1. Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group
(SARG)
How to Spot Reptiles

2. How to spot reptiles
Where would the reptile be ?

3. How to spot reptiles
Where should you be looking ?

4. How to spot reptiles
The best chance for success is to look in the general
direction that the shadow of your body casts on the ground.
Look along your shadow.

5. How to spot reptiles Flight distance
You can approach most reptiles to a distance
of around 5 metres before they will flee.
About 5 metres (15 feet)

6. How to spot reptiles Disturbance Methods Silhouette against the sky
Human scent carried
by the wind (snakes)
Noise
(lizards)
Disturbance by feet

7. How to spot reptiles Flight distance
If you look at the ground by your feet...
The reptiles will have already gone.
1m (3 feet)

8. How to spot reptiles Flight distance
Try to look about 5m (15 feet) away of your position.
(more difficult than it sounds! – reptiles are well camouflaged)
Scan the edges of vegetation at ground level.

9. How to spot reptiles
Surveying Slopes

10. How to spot reptiles
Surveying Slopes

11. How to spot reptiles
Ground Vibrations

12. How to spot reptiles ! Ground Vibrations
Walk softly when approaching good reptile habitat.
Walk faster in poor habitat. !

13. Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group
(SARG)