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.

June 19th Presentation: Herp Population Dynamics at Leslie Canyon NWR

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WHEN: Wednesday, June 19 at 7:15 pm
WHERE: Ward 3 City Building, 1510 E Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ

Mr. Bill Radke, Refuge Manager at Buenos Aires NWR, Leslie Canyon NWR, and San Bernardino NWR, will present a fascinating account of the population dynamics of reptiles and amphibians at Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge.

The presentation will focus on the exciting results of an intensive 15-year sampling project at Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge in Cochise County, Arizona, which culminated in October 2014.

Studies such as this one are important for helping document species richness, understanding ecological trends, investigating population dynamics and the roles of rare species, and in helping justify resource management decisions.

Not only did this study document population dynamics and “spikes”, information gleaned from this extraordinary effort included:

  • Species richness
  • Periods of activity
  • Success of various trapping techniques
  • Longevity information
  • Response to precipitation
  • Relative abundance

Additionally, the project resulted in the capture and identification of a new mollusk species, and helped with the determination of a new mammal species.

Join us for pre-meeting eats at 5:30 pm:
Blue Willow
2616 N Campbell Ave.
Tucson, AZ

May 15th Presentation: Komodo Dragons in the Field

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Thermoregulation, movement patterns and energy use by Komodo Dragons in the Field

Dr. Hank Harlow, Professor Emeritus, University of Wyoming

Hank Harlow is Professor Emeritus, Department of Zoology & Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming. He is interested in Comparative, Integrative, and Ecological Physiology of Vertebrates, Thermal Biology of Terrestrial Endotherms and Ectotherms, Biochemistry of Fat and Protein Utilization, Physiology of Stress, Spatial and Temporal Use of Terrestrial Landscapes. His studies have addressed animal adaptations to stressful environments, whether it is habitat loss influence on Sun bears in Cambodia, sea ice loss effect on Polar bear survival in the Arctic or invasive prickly pear cactus on big lizards in Indonesia. This talk will focus on addressing why it is not a large mammal, but a reptile, that is the top carnivore on five islands in Indonesia. The spatial and energy profiles of Komodo Dragons was created with the use of temperature loggers, VHF tracking, heart rate monitoring and respirometry to understand the behavioral and physiological adaptations of different size groups of dragons allowing them to coexist and effectively utilize limited resources.

When & Where:
7:15 p.m.

Tucson City Council Ward 3
1510 East Grant Rd.

Please join us for a pre-meeting gathering:

5:30 p.m. at Blue Willow
2616 N Campbell Ave.