While at Glenmeal State Forest with my Herpetology class I was surprised to encounter a floating redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus) dead in the second vernal pool we examined. This little guy was out of place as Redbacks do not reproduce using vernal pools but instead lay eggs in rotting logs or stumps which undergo direct development and hatch into mini-adults! So it is curious how this one ended up in this pool. Is it common for them to fall in and freeze in early spring?

This was not my personal encounter, but I am grateful to have permission to share. Students from the Sustainability Program located this lovely wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) near the small river at the farm, they were unsure of the identifiation but didn’t want to disturb it as they thought it may be nesting. They did get this awesome photo and you can clearly see the highly sculpted shell that is characteristic of Wood Turtles.

At Glenmeal State Forest, my herpetology class was shown a small, fast-flowing brook that was ideal habitat for Dusky Salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus). However, finding them was a challenge because not only are Dusky Salamanders well camouflaged but excellent escape artists. This was the first time I have ever held one.

Visited Glenmeal State Forest for Herpetology lab where we were recording the number of egg masses at each vernal pool. Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) eggs are recognizable by their smooth, uniform jelly shell! This compares to frog eggs in which each egg is individually covered and creates a bumpy appearance.

One thing I’m curious about are the small flecks of red located in the membrane of the coating. A potential egg predator?

Out off the Kip Tract with my herpetology class, it was 39 degrees and raining. My classmates were finding amphibians such a redbacks salamanders, newts, and even a few blue spotted salamanders but I was fortunate to find the lone reptile, this lethargic garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). I got to pick him up and I think he was very appreciatative of my bodyheat.

I was out herping and flipping rotting logs when I found this Red-backed salamander under one. The day was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but felt a little colder because of cloudiness and a slight breeze. I was on one of the trails at Highley Flow State Park with a bunch of classmates for lab.

The day was overcast, with some spotty sunshine. The temperature was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and I found this Red-backed salamander under a rotting log while herping with some classmates at Highley Flow State Park.

On Monday in my herpetology class at Glenmeal state forest I found this eastern redback salamander (Plethodon cinerus) under a small rotting log.

On Monday, in my herpetology class, I found this wood frog (Rana sylvatica) egg mass in a vernal pool along with a few others at Glenmeal State Forest. Typically there are many more wood frog egg masses in this particular vernal pool by this point in the season, so hopefully more will be there soon!

On Monday, my herpetology class went to Glenmeal State forest to look for some herps. I found these two spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg masses in a vernal pool with many others.