August 20 Field Trip: Herping in the Pajarito Mountains

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Join the Tucson Herpetological Society for a night and next morning herping trip to the Pajarito Mountains of southern Arizona to search for many species of reptiles and amphibians found no where else in the United States, including Brown Vinesnake, Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snake, Tarahumara Frogs, and others.

This is a first-come, first-served field trip with limited space. NOTE: the monsoon may have dicey weather and flash-floods and lightning strikes may be possible, so this trip may be rescheduled or cancelled up to the last minute.

For more information, contact Larry Jones at gilaman@comcast.net and visit the THS Website at https://tucsonherpsociety.org/category/field-trips/

Please be sure to thoroughly read the following information:

Trip Name: Pajaritos Field Trip, Monsoon 2019

Location: Pajarito Mountains, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Maximum Number of Participants: 12 adults.

Directions to Rendezvous Point: From Tucson, take I-10 to I-19; take I-19 south to exit 12; head west on Ruby Road. The rendezvous point is White Rock Campground about 9 miles to the west—right past the end of the pavement. If you stay on the pavement, you will go a short distance to the right to access Pena Blanca Lake—that means you have gone too far.

Date(s): We are planning to meet at White Rock Campground at 4 PM on Tuesday, 20 August 2019, and leaving the next day after we get our fill. Watch for emails or texts should something happen at the last minute. THIS TRIP WOULD NEED TO BE RESCHEDULED IF WEATHER OUTLOOK IS DICEY.

Length of Trip: One night, then following morning. We gather at the rendezvous point at 4 PM. Those wishing to camp can set up their tents or campers then. If others only wish to look for snakes at night, they can meet at the rendezvous point, then head home when they are done for the evening. For campers, we will cruise roads at night or do walking searches, then return to camp, then the following morning, look for snakes and lizards until it gets too hot or we have our fill. If anyone wishes to stay there longer, be our guest—just be at the rendezvous point on time to make plans.

Accommodations (e.g., campground): White Rock Campground is first-come, first served. It costs $10/night but is half price for those with a senior pass. I will have a Red Jeep 4-door Wrangler AZ “Lagarto,” so if you find me, stop by and say “hi” and clinch your campsite, if camping. I’m hoping to have my pop-up trailer, but it is broken more than functional! I can’t hold a campsite for anyone but me, so you might have to fend for yourself. I can use the kiosk there to post messages, so check it if you don’t find me. White Rock is just onto the dirt on Ruby Rd, right after ending of the pavement. If there is not enough room there, there are alternate undeveloped sites nearby. White Rock is a developed campground with a few sites, picnic tables, and a pit toilet, but there is NO WATER, so bring your own. There are no RV hookups, electricity, or sewage. Dry camping only. THS does not allow dogs while looking for herps (unless they are in your car or you are by yourself). Although they are welcome at the campground, it is logistically best to leave Fido at home.

If you want to camp, but don’t like developed campgrounds, there are many dispersed camping opportunities around, like up Peña Blanca Canyon. Alternatively, people have the option to stay at hotels nearby in Nogales or a bit farther away in Tubac or Rio Rico. Please make any hotel reservations on your own. People can also commute from their home, if they prefer. Just be at the rendezvous point on Day 1 at 4 PM or contact me if there is a problem with that.

Facilities: There is a truck stop with fast food (Wendy’s) and gasoline at the junction of Ruby Road and I-19, on the east side of the freeway. Nogales, Arizona, is a few miles to the south along I-19. There are many options for food, drinks, and supplies. There are picnic grounds and restrooms and boating at the nearby Peña Blanca Lake.

Carpooling: Because camping is involved, we will mostly drive individually and meet on Ruby Road. We can determine carpools for going to sites and road-cruising once we are at the staging area.

Logistical Lead and Contact Info: Larry Jones; 520-730-5254; gilaman@comcast.net.

Meeting Area/Rendezvous Point: See “Directions.” We are meeting at White Rock Campground at 4 PM.

Permits and Authorizations Needed: All handlers must have valid state and/or federal scientific collecting permits or hunting or fishing license and not exceed legal authority. See state and federal regulations to know how to comply. There is no collecting for “pets” on THS field trips.

Off-limits Areas: Stay on roadways and on federal lands (USDA Forest Service, Coronado NF manages most of the lands). Stay off private lands off roadways. Do not cross into Mexico, even though some back roads and trails lead there.

Site-specific Safety Alerts: This is during the monsoon, so weather can be dicey, and we will postpone or cancel if inclement weather exists, but weather this time of year is kind of unpredictable, so be aware and savvy of flash-floods, flooding at the campground, and lightning strikes. Never cross flash-flooded washes. Just wait awhile and the water level will recede. If it looks like the campground could flood (it rarely—but not never happens), seek higher ground and stay put till it is safe to proceed. Note that the area DOES NOT HAVE DOPPLER RADAR, so do not rely on it. There is also no cell coverage in most of the area.

August 28 Field Trip – Sabino Canyon Day and Night 2019

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We will spend a few hours herping in the morning, ending when temperatures are getting too warm for lizards and then re-converge in the late afternoon for a few hours at night. Weather-dependent.

Logistical Lead and Contact Info: Larry Jones. 520-730-5254; gilaman@comcast.net

NOTE: Plans are subject to change, usually due to weather, so keep your cell phone with you, especially the day before and day of the trip, and especially for the night portion, should nasty storms brew.

Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Coronado National Forest.

Target Taxa: The daytime is mostly for lizard watching through binoculars. Close-focus are best. Nighttime is mostly for snake-viewing. This is a good area for many species of snakes and lizards, including Sonoran Spotted Whiptail, Giant Spotted Whiptail, sometimes Eastern Collared Lizard, and a host of other common lizards, especially those of the Sonoran Desert. Snakes include Sonoran Lyresnake, kingsnakes, Black-necked Gartersnake, and other common desert snakes. Venomous species include Gila Monsters, Western Black-tailed Rattlesnakes, Tiger Rattlesnakes, Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes, and Arizona Coralsnakes. Amphibians include several toads and Canyon Treefrogs. Sonoran Desert Tortoises are reasonably common here.

Herp Handling Requirements: This is a no-touch zone.

Meeting Area/Rendezvous Point: Meet at the front of the Visitor’s Center. There is a parking fee that the participants must pay themselves. Hang onto the stub, and use it for re-entry.

Meeting Time and Date: On the morning of 28 August, meet at the visitor’s center at 0630 AM. It is likely to be hot, so an early start is necessary for the day portion. Then after the long lunch and dinner break, meet again at 6:30 PM for the evening portion.

Leaving Time and Date: During the morning, probably leave by 11:00 or so. At night, probably leave at 10:30 PM or so. This is determined as we go. Leaders and helpers of smaller groups will have walkie-talkies and or cell phones to communicate.

Directions: At east end of Tucson, in foothills of Santa Catalina Mountains, at entrance to Sabino Canyon

Accommodations (e.g., campground): Hotels and camping in and near Tucson, but nothing right there.

Facilities: Visitor’s Center, restrooms with flush toilets. There is no food at Sabino Canyon; one would have to bring their own, or head out after the break. There are paved roads and good trails.

Carpooling: No arranged carpooling. However, if participants from the West side want to carpool to Sabino, go for it.

Maximum Number of Participants: 15 persons.

Off-limits Areas: Adjacent private lands are off-limits. Walking will be limited to roads, trails, and possibly the riparian area; however, in the event of monsoonal rains, the riparian area may be dangerous, so at night, it is mandatory to stick by a trail and/or stay with the group helper.

Site-specific Safety Alerts: Daytimes can get very hot, so be prepared. We have no plans to guide the field trip during the heat of the day, so participants are on their own. During moderate weather, rattlesnakes and Gila Monsters may be common, as well as stinging insects. In the afternoon and evening, flash floods, rising stream levels, and lightning are potential safety hazards. If the conditions look too hazardous, we will cancel or postpone the evening field portion. Participants must always stay close to their group helpers, or announce when they are headed back. If were are in underbrush, snakes are a hazard, and leather boots and snake gaiters are advised, and may be mandatory.

What should Participants Bring?: General field gear (e.g., boots, sunscreen, hat, food, water), binoculars (especially close-focus), cell phone, camera, FLASHLIGHT/headlamps required for nighttime portion. If you want to get off the pavement on trails at night, snake-gaiters may be required.

Purpose of Trip (e.g., photograph and release at point of capture): No-touch, photograph in situ the abundant reptile and amphibian fauna of this area. There are ¾ million visitors per year, so the lizards are often tolerant of humans, and it is often easy to get photographs of many species. This is a moonless time during the monsoon, so is categorically the best time for snakes, although it is dependent upon the local conditions.

Nearest Emergency Room with 24/7 Physician on Duty: Saint Joseph’s Hospital, 350 N. Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ 85711. (520) 873-3000. Call 911 in an emergency.

Other Information as Needed: Because this trip is weather-dependent, be ready to change plans at the last minute. Watch for emails, texts, or phone message updates, especially in the days preceding the trip and the day of the trip.

June Field Trip: Herping in the Pajarito Mountains

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Join the Tucson Herpetological Society on June 5th and 6th for an overnight herping field trip in the Pajarito Mountains of Santa Cruz County, Arizona.

Logistical Lead and Contact Info: Larry Jones. 520-730-5254; gilaman@comcast.net

Date(s): We are tentatively planning to meet at White Rock Campground at 4 PM on Wednesday, 5 June 2019, and leaving the next day after we get our fill, but other days, particularly during that week, could be selected. Stay tuned. NOTE: Date may change due to weather or other factors, so watch this space for updates.

Length of Trip: One night, then following morning. We gather at the rendezvous point at 4 PM. Those wishing to camp can set up their tents or campers then. If others only wish to look for snakes at night, they can meet at the rendezvous point, then head home when they are done for the evening. For campers, we will cruise roads at night or do walking searches, then return to camp, then the following morning, look for snakes and lizards until it gets too hot. Those who only want to do the diurnal portion need to get an early start and meet us at the rendezvous point by 7 AM. If anyone wishes to stay there longer, be our guest—just be at the rendezvous point on time to make plans.

Directions to Rendezvous Point: From Tucson, take I-10 to I-19; take I-19 south to exit 12; head west on Ruby Road. The rendezvous point is White Rock Campground about 9 miles to the west—right past the end of the pavement. If you stay on the pavement, you will go a short distance to the right to access Pena Blanca Lake—that means you have gone too far.

Accommodations (e.g., campground): White Rock Campground is first-come, first served. It costs $10/night but is half price for those with a senior pass. I will have a Red Jeep 4-door Wrangler AZ “Lagarto,” so if you find me, stop by and say “hi” and clinch your campsite, if camping. I can’t hold a campsite for anyone but me, so you might have to fend for yourself. I can use the kiosk there to post messages, so check it if you don’t find me. White Rock is just onto the dirt on Ruby Rd, right after ending of the pavement. If there is not enough room there, there are alternate undeveloped sites nearby. White Rock is a developed campground with a few sites, picnic tables, and a pit toilet, but there is NO WATER, so bring your own. There are no RV hookups, electricity, or sewage. Dry camping only. THS does not allow dogs while looking for herps (unless they are in your car or you are by yourself). Although they are welcome at the campground, it is logistically best to leave Fido at home.

If you want to camp, but don’t like developed campgrounds, there are many dispersed camping opportunities around, like up Peña Blanca Canyon. Alternatively, people have the option to stay at hotels nearby in Nogales or a bit farther away in Tubac or Rio Rico. Please make any hotel reservations on your own. People can also commute from their home, if they prefer. Just be at the rendezvous point on Day 1 at 4 PM and Day 2 at 7 AM.

Facilities: There is a truck stop with fast food (Wendy’s) and gasoline at the junction of Ruby Road and I-19, on the east side of the freeway. Nogales, Arizona, is a few miles to the south along I-19. There are many options for food, drinks, and supplies. There are picnic grounds and restrooms and boating at the nearby Peña Blanca Lake.

Carpooling: Because camping is involved, we will mostly drive individually and meet on Ruby Road. We can determine carpools for going to sites and road-cruising once we are at the staging area.

Field Trip: Scorpions of the Tucson Mountains and Avra Valley

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On June 22, 2019, Saguaro National Park West will host a morning presentation by esteemed scorpion expert Larry Jones, and when the sun goes down, you can join scorpion enthusiasts for a night of sightings.

IMPORTANT: To register for the FIELD TRIP, you must contact Saguaro National Park at 520-733-5158. Registration is not required for the morning presentation.
Presentation: 22 June 2019, 10:15 AM

  • Special presentation by Larry Jones in the Saguaro National Park West Theater
  • No sign-up or registration necessary
  • Sponsors and Collaborators: Saguaro National Park West (SNPW), THS, Ironwood Forest NM (IFNM; BLM), Friends of IFNM, and Pima Co. Parks and Recreation

“During the past three years, I have studied scorpions of this area and amassed some 13,000 records of habitat and microhabitat use by six species of scorpions found in the area. I will discuss my research and give an overview of how to identify the species found there, as well as information on venom, precautions, and what to do if stung. Because this is also be a good area for snakes, we will have assistance from the Tucson Herpetological Society (THS) to look for the many interesting serpents of the Avra Valley, the area for the proposed I-11 corridor.”

Field trip (scorpions and any herps encountered): 22 June 2019

  • Meet at 8:30 PM, in front of the Visitor’s Center (VC). We will end around 11:00 PM
  • Sign-up by reservation only, through Saguaro NP 520-733-5158 (after announcement on website in mid-May). Do not sign up through THS!
  • Bring: Headlamps/flashlights, black lights, water, snacks, water, close-focus binoculars, sturdy hiking boots, cell phone, and camera with zoom and/or macro lens.

First, we walk around VC, then caravan to Avra Valley. For those not wishing to do the whole thing, they can leave after the VC portion (but you’ll be missing out!)

This trip targets most species of scorpions in the area, but we also hope to see some of the native snakes.