Hello all,
I recently moved to Westminster, MD from Denver, CO to complete my master's degree at McDaniel College. I'm not going to ask for herping spots, because I know how that works. I've done the majority of my herping in eastern Colorado. I'd like to try my luck and see some new species native to this area (new to me, at least).
A couple questions:
What field guides do you recommend for this area? I've seen a few Peterson field guides to eastern herps: one by Conant/Powell, one by Conant/Collins, and another by Conant/Peterson. Do you recommend any of those or other titles?
What snakes would you say are the most commonly seen for this area? For instance, in eastern CO, bull snakes and prairie rattlers (C. viridis) are a dime a dozen. You can't go out and not see either species on most trips.
Thanks,
Bryan
New to central Maryland
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Kyle from Carolina
- Posts: 221
- Joined: May 3rd, 2012, 8:12 pm
- Location: western MA and NC
Re: New to central Maryland
If you're going to go with a peterson field guide, I would go with the new one that just came out. I like it a lot and it covers the basics pretty well. The range maps can be quite coarse and a bit off at the edges, but that's to be expected in a guide that covers such a large region.
Re: New to central Maryland
Perfect, thank you. I will look into that.
Re: New to central Maryland
Do you recommend any other titles?
- Jeffreyrichard
- Posts: 322
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 6:49 am
- Location: Rhode Island
Re: New to central Maryland
Not from MD, but I understand Copperheads are plentiful ... as are Black Rat Snakes. Timber Rattlesnakes are also in your area. Perhaps you can find a corn snake, hognose, and either of the 2 king snake species
Here are some guides on line
https://reptilesalive.wordpress.com/200 ... etro-area/
http://dnr2.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages ... amata.aspx
Here are some guides on line
https://reptilesalive.wordpress.com/200 ... etro-area/
http://dnr2.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages ... amata.aspx
Re: New to central Maryland
Late to the party, but...
I moved to central Maryland about a year ago, and I have found it insanely difficult to find snakes (aside from Northern Ringnecks) as compared to my time back in Missouri. After a year of field herping, my MD snake list stands at two: Northern Ringneck and Northern Black Racer.
I'm convinced I've just had bad luck, because I've found some gorgeous habitat that would have held snakes back home.
I moved to central Maryland about a year ago, and I have found it insanely difficult to find snakes (aside from Northern Ringnecks) as compared to my time back in Missouri. After a year of field herping, my MD snake list stands at two: Northern Ringneck and Northern Black Racer.
I'm convinced I've just had bad luck, because I've found some gorgeous habitat that would have held snakes back home.
- intermedius
- Posts: 481
- Joined: March 22nd, 2012, 7:19 pm
Re: New to central Maryland
Maryland's DnR website is pretty useful. The old 1991 version of Conant and Collins' Field Guide is still extremely useful, and should not be no problem.
It might also be a good idea to buy "Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast" by Arthur Hulse, Ellen Censky and CJ McCoy (2001).
I have herped Maryland several times. Worm Snakes, Ringnecks and Garter Snakes were the most abundant snakes during my time there. Racers, Water Snakes, Queen Snakes, Copperheads, Black Rats, Smooth Earth Snakes and Brown Snakes can be locally abundant.
- Justin
It might also be a good idea to buy "Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast" by Arthur Hulse, Ellen Censky and CJ McCoy (2001).
I have herped Maryland several times. Worm Snakes, Ringnecks and Garter Snakes were the most abundant snakes during my time there. Racers, Water Snakes, Queen Snakes, Copperheads, Black Rats, Smooth Earth Snakes and Brown Snakes can be locally abundant.
- Justin