migration | Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas

Tag: migration

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

Posted on October 31, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in amphibians, news, road search, snakes, turtles, updates

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…

Tagged with: amphibians, autumn, community, contributors, data, fall, migration, road search, salamanders, turtles

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

Posted on October 21, 2021 by

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

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…

Tagged with: amphibians, fall, frog, graduate research, migration, salamanders, snakes, turtle

Herp Update: Snake covers – October 13, 2021

Posted on October 13, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in road search, snakes, updates

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…

Tagged with: fall, migration, snake covers, snakes

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

Posted on October 8, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in snakes, updates

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…

Tagged with: fall, migration, snakes

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

Posted on September 29, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in amphibians, updates

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…

Tagged with: amphibians, autumn, crossings, herping, migration

Herp Update: frozen Gartersnake – April 3, 2021

Posted on April 3, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in event, snakes, updates

Herpers, one of the more interesting reports to come in over the last two days was this report and photo from Ken Hatch of a Common Gartersnake frozen into a thin layer of ice in Addison. Ken reported: “I found…

Tagged with: call-in, garter snake, interview, migration, radio

Herp Update: Safety, salamander crossings – March 27, 2021

Posted on March 27, 2021 by

Jim Andrews Posted in conservation, herping, research, road search, updates

Herpers, in portions of the Lake Champlain Basin everything came together last night. Kate Kelly and I were investigating some previously unvisited locations in Rutland County. On our return we swung by two crossing sites near Fern Lake in Leicester…

Tagged with: crossing zone, migration, road search, safety, spring

Herp Update

Posted on September 30, 2020 by

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

Herpers, there was lots of amphibian movement last night during the rains. Where I was along Route 100 in Granville, the rains did not come through until after 11 PM making for a late night. Still, the team I was…

Tagged with: amphibian eggs, amphibians, autumn, fall, frog, herping, migration, salamanders, snakes

Snakes on the move, a great opportunity

Posted on September 20, 2020 by

Jim Andrews Posted in conservation, herping, road search, snakes, updates

Herpers, these first frosty nights of the fall will motivate snakes to head back to their dens. The first warm sunny afternoon after a frost is one of the easiest times to find snakes. The frosty night is the signal…

Tagged with: autumn, fall, migration, road, roadkill, snakes