Author: Jim Andrews

Herp Update: Migration likely, Fundraiser, Reports – November 12, 2021

Amphibian Migration Tomorrow (Saturday Night) Herpers, looking at the weather forecast for much of Vermont, it looks like tomorrow evening may generate some late-season amphibian migration. Since it is a Saturday and it is getting dark early, you could even

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Herp Update: Annual Fundraiser, Atlas Progress, News – November 5, 2021

Our Annual Fundraiser Begins Today! Three years ago we organized our first fundraiser. It was motivated by a decline in our regular grant funding, a pressing need to get all our data online for future use, and to assign accurate

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Herp Update: Bobbie Summers, Road Search, more – October 31, 2021

Wildlife Hero I am very sad to report that Roberta (Bobbie) Summers passed away last Saturday, October 23rd. Bobbie has been a friend and contributor to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas since 2005. She has contributed 451 records of

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Herp Update: amphibian and snake activity – October 21, 2021

Amphibian Activity Reports continue to come in reporting fall uphill migration of amphibians. Although I focused on the fall migrations of Eastern Red-backed Salamanders, Blue-spotted Salamanders, and Four-toed Salamanders in one of my previous Herp Updates, the reports include uphill

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Herp Update: Snake covers – October 13, 2021

Artificial Cover for Snakes A common method to survey for snakes is to put out artificial cover in good snake habitat. I have a series of slate “sandwiches” on my property that I have put out to attract snakes and

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Herp Update: Fall Migration for Snakes – October 8, 2021

On sunny and warm fall days another really interesting and dangerous (for them) herp migration takes place. It is the movement of snakes back to their dens. The cool nights and shorter days cue snakes that it is time to

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Herp Update: Fall Movement of Snapping Turtles – October 5, 2021

One type of fall movement of reptiles is the emergence of baby Snapping Turtles (see Pat Perry’s photo below) from their underground nests. Our other common turtle, the Painted Turtle, lays eggs at about the same time in the spring

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Fall Frog Calls

Regarding late summer and early fall amphibian calls: Gray Treefrogs will call from trees on warm humid afternoons in late summer and sometimes early fall.  Their fall call is the same as their spring call, but once again, it is

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Herp Update: Fall Migration of Amphibians – September 29, 2021

Red-backed sRed-backed salamander viewed from front: a brownish salamander with a broad red-brown stripe from the back of its head to its tail on wet, yellowish wood. Photo by Kiley Briggs and used by permission.alamander viewed from front: a bownish salamander with a broad red-brown strip from the back of its head to its tail on wet, yellowish wood. Photo by Kiley Briggs and used by permission.

Fall Migration of Amphibians Very few people are aware of the fall migration of amphibians.  The uphill migrations consist of amphibians moving from moist lowlands (near breeding ponds) to better drained upland forests where they will follow small-mammal tunnels and

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Herp Update: Fundraising, herp activity, migration coming – March 24, 2021

Fundraiser Herpers, we have reached our fundraising goal for the year!  Thanks for your help.  We will shut down the GoFundMe site early next week, but you are always able to make a donation directly by check or through PayPal

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