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.
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February 24, 2020 https://www.gofundme.com/f/tvfmw-vermont-reptile-and-amphibian-atlasVermont Bumble Bees: webinar offered by Salisbury Conservation Commission
July 10, 2020 Did you know that Vermont once had 17 species of Bumble Bee and that 4 are now feared extinct? Learn about these important pollinators and how we can help conserve them, at our upcoming free Zoom webinar. The Salisbury Conservation…Erosion control and herps: please use fiber or blanket, not plastic
June 26, 2020 Erosion-control matting that contains welded plastic netting is bad news for snakes, which is why we are very thankful that the Vermont Department of Transportation (VTrans) has severely limited use of this product, as have state land managers. That said, the…In the News: May 2020
June 5, 2020 A brief round up of this month’s news and mentions of the Atlas: May 18: “F&W: Turtles on the Roadway Need Your Help” from Saint Albans Messenger at https://www.samessenger.com/news/f-w-turtles-on-the-roadway-need-your-help/article_6f8ba722-9906-11ea-a519-13455e108690.html “When you spot a turtle in the road, you may be…Current Herp Activity & Videos
May 28, 2020 a note from Jim Herpers, with this warm weather American Toads, American Bullfrogs, and Gray Treefrogs are all starting to chorus. This Friday night’s rains should generate movement of all three of these frogs. It may also generate some movement…Vernal Pool Video by K. Briggs
May 11, 2020 Herpers, friend, colleague, and former student Kiley Briggs of the Orianne Society put together an excellent video on vernal pools. It is roughly 30 minutes long and covers vernal pools, amphibians that use them, egg-mass ID, and a few invertebrates…Need some good questions
May 10, 2020 Note from Jim: Herpers, I will be joining Jane Lindholm on VPR’s Vermont Edition this Tuesday May 12 from 1 to 2 PM for a Vermont herp discussion. We usually do this about once a year and it is a…Amphibian Crossings: Chris Slesar interview
May 8, 2020 Chris K. Slesar, Environmental Resources Coordinator for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and frequent contributor to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas, did a Facebook Live interview about on habitat connectivity and herps. It’s watchable at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=682259185675742. [Facebook videos apparently…to the Herpers: Spring Amphibian Update
May 4, 2020 a note from Jim Herpers, the warm weather of last weekend generated scores of reptile and amphibian reports. At our monitoring site in Lincoln (1,400 ft. in elevation in central Vermont), Wood Frog egg masses are mostly old and many…to the Herpers: Amphibians on the move last night
April 27, 2020 a note from Jim: Herpers, conditions were good for amphibian migration in the Lake Champlain Basin and at least one central Vermont town last night. Cindy Sprague and Jeff Salisbury both got out in Huntington and reported Spring Peepers, Spotted…to the Herpers: Amphibian Migration Sunday Night
April 24, 2020 A note from Jim: Herpers, the current forecast for Sunday night looks good for amphibian migration. Here in the Lake Champlain Basin, Spotted Salamanders may still be moving away from breeding pools, but in the mountains, north-central Vermont, and the…