Well I would like to try my luck at field herping

Darren179 · 01-20-04, 11:43 AM

I live in Oshawa so... not the best of places but would you guys recommend any spots in southern ontario for a first timer? and maybe a good place to learn about some natice species to the area before I go?

JD@reptiles · 01-20-04, 12:10 PM

in the summer i will show you some good places to go herping. and maybe you would like to join jeff hathaway's pelee island trip? i gaurintee you will find more than one snake.

Darren179 · 01-20-04, 12:24 PM

Wow I would love to go on that trip how much when and where can I get details!

Swampwalker · 01-21-04, 02:44 AM

Try going down to the trails next to the GM Head Office (I believe it is on Wentworth or Wilson, whichever runs east - west) in the spring. You will find E. Garter Snakes, Painted Turtle, and maybe even a Red-eared Slider (non-native turtle). Thats all I was able to find the one summer I was working in Oshawa, but I'm sure there is a lot more there (I only looked on my lunch breaks).

Pelee Island is an excellent trip. You'll see some great herps only found on Pelee and meet a lot of great herpers. Jeff and Jenny do a fantastic job of organizing these trips and the food is fantastic.

Heres a good start for information about herps found in Ontario:
Canadian Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Network
and maybe pick up a field guide for Reptiles & Amphibian of North America (Eastern/Central)

Dozer · 01-27-04, 03:09 PM

For anyone else that lives in and around Toronto... I know of a spot to find lots and lots of snakes. Its a quarry in Scarborough :P Its at Victoria Park and Gerrard right behind the golf range. Late spring there is awesome to herp and find stuff like garters, Dekays, and smooth/rough green snakes ( not sure which of the two 'cause when we did catch them a few years back, I didn't have a knowledge about snakes

). Theres plenty of boards and stuff to flip and snakes there can be found at some nice sizes

Mike

Jeff Hathaway · 01-29-04, 02:34 PM

Hi Dozer,

Those would be smooth greens, as we don't have roughs in Ontario. Seeing these in Toronto would be quite interesting- I'd love to check out the site with you sometime this summer.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!