08-11-15, 06:48 AM

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 · 08-11-15, 08:00 AM

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

ssshane · 08-11-15, 08:19 AM

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 · 08-11-15, 08:51 AM

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 · 08-12-15, 02:37 PM

any updates?

zakocsm · 08-12-15, 03:07 PM

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 · 08-12-15, 11:16 PM

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 · 08-13-15, 07:08 AM

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.