Scheduled for Saturday, 17 August 2024
Due to the chance of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding in the late afternoon and evening, all scheduled trips are during the day. However, if the weather permits, we may schedule evening herping field trips, but will not know weather until a day or two before (if then). If so, trips will be posted in person at the SWPARC Annual Meeting.
Folks will be able to sign up for the field trips at the registration table at the meeting on a first come, first served basis (some may have a capped number of participants). Unless otherwise noted, all trips will be done by carpooling. Participants must make sure they have signed a participation waiver before attending one of these field trips.
Some trips are in protected areas, while some are in areas of legal take. In all cases, participants must abide by state, federal, and local laws, as well as land use regulations for each site. In areas where contacting herpetofauna is allowed, the participant must have a valid Arizona State Hunting license (for reptiles) or State Fishing License (for amphibians), or a combination license for both. Alternatively, if participants have a legal Scientific Activity License (SAL) that includes handling or manipulating animals during field ventures, then that should work. IF we make arrangements with Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to sign people up as volunteers, that may be a way for a more hands-on approach in unprotected lands.
Link to AZGFD for info on licenses or SAL: https://www.azgfd.com/
All field trips are subject to change. Additional or alternate trips may be planned, depending on participation.
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Saguaro National Park (Tucson Mountains District) [SNPW]. This is about 15 minutes from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM). Carpool to the meeting site of Valley View trailhead at 0700 h. Any vehicle type can access this area (it is a one-way road, though, so access from Hohokam Rd, not Golden Gate Rd. This is a completely protected park, so there will be no touching or manipulation of animals—all photographs must be in situ. Likely finds include Zebra-tailed Lizard, Desert Iguana, Desert Spiny Lizard, Side-blotched Lizard, Tiger Whiptail, and any snakes, tortoises, or less common lizards that decide to present themselves. Participation cap: 10, including leads. Leads: Paul Maier and Jesús Dueñas.
Sabino Canyon. On the east side of Tucson, this popular riparian park in Santa Catalina Mountains foothills has an unusually high diversity of amphibians and reptiles, featuring many lizard species. On a previous SWPARC field trip during the day, participants saw Giant Spotted Whiptail, Gila Monster, Eastern Collared Lizard, Greater Earless Lizard, Black-necked Garternsake, and others. At night, Tiger Rattlesnake (eating a rodent), Sonoran Coralsnake, and Gila Monster were seen, among others creatures (Lead: Tucson Herpetological Society).
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Scotia Canyon, Huachucas. This is an important conservation site in southeastern Arizona, with state and federally protected taxa including Chiricahua Leopard Frog, Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake, Mexican Gartersnake, and Sonoran Tiger Salamander (or hybrids), along with federally listed plants and mollusks. Plus, one might find Slevin’s Bunchgrass Lizard, Clark’s Spiny Lizard, Madrean Alligator Lizard, Arizona Treefrog, and Rock Rattlesnake. Legality of touching and manipulating is unknown at this time. Stay tuned for more details, such as carpooling site and time (although likely to be early). Leads: Grace Laskey and Anthony Pawlicki.
Pajaritos. A famous destination to find species that are otherwise only seen in Mexico. Carpool info to be determined (check at registration desk). Diurnal species include Chiricahua Leopard Frog, Lowland Leopard Frog, Canyon Treefrog, Sinaloan Narrow-mouthed ToadFrog, Clark’s Spiny Lizard, Sonoran Mud Turtle, Mountain Skink, Giant Spotted Whiptail, Elegant Earless Lizard, and if you are lucky, Vinesnake, Green Ratsnake, and Madrean Mountain Kingsnake. Participants will hike three miles up Sycamore Cyn, so be prepared with hiking boots, sunscreen, food, water, and so on. This is a venue that will allow contact with the animals, with proper permits. Participation Cap is 20, including leads. Trip Leads: Audrey Owens, Ian Latella, and Ryn Davison.
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Questions? Contact Larry Jones at Gilaman@comcast.net