Arizona - 2006

One of my favorite herping trips of all time was a trip I took to southeastern Arizona with my undergraduate advisor and mentor Dr. Mike Dorcas in August 2002. Since that time Mike and I have often talked about making another trip to Arizona. In August 2006 we decided to go for it. Steve Price, Mike's research coordinator also decided to come along.

Whereas in 2002 we were participating in a scientific study and were somewhat restricted by our sampling protocol, this trip was purely for fun and the goal was simple: try t0 find as many new and interesting herp species as possible.

We flew into Phoenix and our plan was to head straight to the Tucson area. However, only a couple of miles outside Phoenix we passed a small park and couldn't resist stopping at some great looking hillsides.

A few minutes of searching yielded our first lifer for the trip

Chuckawalla (Sauromalus obesus)

We hadn't realized it before hand, but Chuckawallas in this particular population of have stunning orange tails...

Off to a great start, we continued our way south and reached our target roads southwest of Tucson by nightfall. Unfortunately it had rained and the temps were fairly cool. Although this slowed snake activity, amphibians were out in force.

Red-Spotted Toad (Bufo punctatus)

Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii) - photo by Steve Price

Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius) - photo by Mike Dorcas

Although the night yielded relatively few snakes (1 AOR Mojave rattlesnake, and DOR Desert Kingsnake and Coachwhip), the next day the weather cleared and as afternoon approached we began to get anxious.

After talking to some local herpetologists we got advice on a spot in the sky islands where we had at least some chance of getting a green rat snake, my most wanted species for the trip. Although we were told that they were most active at dusk, we got impatient and decided to hit the road in the afternoon, just in case. We arrived at our destination and the habitat looked beautiful...

We were on our first pass, still long before dusk when Mike slammed on the breaks. I almost couldn't believe it as I ran back and saw an olive snake stretched across the road!

Green Rat Snake (Senticolis triaspis)

I couldn't believe it, barely 24 hours into the trip and I had already found my target species... AMAZING.

Little did we know that the night would only get better...

photo by Steve Price

As darkness fell, critters began to show themselves.

In a true demonstration of fatherly devotion, Steve decided that he needed a picture of him holding a tarantula to show is son. - photos by Mike Dorcas

Not long after dark, we found our second snake of the night...

Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus)

It wasn't long before another rattlesnake presented itself. I took one look at the short, fat body form and knew it was another lifer for me...

Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris)

With snake activity really starting to pick up, we dropped down out of the mountains to the low end of the pass... and were rewarded...

Pima Leaf-Nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus browni)

Soon after, I caught a glimpse of color out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't believe it, another new species that we had really wanted to find.

Sonoran Coral Snake (Microroides euryxanthus)

Soon after, another Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris), this one with pretty pinkish coloration

As it got late the snakes started to slow down. We were all ecstatic and ready to head home, hardly able to believe how many of our target species we'd found in one night. We joked that the only way it could have been better was if we'd found a Gila Monster. You can imagine our surprise as this fellow appeared in our headlights on the last 100 yards of our drive...

Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)

Hoping to keep up our streak of good luck, we got up early the next morning and headed south to the Huachuca mountains in hope of finding rock or ridge-nosed rattlesnakes...

photo by Steve Price

On the way we passed through grassland habitat, complete with Pronghorn Antelope

We arrived in the foothills and spent spent hours searching rock and brush piles for rattlesnakes. Unfortunately, all we turned up were lizards...

Lesser Earless Lizard (Holbrookia elegans)

Finally I spotted some movement in a juniper clump...

Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana)

I had caught this species on the road before but it was a real treat to find one on the crawl.

Mike was pretty excited about it too...

Not long after I ripped a rotten log and found this lifer, in shed but still pretty...

Mountain Patch-Nosed Snake (Salvadora grahamiae)

Despite the fact that we didn't find either of the montaine rattlesnakes we were targeting, we had had such good luck in the Tucson area that we decided to change our plans and hit some other areas in Arizona.

That night we headed west along the famous Ajo road towards central Arizona.

photo by Steve Price

As dusk approached, roving thunderstorms became more and more prevalent. We found ourselves working to avoid the cool temps and target snakes.

Of course we couldn't resist an amphibian spot or two and were rewarded with a species we had all hoped to see.

Sonoran Green Toad (Bufo retiformis)

Ajo road produced quite a few snakes, but most (including a sidewinder) were DOR. The few live snakes included several

Longnosed snakes (Rhinocheilus lecontei) - photo by Steve Price

and Mohave Rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus)

The next morning we headed north, through the scorching low desert, towards the Mojave - photos by Steve Price

Of course we couldn't resist braving the heat to catch a few lizards. After a few fruitless scrambles after desert iguanas, I finally cornered one inside a dead Saguaro...

Desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)

I managed to grab this lifer by hand...

Arizona Brush Lizard (Urosaurus graciosus)

but other lizards required a noose ...

Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)

Arizona Desert Whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris)

Zebra-Tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)

We finally arrived at our destination, mountainous areas north of Phoenix, and wasted no time in hitting the roads.

It wasn't long before we spotted a snake on the road. I couldn't believe it, I had almost forgotten that these guys actually exist in the wild...

Desert Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata)

We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw a familiar shape in the road

Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)

After a quick couple of photos we arrived back in the Huachucas and began kicking rocks for rattlesnakes.

photo by Steve Price

After several hours of fruitless searching the rain clouds rolled in and we headed back to the car. I stopped to look in one last rock pile and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw not one, but two familiar coils protruding from a crevice.

Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)

Triumphant, we left the Huachucas and spent our final night on the road. The drive produced lots of the usual suspects, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius) - photo by Steve Price

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) - photo by Steve Price

All in all, the trip far surpassed my expectations. In only five days we caught nearly all of our target species and even made time to head north and try for (and catch) a boa. I could on for pages about how great the trip was, but I think the species list speaks for itself.

All I can say is that I can't wait to go back, willardi beware!

photo by Steve Price

Arizona	August 2006

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One of my favorite herping trips of all time was a trip I took to southeastern Arizona with my undergraduate advisor and mentor Dr. Mike Dorcas in August 2002. Since that time Mike and I have often talked about making another trip to Arizona. In August 2006 we decided to go for it. Steve Price, Mike's research coordinator also decided to come along. Whereas in 2002 we were participating in a scientific study and were somewhat restricted by our sampling protocol, this trip was purely for fun and the goal was simple: try t0 find as many new and interesting herp species as possible. We flew into Phoenix and our plan was to head straight to the Tucson area. However, only a couple of miles outside Phoenix we passed a small park and couldn't resist stopping at some great looking hillsides.

A few minutes of searching yielded our first lifer for the trip *Chuckawalla (Sauromalus obesus)*



We hadn't realized it before hand, but Chuckawallas in this particular population of have stunning orange tails...

Off to a great start, we continued our way south and reached our target roads southwest of Tucson by nightfall. Unfortunately it had rained and the temps were fairly cool. Although this slowed snake activity, amphibians were out in force. *Red-Spotted Toad (Bufo punctatus)*

*Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii) - photo by Steve Price*

*Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius) - photo by Mike Dorcas*

Although the night yielded relatively few snakes (1 AOR Mojave rattlesnake, and DOR Desert Kingsnake and Coachwhip), the next day the weather cleared and as afternoon approached we began to get anxious. After talking to some local herpetologists we got advice on a spot in the sky islands where we had at least some chance of getting a green rat snake, my most wanted species for the trip. Although we were told that they were most active at dusk, we got impatient and decided to hit the road in the afternoon, just in case. We arrived at our destination and the habitat looked beautiful...


We were on our first pass, still long before dusk when Mike slammed on the breaks. I almost couldn't believe it as I ran back and saw an olive snake stretched across the road!

*Green Rat Snake (Senticolis triaspis)*



I couldn't believe it, barely 24 hours into the trip and I had already found my target species... AMAZING. Little did we know that the night would only get better...

photo by Steve Price

As darkness fell, critters began to show themselves. In a true demonstration of fatherly devotion, Steve decided that he needed a picture of him holding a tarantula to show is son. - photos by Mike Dorcas



Not long after dark, we found our second snake of the night... *Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus)*


It wasn't long before another rattlesnake presented itself. I took one look at the short, fat body form and knew it was another lifer for me... *Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris)*



With snake activity really starting to pick up, we dropped down out of the mountains to the low end of the pass... and were rewarded... *Pima Leaf-Nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus browni)*

What a cool animal!

Soon after, I caught a glimpse of color out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't believe it, another new species that we had really wanted to find. *Sonoran Coral Snake (Microroides euryxanthus)*




Soon after, another *Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris)*, this one with pretty pinkish coloration

As it got late the snakes started to slow down. We were all ecstatic and ready to head home, hardly able to believe how many of our target species we'd found in one night. We joked that the only way it could have been better was if we'd found a Gila Monster. You can imagine our surprise as this fellow appeared in our headlights on the last 100 yards of our drive... *Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)*

Hoping to keep up our streak of good luck, we got up early the next morning and headed south to the Huachuca mountains in hope of finding rock or ridge-nosed rattlesnakes...

photo by Steve Price
On the way we passed through grassland habitat, complete with Pronghorn Antelope

We arrived in the foothills and spent spent hours searching rock and brush piles for rattlesnakes. Unfortunately, all we turned up were lizards... *Lesser Earless Lizard (Holbrookia elegans)*

Finally I spotted some movement in a juniper clump... *Arizona Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana)* I had caught this species on the road before but it was a real treat to find one on the crawl.


Mike was pretty excited about it too...

Not long after I ripped a rotten log and found this lifer, in shed but still pretty... *Mountain Patch-Nosed Snake (Salvadora grahamiae)*


Despite the fact that we didn't find either of the montaine rattlesnakes we were targeting, we had had such good luck in the Tucson area that we decided to change our plans and hit some other areas in Arizona. That night we headed west along the famous Ajo road towards central Arizona.
photo by Steve Price
As dusk approached, roving thunderstorms became more and more prevalent. We found ourselves working to avoid the cool temps and target snakes.

Of course we couldn't resist an amphibian spot or two and were rewarded with a species we had all hoped to see. *Sonoran Green Toad (Bufo retiformis)*

Ajo road produced quite a few snakes, but most (including a sidewinder) were DOR. The few live snakes included several *Longnosed snakes (Rhinocheilus lecontei)* - photo by Steve Price

and *Mohave Rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus)*
The next morning we headed north, through the scorching low desert, towards the Mojave - photos by Steve Price



Of course we couldn't resist braving the heat to catch a few lizards. After a few fruitless scrambles after desert iguanas, I finally cornered one inside a dead Saguaro... *Desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)*




I managed to grab this lifer by hand... *Arizona Brush Lizard (Urosaurus graciosus)*

but other lizards required a noose ... *Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)*


*Arizona Desert Whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris)*

*Zebra-Tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)*


We finally arrived at our destination, mountainous areas north of Phoenix, and wasted no time in hitting the roads. It wasn't long before we spotted a snake on the road. I couldn't believe it, I had almost forgotten that these guys actually exist in the wild... *Desert Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata)*


Having found a boa on our first night up north, we decided to pick up again and head back to the sky islands for another shot at montaine rattlesnakes. After a long night on the interstate we finally got back into got back into good habitat in the morning.


We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw a familiar shape in the road *Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)*


After a quick couple of photos we arrived back in the Huachucas and began kicking rocks for rattlesnakes. photo by Steve Price

After several hours of fruitless searching the rain clouds rolled in and we headed back to the car. I stopped to look in one last rock pile and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw not one, but two familiar coils protruding from a crevice. *Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)*



Triumphant, we left the Huachucas and spent our final night on the road. The drive produced lots of the usual suspects, but nothing out of the ordinary. *Colorado River Toad (Bufo alvarius) - photo by Steve Price*

*Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)*

*Blacktail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) - photo by Steve Price*

All in all, the trip far surpassed my expectations. In only five days we caught nearly all of our target species and even made time to head north and try for (and catch) a boa. I could on for pages about how great the trip was, but I think the species list speaks for itself. All I can say is that I can't wait to go back, willardi beware! photo by Steve Price

Species List