Anza Borrego

Field Herping | A Night in the Anza Borrego

This entry was posted in Field Herping Lizards Reptiles Snakes Venom and tagged Anza Borrego Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Biology Crotalus cerastes laterorepens desert Desert Kangaroo Rat gecko genus Glossy snake habitat Las Vegas Nevada lizard Lizards Nocturnal pet reptile reptilia Rosy Boa Savannah monitor snake species Squamata subspecies on by

Within our first hour we saw approximately 4 DOR species in various numbers. We were quickly becoming convinced all that we would see would be the inevitable DOR snake or lizard. We paused shortly after entering the area known as Scissors crossing at some rock outcroppings hoping to find the desert rosy boa Lichanura trivirgata gracia while we didn’t find those, we did come across one of their prey items; the desert kangaroo rat Dipodomys deserti we couldn’t photograph the little rodent peering up at me through a crack in the decomposing granite boulder where it was hiding because our photographer left the camera in the car! I assure you it was an oh isn’t that cute moment, all I could see were two large somewhat bulging black eyes peering up at me begging me not to eat the body they were attached to.

Field Herping: Anza Borrego – Lone Desert Highway

This entry was posted in Field Herping Lizards Reptiles Scorpion Care Slideshows Snakes Venom and tagged Anza Borrego Barefoot Gecko Border Patrol Chionactis occipitalis Coleonyx Coleonyx switaki Coleonyx variegatus variegatus Colorado Desert Sidewinder Crotalus cerastes laterorepens Desert Banded GeckoColeonyx variegatus variegatus Field Herping gecko Geckos Kingsnake kingsnakes Lampropeltis getula Leopard Gecko Lizards Rattlesnake road cruising Scissors Crossing Snakes venom Western Shovel-nosed snake Chionactis occipitalisWestern Shovel-nosed snake on by

About this time, I am thinking that we should be encountering the Desert Banded Gecko C.v.variegatus that we had originally come out for. My family and I were about to leave the desert for the night and head back home for some rest, happy, but still disappointed we had not seen our target species. It was at this time that I noticed a vehicle following us. Now in case anyone is unaware, it is illegal to collect anything in most state parks. My family and I are aware of this and do not collect, but simply go and photograph those species that we are searching for.