HumboldtHerps.com
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Humboldt County Herpetological Society
The Humboldt County Herpetological Society invites you to explore our wonderful world of reptiles and amphibians.
We are a local non-profit community hub for herp-related services and informational resources. We have a message
board used for herp-related inquiries and adoptions and rescue referrals, links to experienced local herp-keepers for pet
support, and a community outreach program where we bring the critters to the public! We endorse responsible
herpetoculture and embrace all avenues that may further education and practices in conservation. Our native species
index offers detailed information and/or pictures about local species.
As the society is still a work in progress, we ask that you please be patient while we find the time to write additional
pages for the site. We are a but a small band of volunteers with big hearts, and much of our free time is spent caring for
our slippery, warty, leathery, scaly, or hard-shelled friends.
We are a local non-profit community hub for herp-related services and informational resources. We have a message
board used for herp-related inquiries and adoptions and rescue referrals, links to experienced local herp-keepers for pet
support, and a community outreach program where we bring the critters to the public! We endorse responsible
herpetoculture and embrace all avenues that may further education and practices in conservation. Our native species
index offers detailed information and/or pictures about local species.
As the society is still a work in progress, we ask that you please be patient while we find the time to write additional
pages for the site. We are a but a small band of volunteers with big hearts, and much of our free time is spent caring for
our slippery, warty, leathery, scaly, or hard-shelled friends.
| Herp Societies & Links |
| Captive Herps Photo Contributions |
EDUCATION CONSERVATION PROPAGATION
EDUCATION CONSERVATION PROPAGATION
| THIS WEBSITE ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION |
WHAT'S NEW ??? WHAT'S NEW ??? WHAT'S NEW ???
HumboldtHerps is two years old now! We have taken part in multiple presentations at the HSU Natural History
Museum (including January 2009's "Understanding NW CA Amphibians and Reptiles" and March's "Reptile
and Amphibian Discovery Day"; we took part in Vanessa Blot's CA Reptorium AmphibianArk presentation at
the Sequoia Park Zoo last May 2008, and also, last October's Science Night at College of the Redwoods.
HCHS members have taken part in numerous herp rescues and adoptions. Our Pet Support Group continues
to offer or refer online advice for herp-related questions. HumboldtHerps hopes to maintain its productive
stance within the community and is becoming an online source of information for the herp community abroad.
Many of the new herp sightings in the NATIVES section have GPS coordinates (available with special
permission). We have added some sightings from Bradford Norman's (ARS Consulting) library. The HCHS is
also endorsing efforts to communicate and get involved in activities that address invasive animal and plant
species as well animal and plant pathogens; bullfrogs, chytrid fungus and ranavirus are at the front line.
2008 was a fun year for the society, and 2009 is unfolding wonderfully!
Please click Herp News & Events for coming adventures and updated pics! Here you can also explore
photographs of previous HCHS meetings and events.
Welcome and enjoy!
Steven Krause
Website-coordinator and Co-founder
March 2009
Museum (including January 2009's "Understanding NW CA Amphibians and Reptiles" and March's "Reptile
and Amphibian Discovery Day"; we took part in Vanessa Blot's CA Reptorium AmphibianArk presentation at
the Sequoia Park Zoo last May 2008, and also, last October's Science Night at College of the Redwoods.
HCHS members have taken part in numerous herp rescues and adoptions. Our Pet Support Group continues
to offer or refer online advice for herp-related questions. HumboldtHerps hopes to maintain its productive
stance within the community and is becoming an online source of information for the herp community abroad.
Many of the new herp sightings in the NATIVES section have GPS coordinates (available with special
permission). We have added some sightings from Bradford Norman's (ARS Consulting) library. The HCHS is
also endorsing efforts to communicate and get involved in activities that address invasive animal and plant
species as well animal and plant pathogens; bullfrogs, chytrid fungus and ranavirus are at the front line.
2008 was a fun year for the society, and 2009 is unfolding wonderfully!
Please click Herp News & Events for coming adventures and updated pics! Here you can also explore
photographs of previous HCHS meetings and events.
Welcome and enjoy!
Steven Krause
Website-coordinator and Co-founder
March 2009
Welcome to HumboldtHerps!
Welcome to HumboldtHerps!
RECENT SIGHTINGS
The HCHS and the California Reptorium are always looking for
volunteers to help with Outreach endeavors. Lecturers and
reptile wranglers are always welcome.
Interested in adopting or fostering? Click here!
volunteers to help with Outreach endeavors. Lecturers and
reptile wranglers are always welcome.
Interested in adopting or fostering? Click here!
NEW PICS!
| WHAT'S IN THE BOX? |
| Christian Clodfelter bred this slippery clutch of BCI's in 2007. Check out what Chris and his boid friends are up to this year at: |
| New to the world! These Hypo Motley Corn Snakes broke through their shells late July of 2008! |
| Look what's for lunch! This Coastal Giant Salamander is having a rather sluggish time eating a banana slug. (July 2008) |
| This Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzi) was found out and about on a misty winter morning at Hiouchi Flat in Del Norte County. (Jan. 08, 2009) |
HumboldtHerps.com
Humboldt County Herpetological Society
| This Beaded Lizard was a guest at the HSU Natural History Museum's annual Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Day on March 7, 2009. Check Herp News and Events to see more critters who were on display at the event. |
Early risers!
| Northwestern Garter (Thamnophis ordinoides) Five of these neonates were basking on cement at the Visitor's Center at CEBEC near Crescent Beach. March 10, 2009 |
G = GPS
| This Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber c. mormon) tastes the Hiouchi breeze! April 21, 2009 Hiouchi Flat (Del Norte County) |
| This Northwestern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) was found at a periwinkle control site at Hiouchi Flat. April 21, 2009 (Redwood National & State Parks, Del Norte Co) |
Oregon Alligator Lizard with ticks. Ticks do not just feed on mammals! Tick nymphs, including those of the California Black-legged Tick, which is a primary carrier of Lyme disease, often start their lives feeding on the blood of lizards and snakes. They may be found embedded in the nostrils, ear openings, and in soft parts between scales. An article posted April 29, 1998 in The Berkleyan pointed out that a protein in the blood of the Western Fence Lizard actually kills the Lyme disease bacterium! |
Ticks!
Invasive Species
coming soon!
coming soon!
| Huge frogs; tiny mussels; aggressive fungi, bacteria, and viruses; and an army of weeds are changing the face of Northwestern California's landscapes! Native flora and fauna are becoming evermore threatened by exotic species from at least 4 different kingdoms. What can you do to help? Stay tuned... |
| Erycines! This CB East African Sand Boa (Eryx colubrinus) shares a unique lineage with California's own Rubber and Rosy Boas via a common ancestor that lived prior to the geologic separation of Africa and South America! |
| BIG RESPONSIBILITY! Black-throat Monitors are awesome lizards that can reach a length of six feet. Consider your personal space before you decide to acquire one of these animals; enclosure size must address varanid vitality, not just what is considered to be basically humane!. Feeding and handling of these animals also requires special attention, as aggressive monitors can inflict serious bites. In an ideal hospitable setting, monitors may be tamed to be leash friendly. Always weigh all the facts. Getting in over your head with a pet isn't good for you or your animal. Photos by Aaron Houser |
Desert Roadtrip 2009: Steve Krause (yours truly) and Brad Fisher spent 3 days in Mojave and
Colorado desert habitat and brought home a whole camera full of herps. We started at the Pisgah Crater
Lava Fields south of Route 66 near Bagdad Cafe; we then headed to Joshua Tree National Park and
camped at White Tank; the next morning we hiked the Lost Horse Mine Trail; in the afternoon we headed
towards Box Canyon Road near Mecca, CA , where we hiked the Sheep Springs Oasis Trail; our last day
was spent exploring Palm Canyon Trail in Anza Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs, CA. Here
are some pics of one surprise after another! GPS coordinates are linked to most of the photos.
Colorado desert habitat and brought home a whole camera full of herps. We started at the Pisgah Crater
Lava Fields south of Route 66 near Bagdad Cafe; we then headed to Joshua Tree National Park and
camped at White Tank; the next morning we hiked the Lost Horse Mine Trail; in the afternoon we headed
towards Box Canyon Road near Mecca, CA , where we hiked the Sheep Springs Oasis Trail; our last day
was spent exploring Palm Canyon Trail in Anza Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs, CA. Here
are some pics of one surprise after another! GPS coordinates are linked to most of the photos.
| PISGAH CRATER lava tube habitat |
| CHUCKWALLAS! |
Great Basin Whiptails! (Aspidoscelis t. tigris)
| Side-blotched Lizards! (Uta stansburiana) |
| SOUTHWESTERN SPECKLED RATTLESNAKE! (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus) |
Saturday, May 23
Sunday, May 24
| WHITE TANK habitat |
| Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister) |
| more Whiptails! |
| more Side-blotched! |
Monday, May 25
| LOST HORSE MINE TRAIL habitat |
WESTERN
PATCH-NOSED
SNAKE!
(Salvadora hexalepis)
PATCH-NOSED
SNAKE!
(Salvadora hexalepis)
| more Whiptails! |
| more Side-blotched! |
| BOX CANYON roadside habitat |
| Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callasaurus draconoides) |
Desert Iguana
(Dipsosaurus dorsalis)
(Dipsosaurus dorsalis)
| Coachwhip Snake (Masticophis f. piceas) (roadkill) |
| SHEEP SPRINGS OASIS TRAIL habitat |
| SOUTHWESTERN SPECKLED RATTLESNAKE! (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus) |
| PALM CANYON OASIS TRAIL habitat |
| more Whiptails! |
| Granite Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus orcutti) |
| more Uta! |
| GOT VOLUNTEERS? |
| California Chorus Frog (Pseudachris cadaverina) |
| Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) |
| A. punctatus metamorph kill site |
| Cause of mortality unknown. This sighting was referred to CA Fish and Game and AmphibianArk. |
| Steve's WC San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis c. annectans) is growing nicely, and the reds in the tail are really beginning to show! This snake eats adult mice and baby rats. December 27, 2008 |
| Spectacular infernalis! This amazing specimen of a California Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) was captured on film by Alan Francis of Gartersnake.co.uk in Pt. Reyes. Many of our northern infernalis have more subdued reds, especially where intergradation occurs with T. s. fitchi. |
