Field Herping is LIFE!

Field herping means going into the wild in search of reptiles and amphibians, and I try to get out into the field as much as possible to study and photograph herps in situ.  I’ve been a field herper all of my life, and I get excited every year when spring rolls around because that means it’s herping season again in the US.

Most of the herping that I do is in the deserts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  My wife and I have some land outside of Big Bend National Park, and it’s some of the best field herping in the country.  I’ve been herping the Chihuahuan Desert for over 30 years, and I’ve found most of the species in the Trans-Pecos.

There are several different ways to herp.  Most folks are familiar with road cruising, which simply means driving slowly down roads at night to look for reptiles and amphibians crossing or resting on roads.  Road cruising is actually illegal in some states.  Most of the herping that I do in Texas involves pulling off the side of the road and walking “cuts” with a flashlight.  “Cuts” are manmade rock cliffs where the highway department blasted the land with dynamite for road development.  The last way I herp involves walking through habitat during the day (more often at night) in search of reptiles and amphibians.  I prefer getting out and walking over road cruising, but some areas do not have shoulders so road cruising is the only viable option.

A “lifer” is a new species that a herper discovers when in the field, and it is the reason that we continue to get out and look for specimens.  I don’t keep any of the animals that I find in the wild.  I simply photograph them when I can and send them on their way.

Fielding herping is such a rewarding endeavor and requires very few supplies.  When you’re herping at night, a good flashlight is fundanemnatlly important.  I use Fenix flashlights exclusively.  I always take 3 with me, with plenty of backup batteries.  Many of my friends also use headlamps when herping at night, but I only use my flashlight(s).  A really good snake stick like one from Midwest Tongs is great when you come across venomous and/or cantankerous specimens.  I also use some of my less expensive sticks to flip rocks and debris.  You’ll also want to have a good pair of gloves when digging through brush and rocks.  In Texas, a safety vest is required to wear at all times at night so others can see you.  Those are the most important tools of the trade.  I take extensive notes on the specimens that I find, so I often carry a small notebook or simply make notes on my iPhone.  A temperature gun and hygrometer are great tools if detailed field data is desired.  That’s about it.  Water, specimen cups and bags if collecting, and maybe a small backpack to keep all of your supplies.

Oh, one last thing. I document all of my finds on iNaturalist. “iNaturalist is a social network for sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. The primary goal is to connect people to nature, and the secondary goal is to generate scientifically valuable biodiversity data from these personal encounters.”

Upcoming Studio Photography Tutorial

I’ve been a commercial photographer since 2009, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing subjects over the years. My primary focus has been press kits for bands and musicians, but my personal work is landscape, nature, and photographing my herps in a studio setting.

I’m currently working on a detailed tutorial about my workflow when photographing reptiles and amphibians on white and black.

Stay tuned!!!

National Frog Fest 2025

Andy Baker put on one heck of a gathering for poison frog enthusiasts!  350 like-minded folks descended on Ann Arbor, Michigan last weekend to celebrate all things poison frogs, other amphibians, and vivarium plants and supplies.  This was the second year of the festival, and by the look of it, it’ll be happening again next year.

There was a meet-and-greet on Saturday night, but we were pretty tired after a long day of exploring Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Saline. We haven’t spent much time in the area, so we really wanted to check it out.

NFF 2025 started with a couple of great presentations. The first presentation was “Poison Frog Husbandry 101” with Jacob Van Keuren. Great talk! The other talk was “Tesoros and the Active Conservation Alliance” with Ivan Lozano Ortega. “Founded by International conservationist Ivan Lozano, Tesoros de Colombia and Tesoro Frogs promote ethical bio-commerce by providing an alternative to the illegal pet trade, ensuring that rare and endangered species are preserved through sustainable practices.” I simply can’t stress how important it is to support endeavors like Tesoros to cripple the illegal poison frog trade. The Active Conservation Alliance (ACA) is a grassroots effort to “help restore balance in our ecosystems.” As a community, we have to be proactive to help preserve the rainforests and animals in them for future generations to enjoy.

There were so many great vendors at NFF 2025, including Glass Box Tropicals, FrogDaddy, and Verdant Vivariums. We picked up several new frogs and lots of amazing plants. We got to meet so many prominent frog and plant folks.

I really can’t praise Andy enough for putting the event together and bringing so many amazing froggers to his event. I think everyone left the event inspired and invigorated and ready to start planning for National Frog Fest 2026!