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Herping in Canada?

Teeglor

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I really want to get into this hobby and am wondering if there are other members from Canada who know of some good spots to go to for herping in or near Saskatchewan? I'd definitely want to try and find salamanders but snakes and frogs are cool too. Thanks for any help anyone can give me. :happy:

I am also going to Toronto this summer, so if there are any sites near there worth mentioning, please do. :D
 

FrogEyes

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Alberta, NWT, Manitoba, and Montana are 'near Saskatchewan', but that's probably an overly large area for your purposes. Southern BC, Ontario, and I presume Quebec are warm enough climates that herps [specifically reptiles and turtles] can be common. On the prairies, the climate is so hit and miss that the scaled herps and some of the frogs are very fussy about exactly where they live. They might occur hundreds of miles north of the USA border, but only in very specific microhabitats that provide their minimum requirements. Conversely, you don't have to get very far into the USA [or the warmer provinces] for at least some species of reptile and turtle to become obvious and abundant.

I can't give you precise locations, although some can be obtained if you do some online digging for specific species. I CAN suggest that sandy soils near Brandon MB, and coulees or river valleys in southern SK and AB, especially Grasslands National Park, and areas on or south of the Cypress Hills. Turtles tend to like calm warm waters; snakes often like some bare ground near shrubs and rocks and often south or southwest-facing slopes to provide the best heat exposure. The lizards prefer open and sandy ground. The salamanders can be almost anywhere, but are secretive except at night when it's raining. Frogs, by and large, are easy to find in Canada, but the prairie specialists need sandy soils and the right weather to be found.
 

Teeglor

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Regina, Saskatchewan
Alberta, NWT, Manitoba, and Montana are 'near Saskatchewan', but that's probably an overly large area for your purposes. Southern BC, Ontario, and I presume Quebec are warm enough climates that herps [specifically reptiles and turtles] can be common. On the prairies, the climate is so hit and miss that the scaled herps and some of the frogs are very fussy about exactly where they live. They might occur hundreds of miles north of the USA border, but only in very specific microhabitats that provide their minimum requirements. Conversely, you don't have to get very far into the USA [or the warmer provinces] for at least some species of reptile and turtle to become obvious and abundant.

I can't give you precise locations, although some can be obtained if you do some online digging for specific species. I CAN suggest that sandy soils near Brandon MB, and coulees or river valleys in southern SK and AB, especially Grasslands National Park, and areas on or south of the Cypress Hills. Turtles tend to like calm warm waters; snakes often like some bare ground near shrubs and rocks and often south or southwest-facing slopes to provide the best heat exposure. The lizards prefer open and sandy ground. The salamanders can be almost anywhere, but are secretive except at night when it's raining. Frogs, by and large, are easy to find in Canada, but the prairie specialists need sandy soils and the right weather to be found.
Thanks. I am going to stay is Sk for my first few attempts. I have contacted people who have had luck finding salamanders and am hoping they can give me some general areas to search. I'm guessing I'm going to have more luck when I go to Toronto though, with the warmer temperatures for herps and all. When I get a feel for it more I'll have to explore my neighboring provinces.
 

Springlizard

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I don't know where you are in Canada but I think your most common salamanders are red back and blue spotted

Come spring if you flip enough rocks and logs in the forest I think you would find something
 

hydromdusa

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Thanks. I am going to stay is Sk for my first few attempts. I have contacted people who have had luck finding salamanders and am hoping they can give me some general areas to search. I'm guessing I'm going to have more luck when I go to Toronto though, with the warmer temperatures for herps and all. When I get a feel for it more I'll have to explore my neighboring provinces.

I too am searching for Tigers in Saskatchewan and haven't had much luck yet. Trying to respect the forum rules - I'm not looking for any specific pin-point locations, but I'd really appreciate any suggestions for general geographic areas where you had success?
 
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