News, events, and commentary from Jim Andrews and other members of the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. The most recent posts are shown below; you can find others in our archive. If you’d like to receive these e-mails in your inbox as they are published, please subscribe to our newsletter here.
Herp Update: Gray Treefrogs, Nesting Turtles, Bullfrogs
June 13, 2026 Current Activity Gray Treefrogs Gray Treefrogs have been very active lately. We have received over 60 reports of them calling from the outside walls of houses, decks, grills, and outside furniture since our last Herp Update. The photo below was…Herp Update: Current Activity, Colonization, Permanent Ponds, and Life on the Edge
May 15, 2026 Current Activity All our amphibian and reptile species in Vermont are now active. The early spring-breeding amphibians, such as Spotted, Blue-spotted, and Jefferson Salamanders, and Wood Frogs, have left their breeding waters and are now back up in the woods.…Herp Update: Vermont Edition, Data Gaps Filled, Four-toed Salamanders
April 13, 2026 Vermont Edition, VPR this Wednesday Herpers, for many years, I have been a guest on Vermont Public Radio’s (VPR) Vermont Edition for a spring herpetology program. This started when Jane Lindholm was host and now continues with Mikaela Lefrak. This…Herp Update: Jefferson & Blue-spotted Salamanders, Spring Amphibian Migration, and Missing Reports
April 2, 2026 Jefferson and Blue-spotted Salamanders Morgan LaChance took the photo below of what we are calling a female Jefferson Group Salamander on March 26 in Huntington. Since Jefferson Salamanders hybridized in the past with Blue-spotted Salamanders, it is sometimes difficult to…Herp Update: Amphibians on the Move, Reptile Reports
March 17, 2026 Amphibians on the Move in the Lake Champlain Basin With temperatures very close to 60 F, rain coming through at around 7 PM, and no snow left on the overwintering grounds, many amphibians moved downslope to their breeding habitat last…Herp Update: Recent Herp Activity, Spring Amphibian Migration, Fundraising Goal Surpassed!
February 26, 2026 Recent Herp Activity While most of our herps are cooled down and not moving much this time of year, one of our species (the Mudpuppy) is quite active and is sometimes caught by anglers while ice fishing. We’ve received two…Herp Update: Timber Rattlesnakes, Fundraiser
February 10, 2026 Presentation on Vermont Timber Rattlesnakes Herpers, I want to let you know about this upcoming presentation by Luke Groff, our Vermont Fish and Wildlife Herpetologist. I hope some of you can make it. Thursday, February 12, 2026, 7 PM to…Herp Update: Spotted Salamanders, Missing Species, “Common” Five-lined Skink, Fundraiser
January 29, 2026 Recent Herp Activity During the recent January thaw, we received two reports of Spotted Salamanders on the move. The photo below of a Spotted Salamander crossing a cross-country ski trail in Warren was taken by Katherine Burdine on January 9.…Herp Update: Fundraiser, Herp Activity, Proposed Wetlands Rule Change – December 18, 2025
December 18, 2025 Our Annual Fundraiser Continues We have raised over $16,000 since we began our annual fundraiser on November 11. This is 64% of our goal of $25,000. Thanks again to all of you who have already donated. We realize that for…Herp Update: Fundraiser, Late Season Activity – December 2, 2025
December 2, 2025 Our Annual Fundraiser has reached the Halfway Point We have raised over $12,000 since we began our annual fundraiser on November 11. This is just short of halfway to our goal of $25,000. Thanks again to all of you who…
