Category: herping

Herp Update: Fall migration activity, successful concert, spring salamander search—November 10, 2022

Upcoming Herp Activity tomorrow night, Friday, November 11 Herpers, I know that many of you have been out during the spring on a “big night” when many amphibians are moving from overwintering habitat to breeding or foraging habitat. Awareness of

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Herp Update: amphibian reports, road search education, salamander ID — April 9, 2022

Recent Activity Herpers, many amphibian reports and photos have come in over the past week. At the moment I have about 40 reports in my inbox and it will be a few days before I catch up with them and

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Basic rules for night-time road searches

Herpers, one of your fellow wildlife enthusiasts has raised some concerns about behaviors he has seen at some of our major amphibian road crossings. So, I want to remind everyone that we are trying to save individual amphibians and protect

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Herp Update: migration expected, reports, hormones — April 6, 2022

Wood frog (L. sylvaticus) amplexing a Spotted Salamander (A. maculatum). Photo by Ashley Bray and used with permission.

Amphibian Migration Expected Tomorrow Night (Thursday) Herpers, the forecast for tomorrow night (Thursday) looks excellent for amphibian migration. Please take a look at our list of common amphibians that still need to be documented from your town. Just type in

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Herp Update: Education event, migration reports, call-in show — April 1, 2022

Morgan Road Herpers, it was a big night at Morgan Road in Salisbury last night at our public educational event. This annual event is organized by the Otter Creek Audubon Society and the Salisbury Conservation Commission. Last night we had

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

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

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

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.

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