tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212148087765505272024-02-02T04:13:19.820-05:00AFK: HerpingMy educational blog about herping, and how to do it better.Kiley Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17489114993531159494noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-921214808776550527.post-20831530560378667582016-04-07T14:00:00.001-04:002016-04-10T00:03:58.520-04:00How To Find An Amphibian Road Crossing<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Introduction:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Every spring
in the northeast, as the snows melt and the ground begins to thaw, amphibians
move out of their upland overwintering habitat down into wetlands to breed and
lay their eggs. For most of these early spring breeders, the best breeding
habitats are vernal pools and semi-permanent ponds that dry up in the summer,
but permanent ponds, wetlands, and beaver swamps are good places too. The spring
breeding amphibians need to emerge from their overwintering sites, migrate to
the wetlands, mate, lay their eggs, and
then move back upland into the woods to forage (though some will hang out in the wetlands to forage and head to overwintering sites in the Fall).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IH4WOLpP0ZTDLNtnzIEskH8DjakkWfdMGttMUgyHKTuxE-xHQ5gK9cYe6Ihwme5422gHTjxK5Aj9ZwsZKzmYOpH-ecF305QDTXaEu-Z5kfoMRXJ5J5pFqTuotml58-27NTv0enyUdx_W/s1600/Spotted+Salamander+laying+eggs2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IH4WOLpP0ZTDLNtnzIEskH8DjakkWfdMGttMUgyHKTuxE-xHQ5gK9cYe6Ihwme5422gHTjxK5Aj9ZwsZKzmYOpH-ecF305QDTXaEu-Z5kfoMRXJ5J5pFqTuotml58-27NTv0enyUdx_W/s400/Spotted+Salamander+laying+eggs2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Salamander laying eggs in a semi-permanent pool.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Later in the season, after eggs
hatch and the young metamorphose, juvenile amphibians move out of the wetlands
to join the adults in their summer and winter habitats. Unfortunately, roads
often cut right between breeding and summer habitat so adult amphibians need to
cross those roads twice every year. If a
road has enough traffic, very large proportions of the amphibians are crushed
and on busy nights, just a single vehicle can kill dozens, or even hundreds of
amphibians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxsoMT8YBweWUbAzxEeuVCiTUBOCv_25Qsi46nftf4wID-Cas9IQydAs0BQPi2NYEQJu_vuodp9DuLy8KN_cQuEnFRx4PHuHE2ZHcwmBkrb5rRZ44gJAaNbGkssZP6ajQCA1hqCku6TZE/s1600/lat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxsoMT8YBweWUbAzxEeuVCiTUBOCv_25Qsi46nftf4wID-Cas9IQydAs0BQPi2NYEQJu_vuodp9DuLy8KN_cQuEnFRx4PHuHE2ZHcwmBkrb5rRZ44gJAaNbGkssZP6ajQCA1hqCku6TZE/s400/lat2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-spotted Salamander crossing a road in Salisbury, VT</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Monkton,
Vermont, an <a href="http://www.addisonindependent.com/201604frogs-and-friends-crossing-road-safely">underpass</a> was created to funnel amphibians safely under one busy
road, and there is an ongoing effort to monitor amphibian numbers at other
sites. The public is welcome to attend one of the hosted road crossing events </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">(email <a href="mailto:kinglet@TOGETHER.NET">Warren King</a></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;"> to get on the mailing list), which are located in low-traffic spots with LOTS of amphibians. The hosted road crossing events are great opportunities for people of any age or experience to see a lot of amphibians and are a great way to expose young kids to nature in a very safe environment.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunQtMUxHc3wXLJmU695N_9gW5X9QJoBqvFJNt4JPD9b-3L4ieWTg9VWSxyxSwg3ZS0leP6QATA1n60VJhslTyRRsTLtJfXYTle1ySjA02qZqPQl0p3Xrks9bslPl-U8Qvros3AAPN2gNf/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunQtMUxHc3wXLJmU695N_9gW5X9QJoBqvFJNt4JPD9b-3L4ieWTg9VWSxyxSwg3ZS0leP6QATA1n60VJhslTyRRsTLtJfXYTle1ySjA02qZqPQl0p3Xrks9bslPl-U8Qvros3AAPN2gNf/s400/2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A future herpetologist proudly showing off a Spotted Salamander.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We don't know where all the good crossing sites are, though, and rely on
reports from citizen scientists to help identify where those spots might be. While
you are more than welcome to attend a hosted amphibian migration at one of the
regularly-monitored sites</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, it
would be great if you try to find a new spot and report what you find. VTrans even released a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2R7uFOcmIQ">video</a> asking for help finding migration spots, and the VT herp atlas has a <a href="http://vtherpatlas.org/squishForm.htm">form</a> for reporting road crossing sites. In this post I'll show you how to find migration crossings all on your own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><b>Tutorial:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Finding a new amphibian road crossing is pretty
simple if you know what to look for. Because most of these early spring
breeders overwinter in woods and breed in wetlands, such as Blue-spotted
Salamanders and Wood Frogs, all you have to do is open a road atlas or browse <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps</a> and look for a place where a road passes directly between
woods and water. I like using USGS topographic maps or gazetteer road maps
because they show marshes that might not be visible on Google Maps, but most people are going to use Google Maps, or something like it. That's fine. If you want, though, a good website that
allows you to easily browse topographic maps is
<a href="http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/">http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Below is an
example of the sort of places to look for on a topographic map. I have never
been to this site but based on its location in southern New Hampshire, would
guess that it might have Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers, Blue-spotted, Spotted, and
Four-toed Salamanders all crossing in the early spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZwqXlQV3BOfIVeqhWSyBQFKp3TAwoXF20Hm3ZRdxed8zkbkL3jiiXJ1gBJxOahoyRIzeRs1Y7tPu7YUQo_xbSeLsGtTTTUXSdDc4NUbB_dUb07YYx_mgal4ldYir7v0LlQArN531jF1j/s1600/map1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZwqXlQV3BOfIVeqhWSyBQFKp3TAwoXF20Hm3ZRdxed8zkbkL3jiiXJ1gBJxOahoyRIzeRs1Y7tPu7YUQo_xbSeLsGtTTTUXSdDc4NUbB_dUb07YYx_mgal4ldYir7v0LlQArN531jF1j/s400/map1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both sites marked on this map lay between wetland habitat and a wooded hill. I found this site using http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/, but the same symbology is used by Gazetteer road atlases, which are traditionally stored under or behind the passenger seat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSZtGVKxgU9DtKN-HlaPBZbd-Lj2CdVZoBVO-M6zK4f-2x7K1BzlU_v7h7VoitrKBRnzQeGMaNQtSAIG5qHhNWI6Uo3ujAlS9R4jt_TC1EwD-Pp7X6PJ2jxq533_0Xc1BG-O5GIHG0FIV/s1600/map2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSZtGVKxgU9DtKN-HlaPBZbd-Lj2CdVZoBVO-M6zK4f-2x7K1BzlU_v7h7VoitrKBRnzQeGMaNQtSAIG5qHhNWI6Uo3ujAlS9R4jt_TC1EwD-Pp7X6PJ2jxq533_0Xc1BG-O5GIHG0FIV/s400/map2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; text-align: start;">Looking at the zoomed in areal imagery of the more western site you can see that there appears to be a wetland, possibly a beaver meadow, below the road. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wH2Rn4WvmVgED3clfD-kz-DDvjg2_WIFULTEOQu7L1m0IQ6NoInZzhLsKgoe5SKYZy4VCH041AybFTn26yRvWIR7qJglfU8qfeOsJXQwv58UPB9V6PH_8y9_4ukkaub0yWvjkSoeAGsf/s1600/map3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wH2Rn4WvmVgED3clfD-kz-DDvjg2_WIFULTEOQu7L1m0IQ6NoInZzhLsKgoe5SKYZy4VCH041AybFTn26yRvWIR7qJglfU8qfeOsJXQwv58UPB9V6PH_8y9_4ukkaub0yWvjkSoeAGsf/s400/map3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same is true of the more eastern site marked on the first map.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For species
that overwinter in rivers and lakes and breed in floodplains, such Northern
Leopard Frogs, or species that live in the water and forage on land during
rain (Green Frogs and Bullfrogs), you would want to look for a place where a road lies between a river or
lake and flat valley fields or wetlands. Roads that bisect wetlands and flood planes are good
too. Aside from some Leopard Frogs, these sites usually don't have much action in the early spring, but are pretty active in the summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPnZATXsry1aPbafUwfI8uHFSdCXQD-PipaICR3d1pg6n2lN3u8XJhAYiJr8P0d_Qh5Xphy_69fzqhZozI9r7rCTm5gQ0cHOpHQ_nyDKGRmEQswt94BJCU_Nsee8GTECRYGdnnUO9l-jB/s1600/map4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPnZATXsry1aPbafUwfI8uHFSdCXQD-PipaICR3d1pg6n2lN3u8XJhAYiJr8P0d_Qh5Xphy_69fzqhZozI9r7rCTm5gQ0cHOpHQ_nyDKGRmEQswt94BJCU_Nsee8GTECRYGdnnUO9l-jB/s400/map4.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a good example of a site where a road bisects a river and flood plane.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoswGNSaSwk9gPrHDEIJ7EQdiyHqvSOwQqocgDf3tXitoZm6ycFBvDD7X5Pog9kg65pO3V3wIMGfPO_xJ-K688wGKFjlzVRuyLsCNoQDsh7kNhgThmcoK-Gc-upsFTCleAcJItur_j40Jp/s1600/clam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoswGNSaSwk9gPrHDEIJ7EQdiyHqvSOwQqocgDf3tXitoZm6ycFBvDD7X5Pog9kg65pO3V3wIMGfPO_xJ-K688wGKFjlzVRuyLsCNoQDsh7kNhgThmcoK-Gc-upsFTCleAcJItur_j40Jp/s400/clam1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Green Frog chowing down a nightcrawler on the road in the above map.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ok. You've found some spots to check out. Then what? </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wait to go
out until a rainy night when the snow has melted off of at least 50% of the
ground and air temperatures are in the high 40's or low 50's Farenheight.
Usually in Vermont that's late March, but migration activity continues through
the spring and into early summer for some species. Sometimes you can even find salamanders moving over snow to get to a wetland.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs3CJTWnoo13afzrngFcyIPpTE1PLxTFhU8U4febK-gy14BvvagzUb1CxeHKe7S8BzrYu041EYzFsX-LhCErlzfurKP48v-SU8KbIHJQt3PAWT5TOQDRYwpvVmJqqm-CP5jLPu1rOmum5/s1600/209309_715403897760_5697670_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs3CJTWnoo13afzrngFcyIPpTE1PLxTFhU8U4febK-gy14BvvagzUb1CxeHKe7S8BzrYu041EYzFsX-LhCErlzfurKP48v-SU8KbIHJQt3PAWT5TOQDRYwpvVmJqqm-CP5jLPu1rOmum5/s400/209309_715403897760_5697670_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the ground thawed, some fresh snow did not deter this salamander from migrating to a breeding site. Several dozen others were found that night.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In mid-summer you can find
lots of amphibians out foraging, just go out whenever it's raining. You should try
to find a lightly traveled road farther away from town if possible, or else you
risk becoming roadkill yourself. Less-traveled roads are both safer and you
will find less dead amphibians. Drive slowly, especially when you see frogs or
salamanders crossing the roads.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooConHvv-3Y9qEYHXR1_MOBVRQYm5_2NJDaC0B28dmgo5TIQZDsFlpZmh2tO3WuC5Pse9JHN0L56x-LadGqJOIvahkrMI_udro4fdhLv12IkOOKfBSKOvno2hUHy1Hf1z_7c6UdnREIHn/s1600/210314_715403728100_1086922_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooConHvv-3Y9qEYHXR1_MOBVRQYm5_2NJDaC0B28dmgo5TIQZDsFlpZmh2tO3WuC5Pse9JHN0L56x-LadGqJOIvahkrMI_udro4fdhLv12IkOOKfBSKOvno2hUHy1Hf1z_7c6UdnREIHn/s400/210314_715403728100_1086922_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Leopard Frog found moving into a flood plane in late spring.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While in a
car it is very difficult to spot certain species and it will take you a little
while to develop a search image for amphibians, especially small ones like Four-toed and Red-backed Salamanders.
The truth is that really small amphibians cannot be seen from a car traveling just 10 mph, let alone 50. The extremely small ones can't be seen from a car at all. Larger salamanders that are not
moving often look like broken sticks that point up at one end and frogs that
are not moving can look a lot like rocks. While driving around, if you find a
good spot with with a couple large amphibians close together, it's time to park the car and check the road on foot with your flashlight. It is a good idea to wear reflective vests so passing vehicles can see you, and also to turn on your car's hazard lights.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy9HNHFwVWIQXTA1b9Z1Z5Ce66c48TSarf0-Ub67aioO8S0w54JWipH9zJcaJnyJ6R8NHmnBROpZyzrTFp4mjhvg1w7DcV7HSeK5mecAwYjvZcYydV_WJDMsoJjcX9FOBqiOxwf1e0hoM/s1600/scut1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy9HNHFwVWIQXTA1b9Z1Z5Ce66c48TSarf0-Ub67aioO8S0w54JWipH9zJcaJnyJ6R8NHmnBROpZyzrTFp4mjhvg1w7DcV7HSeK5mecAwYjvZcYydV_WJDMsoJjcX9FOBqiOxwf1e0hoM/s400/scut1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four-toed Salamanders are itty bitty and you'll never see most of them from inside a car. I found this one on foot with a flashlight after finding a few larger species from the car and deciding to get out and walk around.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you roll down your windows and turn off the
radio you can listen for frog choruses. Loud choruses close to the road mean it's a good spot to slow down or get out of the car. Many times people end up finding a good amphibian crossing site by
accident while on the way to a place they identified on a map so keep your eyes and ears open even before you reach your target area.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiynPBsHLQRrDzaHO2iwwz054FE-zSBZAKP74z3OwppB1t_5KveTucvA2YfMKd6ptl9T5baWyWx0hBgNtDr4dFAXlBRM1R7s7tYwUZyTmqzPHqWz_vLkWm8b2BUEaRUyoz-QBktIQh4yjQ/s1600/cruc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiynPBsHLQRrDzaHO2iwwz054FE-zSBZAKP74z3OwppB1t_5KveTucvA2YfMKd6ptl9T5baWyWx0hBgNtDr4dFAXlBRM1R7s7tYwUZyTmqzPHqWz_vLkWm8b2BUEaRUyoz-QBktIQh4yjQ/s400/cruc1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Often you'll find males latched onto females long before they reach their breeding site, just in case there's too much competition in the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here's a short material list of what you'll probably want to bring during your road searches. It's not all required, but it's what I bring. At the very least bring a flashlight, some sort of map (smartphone will do if you don't have something better), and something to write on:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>A strong
flashlight</b> -- I like Maglites and handheld spotlights. Head lamps are useful
but most are not strong enough to spot things well up the road. Most people I
have spoken to who used a head lamp on their first road search switched to
a more powerful flashlight on their second. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Extra
batteries</b> -- this is especially important if you're not using an LED light.
Most people use their house flashlight once in a while and only for a minute or a two at a time and go years between changing batteries. Take that same flashlight on an amphibian hunt and it's dead after an hour of use. Bring extra batteries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Road atlas</b>
-- I cannot reccommend a Gazetteer state atlas strongly enough. I can find a good road crossing site way better using a Gazetteer than I can using the map app on my smartphone. If you don't have or can't find a good road atlas, you can use your phone or Google Maps, but you'll probably miss some stuff and obviously don't use your phone while you're actually driving; it's illegal most places and dangerous everywhere. Many atlases
and road maps do not show wetlands other than lakes, large ponds, rivers, and
streams. Gazzetteers show marshes and differentiate between woods and open
fields on a large scale. You can also print maps from google of places you want to
go (the areal imagery helps a lot!), but if you plan on driving around larger areas
nothing beats a good atlas. Vehicle GPS units help as well, especially if you don't know where on a map you are, but they aren't very useful in finding road crossing sites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Notebook</b> --
A good field notebook is the best friend of anybody wanting to record their
findings or submit reports to a conservation institution. Keep in mind that it
will be raining so you will want a way to protect your notebook from the water
or use one that is made with rain-proof paper. The brand, "rite in the
rain" is great and you can get a decent notebook that fits in most back
pockets for about $6 on amazon. As a bare minimum, the sorts of data you might
want to write down include the date, location, time, species, and quantitiy.
Other useful information might include weather conditions, the sex and size of
each amphibian, and GPS coordinates.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>GPS unit </b>--
these come in handy if you ever want to get back to a spot off the road or if
you wish to submit your findings to a state agency or atlas program.
Coordinates will allow other people in the future to go back to that exact spot
without needing to worry about ambiguous directions or changed street names.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Tupperwear
container</b> -- Or plastic baggies. These are useful to temporarily store amphibians to show other
people or to observe while you identify the species. It allows for you to easily see the underside of salamanders and can be
especially useful if you want to show a small salamander to kids, some of which
do not have gentle hands. If you need to hold onto a salamander for more than a
minute you should put it in a container with a little bit of water to minimize
stress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Field guide</b>
-- especially when you're just starting out, having a good resource to help you
identify the amphibians you find is essential. It does not have to be a book,
there are plenty of online resources to help you with ID and probably some apps, but having a book for the reptiles and amphibians of
your region comes in extremely handy. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Reptiles-Amphibians-Peterson/dp/0395904528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460049360&sr=8-1&keywords=peterson+guide+reptiles+and+amphibians+of+the+eastern+united+states">Peterson </a>guide to the
reptiles and amphibians of the eastern United States will get you by pretty
much anywhere in eastern half of this country, but I like guides that are specific
to smaller regions. For Vermont, I reccomend the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-York-State-Identification/dp/0195304446/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460049424&sr=8-1&keywords=new+york+reptiles+and+amphibians">New York</a> guide and have recommended
it for years. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-Great-Region-Environment/dp/0472066285/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460049486&sr=8-1&keywords=reptiles+amphibians+great+lakes">Great Lakes</a> guide is awesome too. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Reflective vest: </b></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">As a precaution it is a good idea to wear a reflective vest so you can be more easily seen by oncoming traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Friend</b> --
having a friend along to help makes a trip much more enjoyable and if you are
driving, most importantly, they can help you navigate and get out of the car
faster to catch a frog that is hopping across the road.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTfci8X5GPapDTJ20GuOacthUY0KPfyFgV73ztmhNCE6Ri1MxHbsQOpa3thEZ9LN1pPOD0i8TOduoviikI7HbJqviD58JJrWOxeYpP9azelFKPMfLjAcI83tKCTethDsUR2QDiMZAFwwD/s1600/240710_732113287010_5936375_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTfci8X5GPapDTJ20GuOacthUY0KPfyFgV73ztmhNCE6Ri1MxHbsQOpa3thEZ9LN1pPOD0i8TOduoviikI7HbJqviD58JJrWOxeYpP9azelFKPMfLjAcI83tKCTethDsUR2QDiMZAFwwD/s400/240710_732113287010_5936375_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I brought a friend!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>SAFETY:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Don't forget to be safe! Use your best
judgement and decide whether or not a road has too much traffic to be walked on
safely -- you are out there to observe and help amphibians, but no amphibian is
worth risking your own life. Also, be
mindful about people's property and try to avoid getting out of the car in
front of people's houses. Remember, you're walking around at the end of someone's driveway in the middle of a rainy night with a flashlight, which is suspicious and alarming to residents. Many people may call the police or come out
to see what you are doing and not everyone is friendly about it. A homeowner is just as likely to greet you with
curiosity as with hostility. On major roads or certain areas it might be
unlawful to pull over on the side of the road and walk around. If there is any
question about this you can call your local police department to make sure. In
populated places or places where I have been approached by police or border patrol
in the past I like to phone them in advance to give them a heads up that I'll
be the creepy guy out on the roads doing suspicious things that night. If they get a call about some weirdo in the
rain with a flashlight it will save them the time of following up on it and you
the trouble of needing to explain yourself to law enforcement in the rain while they blind you with a flashlight that is probably much better than yours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><b>Other Important Stuff:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Many
amphibians can secrete toxins from their skin when they feel threatened and
these toxins, while not dangerous to touch, can irritate eyes or open wounds.
Be sure to wash your hands at the end of a night and avoid rubbing your eyes
after handling frogs or salamanders. Getting salamander goo in your eyes will
not cause any long-lasting damage but it can cause a an uncomfortable burning
sensation for 10 minutes or so.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfpqX0jrNNoC8Q8Zh-JHlFN1FDOuBexDcg0eSaZGYLBBfNfc04tqzTuI75c6jO0O4Ps3wK-iFpqhwJ-QMTu5A0lfVFowvf14SnDGfy3KminAuwv-mOGdsFEj3P6qQuCW8SC32lAUQvr7s/s1600/210679_717781877270_150896_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfpqX0jrNNoC8Q8Zh-JHlFN1FDOuBexDcg0eSaZGYLBBfNfc04tqzTuI75c6jO0O4Ps3wK-iFpqhwJ-QMTu5A0lfVFowvf14SnDGfy3KminAuwv-mOGdsFEj3P6qQuCW8SC32lAUQvr7s/s400/210679_717781877270_150896_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">After moving several hundred salamanders across the road I got an extreme case of salamander slime. Seriously don't rub your eyes after handling Spotted Salamanders, Blue Spotted Salamanders, Jefferson Salamanders, or Gray Treefrogs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You should be mindful also that because amphibians
breathe through their skin, anything on your hands, such as bug spray, will be
absorbed into an amphibians body and may cause them harm, or even death. The
rule of thumb I like to use is that if something burns if you get it in your eyes,
it should not be on your hands when you pick up an amphibian. Also, amphibians
need to stay wet in order to breath so if one starts to feel sticky you should
douse it with water or release it in a damp place.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgelaz7NMjQxmjcxqMayMj4HgvtAt-ELkFjQd7Jn2sVHgxXuKMxVHrBpuZ6Bp_a5SUsDdngoOmbPTYJhrTPxsnHP5PVYXznC1f4JoHSkrC31FCCv2b3u1zBHyt_kaSg2K_0lC-Hya7yaS/s1600/lat3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgelaz7NMjQxmjcxqMayMj4HgvtAt-ELkFjQd7Jn2sVHgxXuKMxVHrBpuZ6Bp_a5SUsDdngoOmbPTYJhrTPxsnHP5PVYXznC1f4JoHSkrC31FCCv2b3u1zBHyt_kaSg2K_0lC-Hya7yaS/s400/lat3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wash your hands before and after handling amphibians. Don't let the amphibian dry out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Be prepared to see some sad stuff. You'll probably find dead and dying amphibians. Finding a dead salamander is one thing, but finding a severely injured animal thrashing around in the middle of the road can be really hard. Some people choose to put them out of their misery, others don't. I won't tell you what to do here, just be prepared to see it. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA6RBykZL_PFg898O8qcs7HygKQqZvQvLP6-zZn7oHXAgEX4e24p03MR1e22cy0qg6yp11OJFxr_NUbrPcIgsWwWW7VtMxlFa_Q3c1gAhU2JliqrgHkGH0v4Yit6_AlXyPif2pL_Jj827/s1600/dor3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfGMoihd25uUkTl7J2ugyUlisvKDvBCJcg3ovSC2oJ0PMbvzqkfiNyxgj2_rDjtnSuue6AbIziOjr4gcSfxfXKnPDC59tfV-XBm8EhF9jTErsFai5V6Clzn-JAculVoBw1rRlcYgY1uW3/s400/dor3-blurred.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously wounded Northern Leopard Frog that was struck by a passing vehicle moments before my arrival.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Out on the
roads you never know what you might find. You could find a species that has
never been documented in that area or stumble upon one that is very rare,
possibly even endangered. You might even find very rare color morphs, like this leucistic Blue-spotted Salamander:</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpYExHEnOnrIFrEyYvx05OpaO5AxNZLbnCr-lBVUqKtaY4olopVLU09E4d-aJ-qgg6wmvRTjRbwPDBhCOTwyRElW581lGv0mlwQ2M_c5ho3OUWcbLEwjNNpUG9B7nDIlslItgzBvnOGNP/s1600/lat4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpYExHEnOnrIFrEyYvx05OpaO5AxNZLbnCr-lBVUqKtaY4olopVLU09E4d-aJ-qgg6wmvRTjRbwPDBhCOTwyRElW581lGv0mlwQ2M_c5ho3OUWcbLEwjNNpUG9B7nDIlslItgzBvnOGNP/s400/lat4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even if you
do not have the good fortune of finding something unusual you can be guaranteed
that somebody else out there will be interested to know what you do find. Most
states have some sort of atlas or monitoring project and you can submit your
findings directly to the people running those programs. Below is a short list
of sites that have range maps for northeastern species and ways to submit your
findings to biologists or databases for other people to use in the future
toward the goal of conservation:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<a class="postlink" href="http://vtherpatlas.org/">Vermont Herp Atlas</a><br />
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.paherp.org/">Pennsylvania Herp Database</a><br />
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/reptiles-amphibians.html">New Hampshire Herp Atlas</a><br />
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.massherpatlas.org/">Massachusetts Herp Atlas</a><br />
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7140.html">New York Herp Atlas</a><br />
<a class="postlink" href="http://marylandnature.org/mara/">Maryland Herp Atlas</a><br />
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.naherp.com/">National Herp Database</a><br />
<a href="http://www.herpmapper.org/">HerpMapper</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking for
amphibians during the Spring migrations is a very rewarding experience and
can be especially fun for children who will benefit greatly from being exposed
to such things early on in life. Good luck out there, I hope I have provided
you with enough information to get you started in your quest for migrating
amphibians. If you have never done this before and give it a shot for the first
time this year, I would love to know what you find. Remember, have fun and be
safe!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3opEzfRnR7RnKRKIsDnZipgrjH1bMa-lt8Lh_iqKbA0tvR2OGIyrnx10-bevavcC0WkELq691-OzzoKbdQjrCnsgIiUSuGRn7miTS8O4xqqC3ps34_GjgrPogmOldzBpqUkbDgm76_aw/s1600/194817_10101350116742090_1773559418_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3opEzfRnR7RnKRKIsDnZipgrjH1bMa-lt8Lh_iqKbA0tvR2OGIyrnx10-bevavcC0WkELq691-OzzoKbdQjrCnsgIiUSuGRn7miTS8O4xqqC3ps34_GjgrPogmOldzBpqUkbDgm76_aw/s400/194817_10101350116742090_1773559418_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Vermont, your reports make Jim Andrews a happy man. Make him <a href="mailto:jandrews@middlebury.edu">happy</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057637474998161694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-921214808776550527.post-39702337860749808602011-04-02T00:15:00.008-04:002016-04-07T14:39:58.393-04:00SnowmandersI know the photos are broken. I'm working on it.<br />
<br />
Conditions in the Champlain Valley have been ripe for a migration for some time but we simply haven't had the rain. Tonight we were supposed to get a foot of snow but at the last minute the storm pushed east and it spattered slush all day with no accumulation. It started to snow for real as soon as it got dark but the roads were wet so I decided to go out. The site I went to is notorious for having extremely large numbers of <em>Ambystoma laterale</em>. The best night was on March 28, 2005. That night we found 1,467 Blue-spotted Salamanders crossing about 200 yards of road over the course of several hours. Tonight the temperature was 1C, the hillside was 50% covered in snow that had not melted from the winter, and a dusting of new snow was beginning to accumulate so my expectations were extremely low. Along with Jim Andrews, I was pleasantly surprised though to find around a hundred laterale marching across the road as well as a wood frog and a spotted salamander.<br />
<br />
This was the first salamander of the night and I assumed it would be one of only a handful<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/3.jpg" style="height: 391px; width: 599px;" /><br />
<br />
The next one was found walking across the margin of the road where snow was beginning to accumulate<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/2.jpg" style="height: 401px; width: 601px;" /><br />
<br />
It's amazing to me that these salamanders can function at such low temperatures. Their only requirements are that they remain moist and that they not be frozen.<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/6.jpg" style="height: 323px; width: 600px;" /><br />
<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/7.jpg" style="height: 435px; width: 600px;" /><br />
<br />
Most of the salamanders at this site appear to be hybrids trending toward laterale. I think most of them are probably LLLJ or LLJ karyotypes.<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/8.jpg" style="height: 400px; width: 600px;" /><br />
<br />
Group photo<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/9.jpg" style="height: 401px; width: 601px;" /><br />
<br />
Four posing for a photo<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/10.jpg" style="height: 387px; width: 600px;" /><br />
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Some more snow walkers<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/11.jpg" style="height: 433px; width: 598px;" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/13.jpg" style="height: 459px; width: 601px;" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/14.jpg" style="height: 435px; width: 601px;" /><br />
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The lone maculatum of the night<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/16.jpg" style="height: 401px; width: 601px;" /><br />
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It had sort of a double tail. This usually happens in response to a partial break in the tail; a second tail or nub grows out of the wound instead of healing normally on occasion.<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/17.jpg" style="height: 401px; width: 601px;" /><br />
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A hybrid jefferson/blue-spotted female (large and pale) next to a smaller pure-looking male. Almost all males are a pure species and while hybrid males do pop up on rare occasions, none have been confirmed in Vermont<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/18.jpg" style="height: 401px; width: 600px;" /><br />
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This girl had just made it across the road and was on her way to the swamp<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/20.jpg" style="height: 400px; width: 599px;" /><br />
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This one had just made it up the snow bank on the downhill side of the road and was peering off, as if deciding whether or not to jump<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/22.jpg" style="height: 365px; width: 600px;" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/23.jpg" style="height: 398px; width: 599px;" /><br />
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And lastly, a juvenile. Juveniles are not migrating to breed but in cases where foraging and overwintering needs cannot be met at the same place you can often find all age classes migrating at the very start of spring.<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/snowmanders/24.jpg" style="height: 452px; width: 600px;" /><br />
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It looks like conditions may be better some time next week. With any luck we'll have another 1000+ night though that has only ever happened twice.Kiley Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17489114993531159494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-921214808776550527.post-26295639886404352022011-03-31T21:45:00.002-04:002016-04-07T14:40:13.436-04:00Snow HerpingI know the photos are broken. I'm working on it.<br />
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So up here in Vermont the amphibian migration has not yet taken place. The temperatures and snow cover were about right for a week but it never rained and then got cold again. Now there is a foot of snow forecasted for tonight.<br />
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Yesterday it got up to 45 degrees and I met up with a couple friends to do some snow herping.<br />
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There is an island way out in the middle of a swamp that I checked out a few years ago because it looked like a good spot for a mass gartersnake emergence. It is a small island with a mile of swamp and flood plane in every direction and, while the swamp is great foraging habitat for gartersnakes, the island is the only place where the snakes can get below the frost line but remain above the water table. For the past three years, including yesterday, I have documented the first reptiles of the year in VT there.<br />
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We departed at noon and kayaked through a flooded field along a river for about a mile.<br />
<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/2.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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Before too long the ice closed us into an increasingly narrow channel.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/3.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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I have to say, barreling through ice on a kayak is super fun<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/4.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/5.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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After traveling as far as we could north in the channel we had to get as far as possible west toward the island through the swamp. The theory was that as soon as we could not continue on kayaks the ice would be thick enough to mostly support our weight.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/7.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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And we docked. Lots of post holing into wet muck to look forward to, that much was promised.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/8.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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It's always handy to take a paddle with you to test water depth wherever the ice was thin or melted. There was no concern about going over our heads but there were plenty of chances to at least flood our mud boots.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/9.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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Such as here<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/10.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/11.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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The edge of the island had a bunch of these cool nematodes crawling around through the sphagnum. They are some sort of horsehair worm which parasitize insects such as grasshoppers. When the worm is mature it messes with the insect's brain and causes it to commit suicide by drowning at which point the adult worm bores its way back out of the insect and swims off. Cool!<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/12.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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Once on the island I brought the gang to my "special" rock. Last year on March 5 it had 16 Hemidactylium under it. This year it only had 6.<br />
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As flipped:<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/13.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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Cleaned off a bit.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/14.jpg" height="595" width="640" /><br />
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Other people brought cameras too<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/15.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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One of my friends found the first snake of the year basking on some raised ground surrounded by snow.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/16.jpg" height="640" width="427" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/18.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/19.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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Our first mammal of the trip<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/20.jpg" height="499" width="640" /><br />
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In-situ gartersnake that was just chillin' out on some snow. He is named "stumpy"<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/21.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/22.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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Out of the 15 snakes we only caught 1 of them, all of the others were left in-situ<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/23.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/24.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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Most of the snakes were more curious than scared. While taking photos some of them crawled toward us. Their breeding drive seems to be very high this time of year. It's almost as if anything that moves is a potential mate until proven otherwise.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/25.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/26.jpg" height="443" width="640" /><br />
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This one was pretty feisty though and struck my camera.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/29.jpg" height="425" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/30.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/31.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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The first snake was seen a little later up against a tree with some snow stuck to its body. The rostrum is a little scuffed up which is how the snake was recognized as the same.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/33.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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We never did find any other salamanders. In the past there have also been laterale and Storeria dekayi at that site and it is the only place I have ever seen Brownsnakes breeding. Maybe in a week or so they will be back out. Pleased though, we headed back into the snowy swamp.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/34.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/35.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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The water level had dropped by half an inch while we were out there which made backtracking through the ice a bit more challenging than anticipated.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/36.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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We then mozied our way back through the flooded field and watched a beaver swim around along the way.<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/37.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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And some token birding<br />
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<img alt="Image" src="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Ekvbriggs/ks/fhf/island/38.jpg" height="427" width="640" /><br />
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I'll be heading back out as soon as this next round of snow melts. Most likely the Ambystoma will have surfaced and, with any luck, Storeria as well. We got there well in advance of the main gartersnake event but I suspect that shortly after the ground is exposed again and we have a couple sunny days there should be breeding balls. I can hardly wait!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-921214808776550527.post-1807701824644993642010-11-10T01:09:00.015-05:002016-04-07T14:40:21.217-04:00Eek! A snake!<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know the photos are broken. I'm working on it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 100%;">A few days ago I was interviewed by a local high school student who is doing a senior exit project on herpetology (you go girl!). One of the questions she asked me was "what sparked your interest in herpetology?" While I can't remember a time I didn't love salamanders and frogs the moment that jumps out at my most is of my first snake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">I don't remember exactly how old I was but might have been in kindergarten at the time. I was out with the neighbor's kids, who were a few years older than me, exploring the cow pasture behind our house when we found a snake. My neighbors told me to back off because their mom hated snakes and said they were dangerous. They then proceded to beat the snake to death with sticks until it was so worked into the ground it was barely visible. I told them to stop but they didn't listen. A few hours later I went back to check it out and when I pulled it out of the ground saw that there were things moving around inside its open stomach. Alarmed, I dropped the snake and two tiny babies crawled out onto the grass. I took them home and tried to save them, (my mom made me keep them outside), but they died within hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">It didn't make sense to me that this animal, which seemed helpless, could have been dangerous or threatening in any way. I later learned it was a harmless Gartersnake and got into the habit of taking all the snakes from our neighbor's side of my yard and moving them to the far end of the cow pasture where they could not be killed. This habit soon flourished into a diversified interest in all reptiles and amphibians that would later come to define who I am today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">A lot of people have fears of snakes and, unfortunately, very often these fears result in snakes being killed. The snakes usually aren't killed because they are a threat, they are killed because they are there. Yes, some snakes can be harmful to humans if bitten (in the US those are vipers and coralsnakes), but even they will not bite unless provoked. Venom is a last line of defense for these animals and is only used in defense if a snake is in fear for its life. Most people bitten by these snakes were messing with them, either trying capture or one-- we recently had our first rattlesnake bite in over 50 years in Vermont and guess what, the guy had tried to pick it up. If people would simply leave the snakes alone most bites could be avoided.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">So why are people so afraid of snakes? Infants and toddlers are not usually affraid of snakes but older kids and adults often are. I've spoken to many people who have said they were fine with snakes when they were young but are uncomfortable around them now. I believe that we have a genetic predisposition to easily learn a fear of snakes at a young age. While experimenting on kids is usually frowned upon, we share a lot of our genes with chimpanzees and, as chance would have it, there was a study on chimps that supports this idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Back in the 80's Susan Mineka observed that wild chimps are afraid of snakes but captive-born chimps are not. She put young chimps in a room with a rubber snake and had the chimps reach over the snake to retrieve food; they willingly did so. She then showed the chimps a video of a wild chimp reacting with fear to the presense of a snake and found that after exposure to this video, most of her captive chimps were afraid to reach over the rubber snake to retrieve the same food; some even cowered in the corner of their enclosures. She then took the video, transposed the image of a flower over the snake, and played it to the chimps. When required to reach over the same type of flower to retrieve food, all of them did so without paying any attention to the flower. This study provided very strong evidence that chimps learn a fear of snakes more easily than of other things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Assuming that we have enough in common with chimps to believe that something similar might be going on in humans, it is not such a far stretch to think that with enough positive experiences around snakes, most people can unlearn their fears of these animals. Even if some people never become comfortable with snakes it would at least be nice to get them to a point where they can refrain themselves from killing snakes in the future. Where humans originated, Africa, snake bites killed people, and fear of snakes was a benefitial trait, but it will not help us nearly as much here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">In Vermont, I have TAd a field herpetology class for the past few years and in most years there is at least one person who is afraid of snakes. In most cases, when we catch a snake in the class and show it around these people start off keeping a distance but after seeing other students handling them regularly the next step is to get a little closer and look, but not touch. Before long most folk want to just touch the snakes with 1 finger, with someone else holding the head away. From that moment on it's not very long before people want to hold a snake. I've seen it countless times. The young woman below is a perfect example:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Ok, that's a very small snake, but it wasn't long before she upgraded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">This guy was so proud of holding his first snake that he had me take this picture so he could send it to his mom that night.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: 100%;">The woman below is one of my good friends and was a housemate of mine for a while. She spent weeks getting to know my captive-bred kingsnake, Theo, and was catching snakes in the wild soon after:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Even coming across a venomous species, if you can get to know and understand their habits and needs, can be a very rewarding experience. A good friend of mine was pretty uneasy around the idea of herping in copperhead habitat until we found one and she had a chance to observe it up close. It was so calm and non-threatening that she's now interested in finding and looking at copperheads on her own.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/18.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">I spent a summer working on a veggie farm a number of years back and a high school girl working part time freaked out when a gartersnake came out of a tomato patch toward her. She said she hated snakes and had always been terrified of them. I caught it and within 5 minutes of talking about the animal to her she wanted to touch it as long as I would hold the head. Two days later I caught another and asked if she wanted to hold it on her own. "Are you serious?" she asked, in complete shock. I said yes, she paused for a moment, and then decided she was ready. A week later she caught one on her own. She traded sides pretty quickly, but I've seen the entire process wrap up in 10 minutes before. It can take years though, and some people never get there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">There was a guy in the field herp class a couple years back who I was pretty proud of. He is a friend of mine and talked to me months in advance about the fact that he had a gut-wrenching fear of snakes. He knew the snakes we'd see in the class were harmless but was very apprehensive about it. He never did get to a point where he could touch a snake that spring but it took a lot of courage for him just to take a class where he knew he would have to confront that fear. Toward the end he was more comfortable looking at snakes from a distance but still had a way to go. I thought then that he may get there eventually and hoped he would. The first step is always going to be recognizing that your fears are irrational and he accomplished that very quickly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">He was, however, willing to catch and handle snapping turtles. In my personal opinion, that takes way more courage than handling even the largest colubrid snake:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/snapper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/snapper.jpg" height="640" width="362" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Just a few weeks ago he shot me a message to say that he'd seen this blog post and to show me this photo. Congratulations Chris!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9fsvoFFd5FFBzocoik793ic4-C3AxZkmTBwB0K5wkvW6TmqbQmNIYQUUS_Uh9VlCuXDWPVLqUrPONt4rkWXB0KeCBPzu6CGJgBqQS_1rNE9-oz_UVih8yXhhNR0fJ7UILAzh5Xh52M9j/s1600/chris_martin_snake.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732390748811386466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9fsvoFFd5FFBzocoik793ic4-C3AxZkmTBwB0K5wkvW6TmqbQmNIYQUUS_Uh9VlCuXDWPVLqUrPONt4rkWXB0KeCBPzu6CGJgBqQS_1rNE9-oz_UVih8yXhhNR0fJ7UILAzh5Xh52M9j/s400/chris_martin_snake.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Some folk present more of a challenge; I'm still working on my step dad. He's at least stopped killing them, I think, but it will be a long time before he's ready to willingly be in the same room as a snake, let alone handle one. Every now and then I send he and my mom documentaries about snakes and they watch them together, it seems to be helping. He admits to having been OK with snakes as a young kid but it all ended when somebody put a ratsnake in his sleeping bag at camp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">I think that with enough postive exposure anybody can get past their fear of snakes, even folk like my step dad. We may be programmed to learn a fear of snakes very easily, but time after time again I have seen that fear unlearned -- it just takes a little more time and patience (some times a lot more) to overcome that barrier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">It's hard for me to picture a life without snakes and I feel strongly that people who are afraid of them or who simply hate them with a passion are missing out on a part of the natural world that can be very rewarding. Finding, photographing, or when appropriate, catching snakes is just plain fun, I can't think of a better word for it. Does this guy look like he's having a bad time?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Just look at the joy these animals can bring some people...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">This woman is much more afraid of a snake's musk than its bite. What's the saying, "it's musk is worse than its bite?"</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/7.jpg" height="640" width="488" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">This guy just got done being bitten by a chipmunk, but not the snake he is holding, (For the record, chipmunks are nasty beasts and you should all send your kids inside if you see one. Squirrels too.):</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/17.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">And then there are folk who have been wrangling snakes for so long you can't even remember what they look like without a snake in their hands:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/first/16.jpg" height="640" width="427" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">There are also folk like me who are just crazy about snakes, and crazy in general:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">I hope you enjoyed this short essay (or really long post). Until next time!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-921214808776550527.post-20446578341736052262010-10-26T22:34:00.002-04:002016-04-04T23:31:02.353-04:00Northeast Egg Mass IDWinter has ended (we think), and the salamanders are on the move! Reports of egg masses are beginning to trickle in here in Vermont and soon they'll be pouring in. Identifying the eggs, thankfully, is not very difficult once you learn how to tell them all apart. Here in Vermont we have only 8 species of amphibian that lay egg masses in the Spring, and that is true for most of New York and New England as well. Those species are the:<br />
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Wood Frog<br />
Northern Leopard Frog<br />
Pickerel Frog<br />
American Toad<br />
Fowler's Toad<br />
Jefferson Salamander<br />
Jefferson/Blue-spotted hybrid<br />
Spotted Salamander<br />
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In this post I will not be dealing with mid-summer breeders such as Bullfrogs and Green Frogs, or species that do not lay noticeable <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses such as Eastern Newts, Blue-spotted Salamanders, or Spring Peepers, etc, which all lay individual eggs or groups of 2-3 eggs attached under leaves and debris. Please note that old <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses that have hatched out or are about to hatch may be tattered, torn, or completely separated into a film. First, I'll start by teaching you about the difference between frog and salamander eggs, then move on to identification of each species.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Frog vs. Salamander eggs</span></b><br />
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Let's start simple. Frog eggs vs. salamander eggs. Telling the difference between the two is quite easy. Frogs lay individual clear eggs with a visible embryo contained within each <span class="posthilit">egg</span>. With frogs, the outside edge of the <span class="posthilit">egg</span> <span class="posthilit">mass</span> is made up of the eggs themselves. Salamanders take it a step farther and coat the entire <span class="posthilit">egg</span> <span class="posthilit">mass</span> with an additional layer of jelly. These two photos demonstrate the difference clearly:<br />
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Frog eggs. Notice that you can easily see the contour of each individual <span class="posthilit">egg</span> on the outside of the <span class="posthilit">mass</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhdhQ7J_Wsw4l5sXE540fEpC69dDrQ28RJYCeRvhK_qJDWuJr20A8U_FStMH0sJHQIlN5f7FiliSW2GSWyIbqdJvwvvGYM_8LlGQ1s1rBQEXSJuyxVSLhLHx2gK4A6OdE4jlIDSxx2jaI/s1600/00018242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhdhQ7J_Wsw4l5sXE540fEpC69dDrQ28RJYCeRvhK_qJDWuJr20A8U_FStMH0sJHQIlN5f7FiliSW2GSWyIbqdJvwvvGYM_8LlGQ1s1rBQEXSJuyxVSLhLHx2gK4A6OdE4jlIDSxx2jaI/s400/00018242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Salamander eggs. Notice that there is a layer of gel surrounding the mass of eggs. This protective film around the egg mass is characteristic of all salamanders in the genus<i> Ambystoma</i>, which includes pretty much all the pond-breeding salamanders you're going to find the eggs of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GAMXM8Ojc1mulyMu_b9sdUv3GkwiRAQzcC_Qy2QJKkrTSfBkDx1H1iRv4O0bFL_-rWYShG-5wEDywNKZVBrQzS3GhbNx914i1lhLjg88O7clSUY-bPkIt9jXAD9CvVdXhcPIs2VMsYI1/s1600/00020850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GAMXM8Ojc1mulyMu_b9sdUv3GkwiRAQzcC_Qy2QJKkrTSfBkDx1H1iRv4O0bFL_-rWYShG-5wEDywNKZVBrQzS3GhbNx914i1lhLjg88O7clSUY-bPkIt9jXAD9CvVdXhcPIs2VMsYI1/s400/00020850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Notice that you can still see the outline of each egg within the mass.<br />
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Again, frog = no gel surrounding entire mass, you can see the contour of each individual egg.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq3OjF-Vp8MGVRHrkEWgnSre_MA9Wsm0QDv_qbcZrEWyStNviAoRiXwdfvf5f5twdm5R_H7Ux7_0bBAlW5e8A33nzWzrd_1y8fW7hnKhCA-AKDSycvVOlbxoncu1NXsQtBWduU_hS-yMr/s1600/00033803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNq3OjF-Vp8MGVRHrkEWgnSre_MA9Wsm0QDv_qbcZrEWyStNviAoRiXwdfvf5f5twdm5R_H7Ux7_0bBAlW5e8A33nzWzrd_1y8fW7hnKhCA-AKDSycvVOlbxoncu1NXsQtBWduU_hS-yMr/s400/00033803.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Salamander = layer of gel surrounding the entire egg mass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0fpj8VY7qsdZm08PG6GK_yxrHANU5BZl0Vxs4GUwqOZGJFmzX84tUl47Leuf0695ichFn2VH2BuNKEhxFUAGZyXpX5SCAYz0AUxqn8rLpACTwazYGs8kZZ7fJuTspxfgCftIjEpm8Zy0/s1600/00052216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0fpj8VY7qsdZm08PG6GK_yxrHANU5BZl0Vxs4GUwqOZGJFmzX84tUl47Leuf0695ichFn2VH2BuNKEhxFUAGZyXpX5SCAYz0AUxqn8rLpACTwazYGs8kZZ7fJuTspxfgCftIjEpm8Zy0/s400/00052216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And side by side:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1h8GdnBClD9fhbXmE63m_41KFqShZhsJpVbkEiHTf_v54hERupyGxm0eUNLkwL3MOHCLJDHxb0nahlN64ZHlbhYZZoYMMlf8uNiALYauQchH0ayOTATkZbNJZ90bvz11ZfQD7irZ5Vvo/s1600/479119993_8d48bd5e51_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1h8GdnBClD9fhbXmE63m_41KFqShZhsJpVbkEiHTf_v54hERupyGxm0eUNLkwL3MOHCLJDHxb0nahlN64ZHlbhYZZoYMMlf8uNiALYauQchH0ayOTATkZbNJZ90bvz11ZfQD7irZ5Vvo/s400/479119993_8d48bd5e51_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This extra layer of gel on salamander egg masses is thought to provide the eggss some protection against predators such as the dreaded Eastern Newt, which apparently just eats its way past the gel anyway:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ybNQwv5B0msomRZVWWCMayDmIgYTQheEg2SWya4AXpP2TMvggeo1P8Ff3SHEdCygaiD-tmBRRX8a395f82Ik5h1KB1_8ChvJPSwEOjgKqC-qmuRJI2JXVKXlJ_RNc0fNiy0MEZ7PGOzE/s1600/Eastern+Newt+eating+Spotted+Salamander+eggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ybNQwv5B0msomRZVWWCMayDmIgYTQheEg2SWya4AXpP2TMvggeo1P8Ff3SHEdCygaiD-tmBRRX8a395f82Ik5h1KB1_8ChvJPSwEOjgKqC-qmuRJI2JXVKXlJ_RNc0fNiy0MEZ7PGOzE/s400/Eastern+Newt+eating+Spotted+Salamander+eggs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now we'll go down the list egg-mass laying species in Vermont one by one.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Wood Frog</span></strong><br />
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Wood frog <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses are pretty easy to identify. You would expect to find Wood Frogs breeding in ponds, vernal pools, and marsh edges in or near forested habitat at a wide range of elevations as soon as the snow melts and the ground thaws. A typical <span class="posthilit">egg</span> <span class="posthilit">mass</span> can have between 500 and 2000 eggs. The embryos start out black on top and white on the bottom, as do most open-water amphibian eggs, but as the embryo develops into a tadpole the white is lost. A fully-formed <span class="posthilit">mass</span> that has been in the water for a day or so is about the size of a softball and the clear space between the embryos and the margin of each <span class="posthilit">egg</span> is many times greater than the width of the embryo (see the first photo posted).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PcvADPVOkMT48msw62bjhQBHT1U8AvwHd0lzjJ0WiN3NG3wMufVqAM4EyEosR8m01o8YPSn5ZfkN2RtPp9grWKrh3wYcJIFQHLbdQWEcuYNIy__n9732CaMqdVt4z02yru9thlll84kU/s1600/00018247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PcvADPVOkMT48msw62bjhQBHT1U8AvwHd0lzjJ0WiN3NG3wMufVqAM4EyEosR8m01o8YPSn5ZfkN2RtPp9grWKrh3wYcJIFQHLbdQWEcuYNIy__n9732CaMqdVt4z02yru9thlll84kU/s400/00018247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This, of course, is a much closer look than you'd normally get. Here's another example.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhdhQ7J_Wsw4l5sXE540fEpC69dDrQ28RJYCeRvhK_qJDWuJr20A8U_FStMH0sJHQIlN5f7FiliSW2GSWyIbqdJvwvvGYM_8LlGQ1s1rBQEXSJuyxVSLhLHx2gK4A6OdE4jlIDSxx2jaI/s1600/00018242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhdhQ7J_Wsw4l5sXE540fEpC69dDrQ28RJYCeRvhK_qJDWuJr20A8U_FStMH0sJHQIlN5f7FiliSW2GSWyIbqdJvwvvGYM_8LlGQ1s1rBQEXSJuyxVSLhLHx2gK4A6OdE4jlIDSxx2jaI/s400/00018242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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At a glance, Wood Frog <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses underwater will look something like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmab0ORuyjMtpxq4H0Wm05nyGG5ZcROrKzwYFavBk-TO9FSJ1vHhh4k2BnwAg95gKQs66BFDY0aLe4oe9Vytfbp9HDL6iElA6tbc-x-yXniAUuw9DGHRrTqS4U9b4ymENPlVL4Y6oLbiu/s1600/00033633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmab0ORuyjMtpxq4H0Wm05nyGG5ZcROrKzwYFavBk-TO9FSJ1vHhh4k2BnwAg95gKQs66BFDY0aLe4oe9Vytfbp9HDL6iElA6tbc-x-yXniAUuw9DGHRrTqS4U9b4ymENPlVL4Y6oLbiu/s400/00033633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Often, groups of Wood Frogs will lay their eggs in close proximity, usually on emergent vegetation or submerged tree branches:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurM_Rx5F-EEH1aWElwEX-ucJy8lU1BT0JMOL6OB0Qn48rWnYvyu3Ujt-nQBbqSFbseNL5n2KfXTAAHDbopZo4II-6o1u02CIIlaUwA7HFyhOVCxF4MSRQ9bPmz0w8ijROXvKYj0lx_jR2/s1600/00018099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurM_Rx5F-EEH1aWElwEX-ucJy8lU1BT0JMOL6OB0Qn48rWnYvyu3Ujt-nQBbqSFbseNL5n2KfXTAAHDbopZo4II-6o1u02CIIlaUwA7HFyhOVCxF4MSRQ9bPmz0w8ijROXvKYj0lx_jR2/s400/00018099.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes amphibian eggs can have an opaque hue to them. I am not sure what causes this in Wood Frogs although in Spotted Salamanders it is caused by the genetics of the female.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4ZUTtCiSSFyHrFIsWVQ8Zbs96DW2BUcW9s3ZN3kXH69zH-IVHSOl_uoU4GvPFpUwxNfgvSXudEKJPjkDeyFNFgMGBu7Hhjl3ABUKnI26nZcV-RS88VIdv5YeAYytoK001Z0s0pjS8J7N/s1600/00018278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4ZUTtCiSSFyHrFIsWVQ8Zbs96DW2BUcW9s3ZN3kXH69zH-IVHSOl_uoU4GvPFpUwxNfgvSXudEKJPjkDeyFNFgMGBu7Hhjl3ABUKnI26nZcV-RS88VIdv5YeAYytoK001Z0s0pjS8J7N/s400/00018278.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When wood frog eggs are laid, however, the masses are much more compact. Obviously a golf ball-sized frog isn't going to lay a softball-sized egg mass. Directly out of the frog an egg mass is smaller than a golf ball, but swells to full size within hours.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqtmgK_bEU1ZfrDhoi5xCmrswUxCyZWDt7CMls94ihHnRRPFcq3CeMwlSMbJViVCYwq2NAdrxsL-xMUJehTylH6rlVlNHSlSrQtxVP1-4zx_B9Fb-aMOz9kEtX6eeOP5YxgOoz6DNTfkD/s1600/00018089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqtmgK_bEU1ZfrDhoi5xCmrswUxCyZWDt7CMls94ihHnRRPFcq3CeMwlSMbJViVCYwq2NAdrxsL-xMUJehTylH6rlVlNHSlSrQtxVP1-4zx_B9Fb-aMOz9kEtX6eeOP5YxgOoz6DNTfkD/s400/00018089.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Northern Leopard Frog</span></strong><br />
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Leopard Frog eggs look a lot like Wood Frog eggs with a couple key differences. The embryos are about the same size (2-3mm), but the eggs themselves are much smaller and tighter. The clear space between the margin of the eggs and the embryo is usually the about the same thickness as the embryo itself (remember, the clear space in a wood frog is much bigger). Because Leopard Frogs lay more eggs per <span class="posthilit">mass</span> than Wood Frogs (2000-4000), but the eggs are much smaller, the entire <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses end up being about the same size (think baseball-softball).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FANhO8_YpF2QZz3BoP4ZXh2A9l8_58E98M5qEMW1tivCg2F_F3855nJ0_6P-2PnHEZ0dXlX1QSu2u-RQbZ9TvwVlb4UpQWJJXUYMopDaNOmRTyhU9c_WhTwhj617awTNyA2_8aK8wf0k/s1600/R.+pipiens+-egg+mass+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FANhO8_YpF2QZz3BoP4ZXh2A9l8_58E98M5qEMW1tivCg2F_F3855nJ0_6P-2PnHEZ0dXlX1QSu2u-RQbZ9TvwVlb4UpQWJJXUYMopDaNOmRTyhU9c_WhTwhj617awTNyA2_8aK8wf0k/s400/R.+pipiens+-egg+mass+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Notice how tight the egg mass is? Wood frogs have much more clear space between the embryos. Here's a picture of an undisturbed Northern Leopard Frog egg mass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMqBAF0gbMXkycOFH_879qrxwaQM-tmOfcvofClcj7jV6A2KcNCqfBnDr1nFqgqqVV807OgSisvgkbzPLkiBHy71ErYeedlBuj_1Av_nxFfqsP3N26oyo514Iu9zDgZG9Vb4NrXtgQb9o/s1600/R.+pipiens-egg+mass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMqBAF0gbMXkycOFH_879qrxwaQM-tmOfcvofClcj7jV6A2KcNCqfBnDr1nFqgqqVV807OgSisvgkbzPLkiBHy71ErYeedlBuj_1Av_nxFfqsP3N26oyo514Iu9zDgZG9Vb4NrXtgQb9o/s400/R.+pipiens-egg+mass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pdJ_GiuOopQl-a3-7JZJROptGFaacYEwa2Rj9rbCILFhwj1TrgsckYafxks3J6HjlpLXsRqOO9g1mdu007svznXJC5Qc_5kbz0DiOEy9WVxUCZme_RigVWpTtdaw9x5rgCyygdpbnhyphenhyphenO/s1600/Rosemary+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pdJ_GiuOopQl-a3-7JZJROptGFaacYEwa2Rj9rbCILFhwj1TrgsckYafxks3J6HjlpLXsRqOO9g1mdu007svznXJC5Qc_5kbz0DiOEy9WVxUCZme_RigVWpTtdaw9x5rgCyygdpbnhyphenhyphenO/s400/Rosemary+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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Leopard Frogs typically lay their eggs in lake and river flood planes where sedimentation and silt can build up pretty quickly. Remember that Wood Frogs tend to breed in ponds and vernal pools. Sure, there is some overlap in breeding habitat between Leopard and Wood Frogs, but knowing the typical breeding habitat for each species can help in many cases.<br />
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Pickerel Frogs have very similar egg masses compared to Leopard Frogs, but notice how the Leopard Frog eggs are black on top and white on bottom. Pickerel Frog eggs are brown on top and yellow on the bottom. Other than that the eggs are pretty much the same.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Pickerel Frog</span></strong><br />
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If you can identify Leopard Frog eggs you can identify Pickerel Frog eggs. The <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses are almost exactly the same except instead of the eggs being black on top and white on bottom, Pickerel Frog eggs are brown on top and yellow on bottom. Pickerel Frogs are usually found higher in elevation than Leopard Frogs, usually found breeding in upland ponds or small lakes, compared to Northern Leopard Frogs which most often breed in lowland flood planes. Habitat counts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzLDF7AOCGXKgF1YSidZYmL7BbiNUrRKMXNsTRtEdd04oitCfBX1X-ibCWn9ARGCNsQCE8F44qsN9RMH7E5Qd_CxW477vnkeuDPsIcEIwHAVcdbPEmgQEyoMre9h_tBXmEg5tyCrgkueL/s1600/00040251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzLDF7AOCGXKgF1YSidZYmL7BbiNUrRKMXNsTRtEdd04oitCfBX1X-ibCWn9ARGCNsQCE8F44qsN9RMH7E5Qd_CxW477vnkeuDPsIcEIwHAVcdbPEmgQEyoMre9h_tBXmEg5tyCrgkueL/s400/00040251.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmA2gXvrehuu5eVNrxLxVYGIVmQ_GvuSNLfWLfA6c6umNfdKZIq4a417OxLWBf8Bgwxv7JaQtedMCL58ZgQBObn6roYvtDst5dSncTEqdN5r1C-zC61nAtlmv80d-1tQm0kYvnppoiSe3/s1600/R.+palustris+egg+mass+in+water2+-fresized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmA2gXvrehuu5eVNrxLxVYGIVmQ_GvuSNLfWLfA6c6umNfdKZIq4a417OxLWBf8Bgwxv7JaQtedMCL58ZgQBObn6roYvtDst5dSncTEqdN5r1C-zC61nAtlmv80d-1tQm0kYvnppoiSe3/s400/R.+palustris+egg+mass+in+water2+-fresized.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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You might read that Pickerel Frog egg masses are plinth-shaped. I didn't know what a plinth was and had to look it up. Other sources say the egg masses are spherical, which is more consistent with my observations. Anyway, for what it's worth, this is a plinth:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioe9JER6Odgo1Erb7zaKxfnKkBj-KvrwjW10RaEJqhC252Tv8u57Y3cIjTrVem3FgSkeNRwGk9FgBDUl1mrhEKM86xsaJ5EYF9SRFQ_jFrMqfhhOj7V85GbmMRgR2qFXaWsP9e3T1LrGte/s1600/Plinth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioe9JER6Odgo1Erb7zaKxfnKkBj-KvrwjW10RaEJqhC252Tv8u57Y3cIjTrVem3FgSkeNRwGk9FgBDUl1mrhEKM86xsaJ5EYF9SRFQ_jFrMqfhhOj7V85GbmMRgR2qFXaWsP9e3T1LrGte/s400/Plinth.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">American Toad/Folwer's Toad</span></strong><br />
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Where I live, the American Toad is the only frog that lays its eggs in a long string. A single strand could have between 2,000 and 20,000 eggs depending on the size of the female. Breeding occurs in the warmer months (mid-summer in Vermont). As far as I know, there's no telling the difference between American or Fowler's Toad eggs. If you live in a place with both species then you can use habitat as a clue, but not a very reliable one. American Toads <b>TEND</b> to be found in hardwood forests with loamy soils. Fowler's Toads <b>TEND</b> to be found in coastal or flood plane habitat with sandy soils.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGfKDF9QQVeTkBjFV4_nKoxmwnIQMjKczXiWSkKJgjzzpYyA2dA4rs5nCfr4wg0vVIQE4LzUoUMjo0d2wnPdH1S8iHmjm28wUUaBgCn71TLPZ5pU8Z-ZZHRt9Wow7lgM-qlIWKR5IEOPC/s1600/5619488752_a071544731_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGfKDF9QQVeTkBjFV4_nKoxmwnIQMjKczXiWSkKJgjzzpYyA2dA4rs5nCfr4wg0vVIQE4LzUoUMjo0d2wnPdH1S8iHmjm28wUUaBgCn71TLPZ5pU8Z-ZZHRt9Wow7lgM-qlIWKR5IEOPC/s400/5619488752_a071544731_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once sediments settle on the strands actually recognizing them as eggs can be difficult to someone unfamiliar with them.<br />
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I've never seen Fowlers Toad eggs and don't know if there is a good way to tell them apart. At least I'm being honest. If you have photos or <span class="posthilit">ID</span> tips, post 'em! My understanding is that the eggs are indistinguishable from one another. Interestingly, these toads are the only frogs in the northeast that will lay eggs alongside flowing streams and you can often see schools of their tadpoles moving around in brooks, especially in the pools adjacent to brooks where the current is a little slower.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Spotted Salamander</span></strong><br />
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Spotted Salamander <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses are made up of about 50-250 eggs, can be as large as a grapefruit, and are very dense/firm. Usually they are laid in ponds, vernal pools, and marsh edges without fish, but you'll find them in pond with fish too. If you pick up a Spotted <span class="posthilit">egg</span> <span class="posthilit">mass</span> it will usually hold its shape in your hand. The eggs are usually attached to sticks, branches, and vegetation below the surface of the water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwsryovvQCan-oIuWGU49-62K5EZySOc6uF7AN6uOzaEFxJlmfWerzvSEf4U_ZA4Dp7aDRxhP9-VU6ulssfGAfxI6BIp7lHBu4pBs_OjI929ditrBqpuqzdQ_kWoUczKh8yCtRXKySlT6/s1600/00052232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwsryovvQCan-oIuWGU49-62K5EZySOc6uF7AN6uOzaEFxJlmfWerzvSEf4U_ZA4Dp7aDRxhP9-VU6ulssfGAfxI6BIp7lHBu4pBs_OjI929ditrBqpuqzdQ_kWoUczKh8yCtRXKySlT6/s400/00052232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdkbNNvnjB74D5eca31vy1iUeGc7gAegF9LAhOgjf5Pu8uH3mlNB4_3blw4LQHfLL5F3Gy2jUdB9oqkTgtRZ_iKcRXJsMkm_PyvDnsBGb3XKRr0Whv3scBedV6qqvHgb9j2rMha28_frt/s1600/7345583920_5b4459254a_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdkbNNvnjB74D5eca31vy1iUeGc7gAegF9LAhOgjf5Pu8uH3mlNB4_3blw4LQHfLL5F3Gy2jUdB9oqkTgtRZ_iKcRXJsMkm_PyvDnsBGb3XKRr0Whv3scBedV6qqvHgb9j2rMha28_frt/s400/7345583920_5b4459254a_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Even as the <span class="posthilit">egg</span> <span class="posthilit">mass</span> ages and the embryos develop you can see that it is firm and continues to hold its shape when pulled from the water.<br />
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Just like Wood Frogs, you'll often fine huge numbers of egg masses all in one spot. Interestingly, some Spotted Salamander egg masses are a grayish opaque color. This is caused by a genetic trait of the mother and is common in some places.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvC_ijKOpR_BZthVzoLSI8wwUfNc00PimV9Rawz1zuglaidNhUrreo0Q_eD2BHl05mGT_tdayQFvooV1Uu7aIRq4cEoZXlTn5V82oH8tOqF9JFk-eRuvn5H8kQpL5JC4fpkU1yntJbpO2/s1600/1953057239_0338a4549b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvC_ijKOpR_BZthVzoLSI8wwUfNc00PimV9Rawz1zuglaidNhUrreo0Q_eD2BHl05mGT_tdayQFvooV1Uu7aIRq4cEoZXlTn5V82oH8tOqF9JFk-eRuvn5H8kQpL5JC4fpkU1yntJbpO2/s400/1953057239_0338a4549b_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And again, Spotted Salamander egg masses expand after being laid. Obviously the eggs don't take up the volume of a softball while still inside a hot dog-sized salamander.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jefferson Salamander</span></strong><br />
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Pure Jefferson Salamander eggs are laid in masses of 20-30 eggs but females usually lay multiple masses. Sometimes masses are laid in a line down a single stick and, once they swell with water, may fuse into one another and appear to make up a single <span class="posthilit">mass</span>. The masses closely-resemble those of Spotted Salamanders but, in addition to being much smaller, are not firm. If you pick up a Jefferson <span class="posthilit">mass</span> the eggs will run through your fingers or break off the stick before even making it into your hand.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5_Kqo97gSJ1atVH4VIVXnTpQqJxz3IPqVr-09zol9aVWCJZHyz0T9VZBgVQoQzMfTBJbx_19MfxwW-KvFcKYl3xmERkSWJNXwEGtwMnUymJ3HJhWBzrmlGtjQMLGNoIpL0e4I1kKAjJ2/s1600/00021922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5_Kqo97gSJ1atVH4VIVXnTpQqJxz3IPqVr-09zol9aVWCJZHyz0T9VZBgVQoQzMfTBJbx_19MfxwW-KvFcKYl3xmERkSWJNXwEGtwMnUymJ3HJhWBzrmlGtjQMLGNoIpL0e4I1kKAjJ2/s400/00021922.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here's a freshly-laid Jefferson Salamander egg mass next to the salamander who laid them:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Blue-spotted Salamander</span></b><br />
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Blue-spotted Salamanders do not lay egg masses. Their eggs are attached individually or in groups of two or three on the underside of leaves. Hardly anybody ever sees them, I don't have any photos of them, don't bother looking for them.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jefferson/Blue-spotted Salamander hybrids</span></strong><br />
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Hybrids between Jefferson and Blue-spotted Salamanders exist. The two pure species cannot breed with one another however a hybrid line of almost entirely parthenogenic females can breed with either pure species. It's a very complicated subject that I'd be happy to talk about in more detail another time. Hybrids more closely-related to Blue-spotted Salamanders will lay individual eggs or small clusters of eggs under leaf matter. Those closer to the Jefferson Salamanders will lay <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses that basically look like those of pure Jefferson Salamanders.<u> Hybrid <span class="posthilit">egg</span> masses, however, usually have a high proportion of nonviable eggs that do not develop</u>. The dud eggs are usually gray and swell up quickly. The gray swelling is caused by the water mold saprolegnia. Saprolegnia can be seen in amphibian eggs of any kind but it is very common in Jeff/Blue-spotted hybrids.<br />
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Here is a good photo of a hybrid egg mass. Observe how a bunch of infertile (whitish) eggs are in the center of the mass. You can't determine with 100% certainty this is a hybrid egg mass, but any egg mass that looks like it is from a Jefferson Salamander, is within a zone of hybridization, and has more then one or two infertile eggs should be considered most likely that of a hybrid salamander.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Bryozoans</span></strong><br />
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These are not amphibian eggs. They are colonies of microscopic animals similar, but not related, to corals. They are firm, have these weird crusty things on the outside, and no embryos on the inside. People confuse them for amphibian eggs a lot, but now you know better.<br />
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That is all. Have fun herping! And remember to submit reports to your local herp atlas. For Vermont that would be this one: <a href="http://vtherpatlas.org/">VT Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Project</a>. Use google to find your own if you don't already know.<br />
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In addition to that, or if your state doesn't have a herp atlas, report your findings to <a href="https://www.herpmapper.org/">Herp Mapper</a> :)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-921214808776550527.post-23395962644074098042010-10-14T21:59:00.011-04:002016-04-07T14:40:28.977-04:00It ain't like the picture in the book...I know the photos are broken. I'm working on it.<br />
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Most people who have spent much time using field guides to identify animals know that what you find in nature does not always look like the example drawings and photos displayed in the book. It is impossible for a single picture, or several, to represent the full range of variation typically seen within a species, let alone the aberrant individuals that look nothing at all like others in the same area. For that reason it is important to learn multiple field marks for each species and in many cases, use what is available to rule out similar species.<br />
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A recent thread on the Field Herp Forum demonstrates this quite clearly:<br />
<a href="http://fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&amp;t=257">Variation in P. Cinereus</a><br />
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Red-backed Salamanders are known for being quite variable but speaking honestly, there could have been a similar thread for every species of herp on the east coast.<br />
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For example, here is a photo of a Northern Dusky Salamander, <i>Desmognathus fuscus</i>, that is solid orange (they are normally dark brown or solid black at this size):<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/dfusc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/dfusc.jpg" height="423" width="600" /></a></div>
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One of the best field marks for identifying a Northern Two-lined Salamander, <i>Eurycea bislineata</i>, is the bright yellow pigmentation under the tail. And yet here it isn't:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/ebislin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/ebislin.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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This past spring I encountered a Salamander that did not look like any others I had ever seen and I think it makes a great example to demonstrate my point. Here it is:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/5.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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Leucism is a form of albinism in which pigment is entirely lacking from the skin but remains in all other tissue, including the eyes. The result is a completely white animal with no useful markings or patterns for identification. This salamander looks pink, except on the tail, and this is because you are actually looking through the skin at capillaries. I will use this Salamander as an example of how to successfully identify these oddball finds.<br />
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With such an animal the important thing to do is to start at the most basic level and rule out other genera and species rather than jump immediately to any conclusions. Usually there are some species you do not need to rule out. We know it's a salamander so we can start there. Geographic range will immediately help. This Salamander was found in Vermont and the only species to choose from are:<br />
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Eastern Newt<br />
Blue-spotted Salamander<br />
Eastern Red-backed Salamander<br />
Four-toed Salamander<br />
Jefferson Salamander<br />
Spotted Salamander<br />
Spring Salamander<br />
Northern Dusky Salamander<br />
Northern Two-lined Salamander<br />
Mudpuppy<br />
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There are certain species on that list that are so different that we can rule them out without thinking twice. The Mudpuppy, for example, always has external gills and never leaves the water. It is also nearly a foot long, so it's off the list. We can take the Newt off too because the specimen found did not have dry, rough, skin. While there is no reference for scale in the above photo, this salamander was much larger than a newt.<br />
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In Vermont there are two body shape/size categories of terrestrial salamander. The small, slender-bodied Salamanders include Eastern Red-backed, Four-toed, and Northern Two-lined Salamanders. The larger, more stocky salamanders include the Ambystoma genus, Northern Spring Salamanders, and Dusky Salamanders. Based on the provided photo, the size of the salamander alone should rule out the small and slender species.<br />
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For example, compare the Eastern Red-Backed Salamander, <i>Plethodon cinereus</i>:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/redbacked1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/redbacked1.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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to the mystery salamander which is about the diameter of my pinky:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/hand.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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Ruling out something like a Spring Salamander, <i>Gyrinophilus porphyriticus</i>, can be done using shape. The salamander found has a somewhat short but very rounded snout:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/1.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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Whereas Spring Salamanders have a more truncate/flattened snout:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/springhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/springhead.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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While the salamander found has a slightly laterally-compressed tail it is very round in cross-section compared to a Spring. The end of a Spring Salamander's tail is blade-like:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/springtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/springtail.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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Usually when identifying a Dusky Salamander you look to see if there is a light line from the eye to the back of the jaw. This field mark is completely useless when it comes to Leucism. Shape and size can be used to rule out the Northern Dusky Salamander as well. The salamander pictured would be EXTREMELY large for a Dusky, though not unheard of. Dusky Salamanders also have very small front legs relative to the back as seen below. Yes, all salamanders have larger hind legs than in the front but this difference is exaggerated in Duskies:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/duskylegs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/duskylegs.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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What is left is the Ambystoma genus. Is it a Spotted Salamander, <i>Ambystoma maculatum</i>? The important part of the body to look at will be the head. This specimen has a fairly narrow head compared to that of a Spotted which is known for having a short, rounded, wide head:<br />
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The mystery salamander:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/4.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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And a Spotted Salamander:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/spotted3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/spotted3.jpg" height="450" width="600" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/spotted2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/spotted2.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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The only options left are Jefferson Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma jeffersonianum</i>, Blue-spotted Salamanders, <i>Ambystoma laterale</i>, and associated hybrids. I included a photo of the vent to show you that this individual is a male. Males have swollen cloacas during the breeding season, when this individual was found, and hybrid salamanders are effectively all female (over 99% and we've never seen a male hybrid in VT). Because this is a male we know that it has to be either a pure Blue-spotted or pure Jefferson Salamander:<br />
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Vent:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/3.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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I'm sorry that I do not have a better photo of an unswollen female vent:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/femalevent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/femalevent.jpg" height="450" width="600" /></a></div>
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Looking at the head again, remember that our salamander had a short rounded snout. One analogy I like to use when comparing Jefferson and Blue-spotted Salamanders is that the two species have heads sort of like Volvos or VW bugs. The Jefferson has a elongated, truncate, squared off head that reminds me a lot of an old Volvo station wagon.<br />
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Blocky Jefferson Salamander glamour shots:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/jeffhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/jeffhead.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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and<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/jeffhead2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/jeffhead2.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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compared to a rounded Blue-spotted snout:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/bluehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/bluehead.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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For comparison, here is a Volvo (Jefferson):<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/volvo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/volvo.jpg" height="456" width="600" /></a></div>
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and a VW Bug (Blue-spotted):<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/vwbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/vwbug.jpg" height="345" width="600" /></a></div>
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Our mystery salamander looks a lot more like a VW bug:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/6.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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While the mystery salamander does have a somewhat laterally-compressed tail, its tail is rounded in cross-section relative to a Jefferson. Take a look at it one more time. I'll be cheap and use the vent shot again for this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/3.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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Now a Blue-spotted (in a defensive pose):<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/bluetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/bluetail.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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And a Volvo, I mean Jefferson<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/jefftail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/jefftail.jpg" height="449" width="600" /></a></div>
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While the Jefferson Salamander does not have a tail as knife-like as a Spring, it has much more laterally-compressed one than a Blue-spotted (and our mystery salamander).<br />
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Finally, if local range data is available, you can use that. I found this salamander in a part of Vermont where Jefferson Salamanders and associated hybrids are not known to occur and at an elevation (lake level) that is more typical of Blue-spotted Salamanders. (If you are herping in Vermont, you should check out the herp atlas <a href="http://www.vtherpatlas.org/">website</a> -- it has range maps current as of 2005 with an update coming in 2011!) The mystery salamander is a Leucistic Blue-spotted Salamander. Here is one of his friends found on the same road just 5 minutes later:<br />
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<a href="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.uvm.edu/~kvbriggs/ks/different/blue.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a></div>
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A good field guide, while inherantly limited in the number of pictures and illustrations it can provide, should provide enough detail in its physical descriptions of each species to allow for the successful identification of even the most unusual sightings; it just requires some fine attention to detail on your part. For folk in the eastern Great Lakes Region and New England, I like the New York guide. It has the most detailed information available in a portable field guide and a variety of photos to compliment each species description: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-York-State-Identification/dp/0195304446">Amazon Link</a><br />
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Next week: How to differentiate larval Dusky Salamander species using smell. I've almost got the "click to smell" system up and running but am having trouble getting it to work with PHP5.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1