Outdoor Briefs

BE ON THE LOOKOUT

It's good weather for reptiles to soak up sun

It's that time of year when people like to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, but chances are they won't be alone when they do. While the weather is pleasant for us, it's also inviting to local wildlife, especially reptiles. This makes spring a great time to enjoy the scaly critters that call Southern Nevada home.

"The most common reptiles people are going to see here in southern Nevada are lizards," said Polly Conrad, a herpetologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. "You'll see a lot of whiptail lizards, side blotch lizards or possibly a few desert horned lizards. As far as snakes go, the most common snake that you'll see during the day is the red racer, also known as the coachwhip. You won't see most of the other snakes unless you are out at night."

While most people enjoy seeing lizards, they generally aren't too excited about seeing a snake.

"For the most part, I find that people are afraid of most snakes, and unfortunately a lot of nonvenomous snakes are killed unnecessarily because people think they are venomous," Conrad said. "In Nevada, as far as our native snakes go, if it doesn't have rattles, it's not a rattlesnake and it isn't venomous. And if it's not venomous, you don't have to worry about it."

Nonvenomous snakes can and sometimes do bite when they feel threatened, so don't attempt to pick them up. If a person is bitten, appropriate first aid steps should be taken as soon as possible. People generally won't be bitten if they leave the snake alone. Most rattlesnake bites are on the hand, because they occur when people are harassing or trying to catch the snake, Conrad said. When out in the desert, or even in your backyard, don't reach into small crevices, holes or burrows. That's where snakes like to rest and seek shelter from the heat, she added.

Every year, NDOW receives numerous calls from people who are sure the snake they saw in the neighborhood or on a nearby desert lot is a rattlesnake, but Conrad said that usually is not the case.

"Most of the reported rattlesnakes are not rattlesnakes at all and pose little threat to human beings," she said, while expressing concern about the number of nonvenomous snakes that are killed by people who mistake them for rattlesnakes. One species that is commonly mistaken for a rattlesnake is the bull snake or gopher snake. This nonvenomous snake has been known to mimic a rattlesnake by flattening its head to a triangular shape an inflating its body to appear larger.

Conrad said the best thing to do if you come across a rattlesnake while in the outdoors is to give it room. She also recommends keeping your dog on a leash.

More information about venomous and nonvenomous snakes can be found online at www.ndow.org/wild/concerns/safety/snake/index.shtm.

A FAVORITE

Catchin' the whisker fish easy and fun

With whiskers on its face that remind us all of the furry felines that walk on land, the catfish is perhaps the easiest of all fish to identify. It's also one of the most popular species among anglers ranging from the novice to the grizzled veteran. Not only do whisker fish put up a good fight, but they also taste good when dished up at the table.

Here in Clark County, catfish are found in all urban ponds, as well as in Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Both bullhead and channel cats are available, though most folks aim for the channels due to their aggression and large size. Perhaps the best thing about fishing for catfish is that anglers don't need special equipment.

"In a day when everyone seems to be taking up outdoor pursuits requiring specialized and often expensive equipment, just the opposite is true for catfish anglers. All you really need is a rod, reel and sharp hooks. My guess is that most anglers of any experience level already have what they need," said Doug Nielsen, conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Catfish become more active and hungry when the temperatures are cool and there is little to no sun on the water, so the most popular times to fish are dusk through early morning. This is also the time of day when whisker fish will cruise for food along the shoreline.

Fishing on the bottom is the most common method used to catch catfish because of their scavenging eating behavior. Although catfish will eat algae and fruit, the most common baits include chicken liver, shrimp, anchovies, sardines, squid, and stink baits. Stink baits can be of the homemade variety or commercially prepared. Some anglers leave cut baits in the sun for a day or two so they get good and stinky. A common method for fishing with chicken livers is to cut them into one-inch pieces and then wrap those pieces individually in cheesecloth or pantyhose so they will stay on the hook.

There are several ways to set up a hook and line for whisker fish. Nielsen prefers to use a slip-rig. This technique enables the angler to feel a tug on the line before the fish can feel any tension. The hook is tied on the end of an 18- to 24-inch leader below a swivel and an egg sinker.

Once you succeed in catching a catfish, be careful taking it off the hook. Catfish have sharp spines on their side (pectoral) and top (dorsal) fins. The easiest way to hold a catfish is to put your hand under its belly near the tail and slide it up to where your thumb is behind the side fin on one side and your fingers are behind the side fin on the other.