herping | Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas

Category: herping

Herp Update: Turtle activity, documentation needed —May 16, 2022

Posted on May 16, 2022 by

Jim Andrews Posted in frogs, herping, salamander, turtles, updates

Recent Turtle Activity and Needed Photo-documentation Herpers, I am now receiving reports of Snapping Turtle and Painted Turtle females on land looking for suitable open and sunny egg-laying locations. Nest sites are often in yards, gardens, compost piles, and sometimes…

Herp Update: presentation, frog math, creative names — April 25, 2022

Posted on April 25, 2022 by

Jim Andrews Posted in event, frogs, herping, salamander, updates

Upcoming Presentation I am giving a presentation on Significant Reptiles and Amphibians of Monkton (and the Monkton Underpasses) for the Monkton Conservation Commission this Wednesday, April 27th. It is a hybrid presentation, so you can attend in person or through…

Herp Update: data gaps, Hinesburg first, PARC Amphibian week — April 19, 2022

Posted on April 19, 2022 by

Jim Andrews Posted in education, frogs, herping, salamander, updates

Help us fill in some data gaps for very common species Herpers, we have some embarrassing gaps in our database and maps. There is still one town in Vermont where no one has ever reported a Wood Frog. They are…

Tagged with: data gaps, herping, road search, salamanders, wood frog

Herp Update: migration starts, vacation – March 20, 2022

Posted on March 20, 2022 by

Jim Andrews Posted in amphibians, frogs, herping, road search, salamander, turtles, updates

Amphibian migrations have started Herpers, I just returned from a warm southerly vacation to find that temperatures in Vermont were just as warm, at least temporarily. So, I have been scrambling to get caught up. The warm weather at the…

Herp Update: Cellarmanders, new reports, fundraising – February 18, 2022

Posted on February 18, 2022 by

Jim Andrews Posted in herping, salamander, updates

Recent Reports Herpers, we were surprised to receive a report of a male Blue-spotted Salamander (see photo below) that was crossing a road in Ferrisburgh on February 12. This is the first February report we have had of this species.…

Tagged with: blue-spotted, overwintering, salamander, spotted

Groundwater, Ice, and Herp Survival – January 28, 2022

Posted on January 28, 2022 by

Jim Andrews Posted in amphibians, herping, updates

Great Blue Heron preying on Green Frog tadpole at an icy pond. Photo © copyright Rich Armitage and used with permission.

Groundwater helps keep herps alive in the winter Herpers, I could not wait until next week to show you this great photo sent to me by wildlife photographer Rick Armitage. Rick lives in Whitehall, NY, but has sent quite a…

Tagged with: heron, overwintering, predation, tadpole, winter

Herp Update: Quick reference photos, fundraiser – January 25, 2022

Posted on January 25, 2022 by

Jim Andrews Posted in education, herping, updates

New Feature on our VtHerpAtlas website! Herpers, last year Kate Kelly added a new feature to our website. She added separate quick-reference photo guides for adult snakes, juvenile snakes, turtles, salamanders, and frogs. Hopefully these will help report-contributors save time…

Tagged with: fundraiser, guide, identification, reference

Herp Update: Saturday Night? – December 10, 2021

Posted on December 10, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in conservation, education, herping, road search, salamander, support, updates

Continuing Amphibian Activity Herpers, looking to replace Christmas movies with herping this weekend? The current weather forecast is for wet and warm (near 50°F) tomorrow evening (Saturday) either before or after dinner. I may not be able to make it…

Herp Update: recent herp activity, fundraising, and our new course – December 3, 2021

Posted on December 3, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in education, herping, road search, salamander, support, updates

Recent Amphibian Activity (last night) Herpers, aside from the occasional reports of snakes and salamanders spending the winter in people’s cellars, current herptile reports have stopped coming in. That said, I did head out to the Morgan Road amphibian crossing…

Herp Update: Musk Turtle, Herp Activity, Fundraiser – November 18, 2021

Posted on November 18, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in herping, support, turtles, updates

Eastern Musk Turtle Friend and conservation ally Sue Morse of Keeping Track sent the photo below of a tiny hatchling Eastern Musk Turtle. She was out searching for turtles with Dean B who took her to Niquette Bay in Colchester.…

Tagged with: fundraiser, fundraising, gofundme, musk turtle