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 e-mail Jim Andrews and request to be added to the Herp Update e-mail list.
Herp Update: Fall Migration of Amphibians – September 29, 2021
September 29, 2021 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…Stream Salamander in Norwich, and Video
September 2, 2021 Much of the field work we have done this summer has been focused on filling in distribution gaps for Vermont’s three stream or “saturated soil” salamanders. Part of the reason for this is that these species are only rarely reported…Herp Update: August 24 – calls, spiny softshell, peeper challenge
August 24, 2021 Calls & a Challenge Herpers, the birds and amphibians have almost entirely finished calling and mating for the year and the insects have taken over the singing responsibilities until frost arrives. One amphibian call that is just starting is the…Herp Update: Aug 7 – spring salamanders, spiny softshells, and a green frog video
August 7, 2021 Spring Salamanders We have recently spent two days in Sharon trying to find Spring Salamanders in that town. Although we updated records for a variety of other species, we were unable to find any Spring Salamanders. Spring Salamanders are one…Herp Update: July 30 – field trips, greensnake pigmentation
July 30, 2021 Herpers, with more and more of us being fully vaccinated, Herp Atlas field trips have begun again in earnest. We have provided three in the past week. We document all the herptiles found on these trips and add them to…Herp update: July 2 – Swimming with snapping turtles
July 2, 2021 Herpers, I occasionally receive communications from people nervous about swimming in a pond, lake, or river that has Snapping Turtles in it. I try to reassure them that swimming with snappers is both safe and common. My standard line is…Herp Update: Jun 28 – Late Calling Frogs
June 28, 2021 Late Calling Frogs Herpers, although Wood Frogs and Northern Leopard Frogs finished calling weeks ago, some relatively common species such as Gray Treefrogs, American Bullfrogs, and Green Frogs are still calling. However, in addition to the more common species, I…Herp Update: June 5 – Gray Treefrogs, New Finds
June 5, 2021 Gray Treefrogs on the move: Herpers, at my home here in Salisbury, I noticed that the Gray Treefrogs had moved to their breeding ponds and were calling last night. During warm humid days spring through fall, you can hear the…Herp Update: March 4 – watersnakes on the move
March 4, 2021 The warm weather last week brought Common Watersnakes out of their dens at at least two locations. Both dens were located near open seeps and apparently were shallow and heated by the ground water (cold but above freezing). For some…Annual Report and Fundraiser
February 13, 2021 Herpers, a few of you have asked not to receive fundraising messages, but receiving this annual fundraising message is the price you pay for being on my Herp Update e-mail list. If you would like to be removed from this list,…
