Local North Bay Area Resources for Snake Lovers & Reptile Hobbyists:
North Bay Herpetological Society www.nbherps.org
Visit the NBHS site for more info on club membership!
13th Annual Reptile Bazaar
Saturday October 31, 2009 10am-5pm
Herzog Hall at the Petaluma Fairgrounds
(E. Washington St near Library)
See the Best in Captive Bred Herps and Supplies!
Snakes on Halloween~~~it doesn't get any better than that!
Petaluma Wildlife and Natural Science Museum Unparalleled program for environmental awareness. Many reptiles available for viewing, as well as fossils, bird eggs, skeletons, and other fascinating nature displays. 201 Fair St. Petaluma, Ca. 94952 (707) 778-4787
Sonoma County Reptile Rescue
Education, Adoption, Re-location, and Conservation.
Director Al Wolf (707) 829-8152 Sonoma and Marin Counties
"Al's the real deal. He should have his own show on Animal Planet!"
Sonoma Pet Center
201 W Napa St Sonoma, CA 95476 - (707) 996-1672
Forget about snakes for a while...you gotta go play with the cats in here. Best store cats in Northern California!
Shollenberger Park
One of the best kept secrets of Sonoma County. Over 187 birds now have been spotted and reptiles find a safe haven there too. It is one of the best places to observe a California Kingsnake, a Pacific Gopher Snake, or a Western Pond Turtle in their natural environment. Red
Eared Sliders, an invasive species, are also present, and the PRBO (a
major conservation and educational organization) has their new
headquarters on the SE side of the park.
The Park needs your help in stopping an asphalt plant from booting up operations right next to the park...find out more at: www.saveshollenberger.com
The channels dried up in Fall 2008 for several months and the turtle population overall was diminished somewhat. They are back now though and sunning themselves whereever they can find a perch. Bob Dyer writes a monthly column in the Petaluma Post on the ecological happenings at the park.
And now there's more!
The new Ellis Creek Water Treatment Facility has now opened just south of Shollenberger Park and is directly linked and accessible via a new bike and foot path. Go see Otters frollicking by the shore at the new Butterfly Pond or get lucky and spot a red sided garter snake in the mud flats area. Here's a link for more info and it's all FREE!
And now there's more!
The new Ellis Creek Water Treatment Facility has now opened just south of Shollenberger Park and is directly linked and accessible via a new bike and foot path. Go see Otters frollicking by the shore at the new Butterfly Pond or get lucky and spot a red sided garter snake in the mud flats area. Here's a link for more info and it's all FREE!
And it's free!
Kudos to the wise council members and city planners who made this all
happen, including Pam Torliatt who is now running for a County
Supervisor seat.
http://www.vote4pam.net/
http://www.vote4pam.net/
Olompali State Park
Olompali is a great local natural resource for those who love hiking and nature. It is home to a former Miwok village site, as well as a great place to see reptiles. Kingsnakes, Gopher snakes, and the Western Skink can be spotted by the careful observer on a sunny hike at Olompali.
The Park entrance can be accessed only from 101 going south from Petaluma to Novato. It is about 2 miles before the Atherton Exit in Novato. The Rush Creek trailhead is found right along the access road at the Atherton Exit by the way. This can be a fun trail to hike in Summer as well and is also home to many small reptiles.
Annadel State Park
My all time favorite nature preserve. The park is east of Santa Rosa and south of Highway 12 on Channel Drive via Montgomery Drive. A beautiful lake called Lake Ilsanjo crowns this State Park and Ledson Marsh is also located atop it's magnificent mountain. Garter snakes can be seen near the lake as well as Kingsnakes, Western Racers, and occasionally Northern Pacific Rattlers.
Western Fence lizards abound, and love to sun themselves on the large rock boulders near the lake's edge. Skinks with bright blue tails can be found among the leaf litter along trails. Pacific Pond Turtles and the California Newt frequent Ledson Marsh.
Last and not least, the greatest Reptile portal on the Internet is hands down, Kingsnake.com, literally the eBay of Reptiles as well as other pets. Check their forums out if you are considering a reptile pet at:
And in memorium, prayers and respect paid to the late great Steve Irwin who demonstrated beyond a slither of a doubt in anyone's mind, that Reptiles deserve Love, too. We continue to miss you, Steve!
