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Herping Best Practices
Purpose Of This DocumentThis document is currently a work in progress. Its purpose is to provide a guideline for safe and ethical herping. It is primarily geared toward--but not exclusively limited to--those new to the hobby. Field EtiquetteProper field herping etiquette is briefly comprehended in the motto tread lightly. A responsible field herper is always cognizant of the habitat and what effects his or her actions may have on the habitat, both for the near and long terms. Flipping MaterialsHabitat Enhancement / AlterationLittle Known SpotsHands-On or Hands-OffMost field herpers employ a combination of hands-on and hands-off techniques. The circumstances typically dictate whether a herp is observed only or is captured and released. Unfortunately, many herpers get a bit too grab happy and overlook the pure enjoyment that comes from simply observing herps as they behave naturally in their environment. Observation OnlyCatch and ReleasePrivate LandsIn all circumstances concerning private lands, responsible field herpers are respectful of the land and property owners. Posted PropertiesUnposted PropertiesPublic LandsIn all circumstances concerning public lands, responsible field herpers are respectful of the land and adhere strictly to applicable rules and laws governing the use of these lands. National ForestsNational Wildlife RefugesState ParksWildlife Management AreasHandling Equipment and TechniquesA variety of handling equipment and techniques are employed when dealing with herps. Not all of these are advisable! Even some of the more "tried and true" techniques are incredibly dangerous and careless mistakes can prove costly! Bags and BucketsBags and buckets are great containers for storing herps short term. For snakes, a pillowcase or other similar breathable cloth sack works great. Be sure to inspect bag for holes PRIOR to putting the snake into the bag. Also note that it is well advised to "double bag" venomous species and put them into another container or at the very least make sure the bag is appropriately labeled and placed in an area where someone won't accidentally be bitten by the snake through the bag. For this reason buckets are preferred by some for venomous species. Whether the animal is in a bucket or in a bag make sure to store in an area where the animal will not overheat. Keeping animals in a cooler with ice for long trips is sometimes advisable. Hands / GlovesLizard NoosesNeckingPotato Rakes / Stump RippersRoad CruisingSnake HooksSnake TongsTailingTubesTubes work on the premise that a snake will crawl (sometimes with the need of encouragement) into a clear tube that is big enough for the snake to enter, but too small for the snake to double back out of. Once in the tube the snake can be grabbed along with the tube and kept from advancing or backing out of the tube. It is important that you grab the snake at the junction where it enters the tube and have a hold onto the tube with the same hand. Otherwise the snake can push the tube off of the front portion of the body resulting in the holding of an unrestrained snake midbody. This is the preferred method for restraint of venomous species and puts minimal stress on the animal being restrained. TrappingThe trapping of herps is generally reserved for those conducting scientific field research (i.e. professional herpetologists, graduate students, etc.) and is mostly discouraged for amateur field herping. Drift FencesFunnel TrapsPitfall TrapsTurtle TrapsDocumentation and ListsIt has become common practice for field herpers to informally publish their findings for the enjoyment and education of others. Online Field ReportsJournaling / MappingFirst Finds of the YearYearly ListsLife ListsHerps Around the HouseWhether wanted or not, herps often find themselves in contact--sometimes conflict!--with human habitation. Discouragement OfEncouragement OfKillingLiving Peaceably WithRelocationHerps on the RoadFor a variety of reasons, herps are often found on highways and this presents some special circumstances for both the animals and human travelers. Assisting AcrossInjuredVehicle AvoidanceHerps Collected From the WildWhile consensus on some points remains lacking, it is generally agreed upon that herps should only be collected from the wild for legitimate purposes. "It's cute", "it's neat", and the like do not constitute, in and of themselves, a reason for the removal of an animal from its natural habitat. For Educational PurposesFor Scientific ResearchFor Long Term PetsFor Short Term CaptivesFor VoucheringHerps As PetsIn recent times, the keeping of herps as pets has become wildly popular. However, it is not an endeavor to enter into lightly or without forethought. The points provided here are intended only to address some of the most common issues. (Numerous other sites are geared more specifically to the herpetoculturist.) ObtainingCaring ForHousingGood First PetsHotsEscapeesReleasing |
