Night Wood Frog Program

Twenty-six volunteers and patrons attended the wood frog program held on March 15, 2008. This program is a very important way to monitor how the health of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Frogs and salamanders are enviromental indicator species. If you can find them there is a good chance the woods are generally healthy. Watch for programs like this and help with important survey work. Thanks for all the hard work!. Click images below for larger version.

During our programs we talk about anything we bump into. Including this active fox den. Red foxes like to make their dens on slopes facing streams.	Setting off to locate vernal pools.	In the woods just after dark. Amphibians enter vernal pools at night to reduce the exposure to predators and sunlight.	This spotted salamander was found under a log. 12 spotted salamanders were found which indicates the park's spotted salamander population is very healthy.
This spotted salamander has more spots than the other one photographed. In some cases spotted salamanders have been found with no spots at all.	Rolling logs at night. All logs were placed back exactly as found to ensure further use for these awesome amphibians.	Returning back from a lot of hard work. Headlamps were the tool of choice.	Walking in the park at night is alot of fun. The park is closed after dark unless you sign up for one of our programs.

Species found:

• 12 spotted salamanders
• 6 red back salamanders
• 2 American toads
• Red bats
• White tail deer
• And a whole lot of wood frog and spotted salamander egg masses