More reptile sightings than usual?

[Diane Tuccillo]

Does it seem like you are seeing more snakes and lizards than usual on the desert trails these days? We've have had many more sightings than usual and one friend saw a Gila Monster sitting in the middle of the Pass Mountain Loop Trail at Usery Park the other day. Is the drought bringing them out more or something? Maybe it is just coincidence, but I am keeping a closer eye than usual on what's around me! I rather enjoy seeing these creatures out there near the trail, but prefer to give them a wide berth.

[Sande J]

I saw my first snake of the season when I was in Wupatki backcountry a month ago ( just a desert garter) and since I seem to have snake radar I will be sure to keep an eye and ear out. It makes sense that the lack of water would bring more desert creatures out a hunting. :twisted:

[olesma]

I would actually report just the opposite. I haven't been seeing hardly any reptiles out there this year. But then again - I haven't been doing as much hiking this year as I normally do around this time of year.

A little more info on the cause/effect relationship of weather on animal populations.

During a rainy year you get more insects breeding in the abundant water - more insects means more food for reptiles. More food means more breeding - and more breeding means more critters.

This year is probably more a result of last years bumper crop of reptiles from the wet winter we had. Of the few critters that I have seen this year, they look a little leaner and more wary than they did last season. They were all looking fat, dumb and happy last year. What may actually happen, is that if the drought continues you will see a population "crash." Not that they all will die off or anything - just a result of a higher population than normal competing for fewer resources can actually kill off a fair number and leave you with a smaller population than when you started before the wet year. I've seen it happen a few times here in AZ.

It's kind of cyclic - you don't see it as often here, I think the last time you saw a big swing in population was after the '92 rains - big population explosion that year, and it carried over into the next year, but then leveled off again.

So - be on the lookout - the population of critters is probably still quite high from the rains of last year - and they will all be mature adults. So caution is definitely recommended.