Newbie inquiries

[odalisque]

Are there any good books or websites for a newbie on finding stuff (doesn't have to be watered down)? I go on hikes and trail runs all the time and I'm probably walking past loads of goodies, but I don't know too much about looking for them. See things from time to time when I'm exploring plant life but I haven't ever actively searched for any lil creatures, and I'd like to start getting into it!
My area is Willamette Valley of central west Oregon, but we frequent the coast range when we are on hikes, sometimes venture over to the cascades.

This forum is full of very knowledgeable folks who I'm sure can instantly point me in a good direction or hand out some tips!

 

[Kaysie]

The best way to find things is to know which species are in the area through which your hiking, and then to know what kind of microhabitat they like. Do they like to be next to the creek, like Desmognathus? Or do you find them far from the water, like Noto efts? Pick up a good guide book to your area. A good general guidebook is the Peterson's Field Guide, written by Conant & Collins, "Herps of Western North America". It's about the size of a brick (and weighs as much!), but it's packed full of information. Your local university or extension office will almost certainly have a smaller guidebook with herps of your area. They usually give you a break down of what is found by county. Like if I was looking for Marbled Salamanders in Michigan, I would know for a fact they'd not be found in Osceola County by looking at the guide book (well, they're extirpated in MI, they wouldn't be found in any county).

Generally, they like like cover 10-50cm long, rocks, sticks, bark. ALWAYS put cover back in the exact position you found it, and put any animals found next to the rock/log and let them crawl under (or you risk squishing them).

 

[John]

Flip every piece of cover you can, but put it back exactly as you found it (and gently). That last part is particularly important. I once herped an area after someone who didn't put everything back and what they did put back was obviously done so in a hurry. Shortly after I left, a psycho who used to be a mod on here arrived in the area and later accused me of trashing the place and killing things with rocks.

Anyhow if you've a good eye, you can usually tell when someone else has been flipping in the last few months, even if they have replaced things correctly, just by how the cover objects look.

 

[asfouts]

Are there any good books or websites for a newbie on finding stuff (doesn't have to be watered down)? I go on hikes and trail runs all the time and I'm probably walking past loads of goodies, but I don't know too much about looking for them. See things from time to time when I'm exploring plant life but I haven't ever actively searched for any lil creatures, and I'd like to start getting into it!
My area is Willamette Valley of central west Oregon, but we frequent the coast range when we are on hikes, sometimes venture over to the cascades.

sooo I was recommended a book by a fellow member which I have been reading and find quite fascinating. In the book the willamette valley is mentioned a ton I assume the family that made the book love to frequent that area. Anyway its on reptiles specifically and its called reptiles of the northwest (lone-pine). It tells you what specific microhabitat the animal enjoys and area and everything a field guide should.

 

[odalisque]

Great, thanks a bunch guys! I haven't gotten any books yet, but just the other day we ventured off trail and found a nice little stagnant pond with about six newts!