What does “Herping in the Hawkesbury” actually mean?
It is a warm cloudy night and a lone car moves through the darkened bush. Up ahead, a four wheel drive decked out with spotlights sits just off the road. A few figures are gathered nearby, and at first glance it is unclear if something has gone wrong. As the car slows, a remarkable scene comes into view. There is an intensity and infectious excitement surrounding a slithering specimen at their feet. The group is in raptures over the discovery of a rare broad headed snake. Phones are busy recording the moment before the snake is released into the darkness and the group heads off, ecstatic at their chance encounter.
These are herpetologists and ethical herping is their passion. Herpers are obsessed with reptiles and amphibians, the cold blooded members of the animal kingdom.
Their enthusiasm for species often feared or misunderstood is a sharp contrast to those who are terrified of them. Their reverence and determination to protect them is boundless. Locations of sightings are not revealed in order to protect rare species from illegal reptile traders.
Herping in the Hawkesbury is not for the faint hearted and is only an activity for competent licensed snake handlers. Hours are spent driving roads, usually at night since many snakes are nocturnal, in the hope of a sighting. In a split second the car stops, the snake is caught by the tail, lifted off the road and placed under a plastic bin lid where it naturally coils. The lid is removed, the snake briefly poses for a photograph and is then free to slither away. Healthy snakes are never removed. Many herpers are also wildlife carers and will collect snakes that have been victims of car strikes for veterinary assessment and treatment.
What is in it for the snake? While no wild animal wants to be caught, roads are a death trap for wildlife. A brief human encounter may be stressful, but according to experts it may also help teach snakes that roads are a place to avoid, potentially reducing their risk of becoming roadkill.
Our guests at Wildside Sanctuary have the opportunity to book private wildlife tours and bird walks, hosted by local guides. Mountain Lagoon is a biodiversity hotspot, so there is plenty to see, particularly with an expert by your side. When you stay at Wildside Sanctuary, nature lovers can choose from evening spotlighting, Herping in the Hawkesbury tours or bird walks. While we don’t make any guarantees for what you will see, we are confident that you will love the experience and learn a lot about the wildlife that call this place home. Bookings are made though our website. For more information call us or send a message through our Contact Us page.
Budding herpetologists should contact the Australian Herpetological Society or the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society to connect with local experts, enthusiasts and professionals. Reptiles, snakes and frogs are a large and fascinating group of animals. Australia is home to more than 870 reptile species, some found only in the Hawkesbury area usually by specialists who are Herping in the Hawkesbury.
