Where to field herp in florida?

[Jim Smith]

Having lived in Miami for a number of years, you could always count of finding wildlife in the Everglades. Basically head west on Tamiami trail and stop along the way and you'll find places to go herping and see plenty of alligators in the canals. Just one of MANY possibilities.

[Roman]

Some tips from one tourist to another…

I have been in Florida for several times, almost always during July and September. I didn’t do real field herping, because I didn’t want to drag heavy boots with me for 4 weeks when I would probably only use them once or twice during that time. On the other hand I don’t want to go into the bush where I might stumble upon a potentially dangerous snake like a diamondback or a cottonmouth just with some sandals, so I stayed pretty much on the trails and was watching from there. Considering this I saw a lot of interesting wildlife during the years.

If you are in Miami you have to go to the Everglades National Park. It’s a little south of Miami right behind the city of Homestead. Forget those speed boats, they are not allowed within the park. Within the park are several trails in different locations along the only road south to Flamingo, the very tip of Florida.

Probably the most interesting trail is right next to the park entrance, the Anhinga Trail and the Gumbo Limbo Trail. The Anhinga Trail leads you to round trip along and above some deeper water. During the summer is the rainy season, so there is a lot of water and the animals are more dispersed. You may find a lot of different birds, fishes, insects, spiders, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes and of course alligators. Any time I came here I found at least one alligator, sometimes two or three or … many. I also found different species of turtles, anoles, once a large green iguana, black racers (Coluber constrictor), an Everglades Racer (Coluber constrictor paludicola) and some water snakes (Nerodia sp.) I couldn’t identify (they where a little too far away and between a lot of greenery).


Black racer





Everglades Racer




American Alligator




There were other great spots, but you have to be aware that trees and woods mean mosquitos, during summer time lots and more of them, so an interesting trail like the Mahogany Hammock or the Gumbo Limbo Trail will result in multiple mosquito stings (or is it bites?). Once I got so many bites I stopped counting at 80…

If you go all the way down to Flamingo you may find not only alligators roaming the marina but on occasion even an American crocodile.

American Crocodile






Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)




Another interesting location is the Miami zoo, it has a nice collection of reptiles.

If you go to Orlando make sure to visit the World Reptile Serpentarium in St. Cloud. They are basically a venom production facility with a nice collection of snakes on display and twice a day venom extraction shows.

If you are at the gulf coast you might visit the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island.

Have fun and happy herping…

Roman

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by IW17

Florida is a big place. What area of Florida are you planning?

I'm not sure yet which is why I'm wondering of others experiances or maybe even "secret" spots. I want to narrow things down to regions or places that have the best diversity of wildlife, particularly reptiles. I really, really want to see all the exotic species running about down there, and so that is my primary interest.

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

Having lived in Miami for a number of years, you could always count of finding wildlife in the Everglades. Basically head west on Tamiami trail and stop along the way and you'll find places to go herping and see plenty of alligators in the canals. Just one of MANY possibilities.

I've read about the Tamiami trail a few times for herping, it's a highway isn't it? Do you know of any particular parks that have good diversity besides the Everglades? I will of course go there, it goes without saying but I know there must be small little state or public parks around that have great trails and stuff. Also, how is the weather and mosquitos in June and July? I'd like to go in May but work might get in the way, I work two jobs. I really, really want to be able to be down there for at least a week though. Being an adult is overrated.

Originally Posted by Roman

Some tips from one tourist to another…

I have been in Florida for several times, almost always during July and September. I didn’t do real field herping, because I didn’t want to drag heavy boots with me for 4 weeks when I would probably only use them once or twice during that time. On the other hand I don’t want to go into the bush where I might stumble upon a potentially dangerous snake like a diamondback or a cottonmouth just with some sandals, so I stayed pretty much on the trails and was watching from there. Considering this I saw a lot of interesting wildlife during the years.

If you are in Miami you have to go to the Everglades National Park. It’s a little south of Miami right behind the city of Homestead. Forget those speed boats, they are not allowed within the park. Within the park are several trails in different locations along the only road south to Flamingo, the very tip of Florida.

Probably the most interesting trail is right next to the park entrance, the Anhinga Trail and the Gumbo Limbo Trail. The Anhinga Trail leads you to round trip along and above some deeper water. During the summer is the rainy season, so there is a lot of water and the animals are more dispersed. You may find a lot of different birds, fishes, insects, spiders, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes and of course alligators. Any time I came here I found at least one alligator, sometimes two or three or … many. I also found different species of turtles, anoles, once a large green iguana, black racers (Coluber constrictor), an Everglades Racer (Coluber constrictor paludicola) and some water snakes (Nerodia sp.) I couldn’t identify (they where a little too far away and between a lot of greenery).

There were other great spots, but you have to be aware that trees and woods mean mosquitos, during summer time lots and more of them, so an interesting trail like the Mahogany Hammock or the Gumbo Limbo Trail will result in multiple mosquito stings (or is it bites?). Once I got so many bites I stopped counting at 80…

If you go all the way down to Flamingo you may find not only alligators roaming the marina but on occasion even an American crocodile.

Another interesting location is the Miami zoo, it has a nice collection of reptiles.

If you go to Orlando make sure to visit the World Reptile Serpentarium in St. Cloud. They are basically a venom production facility with a nice collection of snakes on display and twice a day venom extraction shows.

If you are at the gulf coast you might visit the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island.

Have fun and happy herping…

Roman

Thanks very much for the suggestions Roman, I'll certainly make sure we hit those trails you spoke of. And as far as Mosquitos go, I have plenty of experience with the endless hoards of them and know to come prepared. I'll probably go to the Miami zoo again as well, haven't been there in awhile.