Time to Catch Up: Early Spring 2018

Well, it certainly has been a long time since I last posted on this blog. My last update was on a trip I had taken down to Florida with my good friend Taylor over the Christmas and New Years holidays of 2018. As you can imagine, a lot has happened since then. Since I was finally been able to find out how to log back into the blog, I have decided to fast-track it back up to the current date by summing up the last 3.5 years in a series of posts that recap large chunks of each year. I'll try to keep them short and sweet while still capturing key highlights.

Without further ado, here is what happened in early Spring of 2018, after returning from Florida.

It was mid-February when I was able to see my first herps of 2018, and it wasn't a mudpuppy! (An aquatic salamander more readily spotted in the depths of winter). All thanks to a crazy warm spell, we had an abundance of warm rain fall on February 20th which I knew would bring out some salamanders. 

Sure enough, the night came and, waddling across roads and forest trails towards their ponds, thinking it was spring, several Jefferson Complex and Spotted Salamanders were observed.

Jefferson Complex Salamander

Jefferson Complex Salamander

Spotted Salamander

On February 27, after another week went by, we still had climbing temperatures. The sun was out and the temperature passed 10C, an important threshold for spring snake emergence. Surely not in February though, right?

Though it was warm, I only spotted one snake out on February 27th. An Eastern Gartersnake that had frozen to death at the base of a tree. As unfortunate as that encounter was, I did manage to observe a few other herp species. A handful of Eastern Red-backed Salamanders, a Four-toed Salamander, and a chilly half-frozen Bullfrog made an appearance.

Four-toed Salamander

American Bullfrog

But I wasn't about to give up on my search for a live February snake. Back at it again the next day, I did it. I found my first snake of the year, on February 28th, and it wasn't even a Gartersnake!

Northern Ribbonsnake


As exciting of a find the Ribbonsnake was, the day wasn't finished. I rushed down to Michigan with my friend Taylor and we met up with our friend Nick. He took us out to do some early salamandering where we were able to successfully observe Wood Frogs, Blue-spotted Salamanders, Small-mouthed Salamanders, and Eastern Tiger Salamanders. 

The Tiger Salamanders were extremely special as this was my first time ever seeing a one in the wild. And because my first pet that I had ever had was a Barred Tiger Salamander I received for my 6th birthday!

Eastern Tiger Salamander - Michigan

Not only did I get to see several adults, but we witnessed one female depositing here eggs on submerged vegetation!

Eastern Tiger Salamander depositing eggs

After this, winter took foot again and we didn't have our spring weather back until the time when you'd expect it. Late March. Late March and early April were filled with frogs and salamanders.

Spotted Salamanders starting to fill the vernal pools

Spring Peeper

Pure male Jefferson Salamander

Spotted Salamander

Wood Frog

Western Chorus Frog

Eastern Newt

Northern Leopard Frog escorted off the road by good friend Sterling

For the remainder of April I switched gears from amphibians and started focusing on finding more early rising reptiles. I started with another quick trip over to neighbouring Michigan for a day, finding (of note) a large adult Blue Racer just after it had come out of its hibernacula, a Blanding's Turtle cruising the forest floor between vernal pools, and an Eastern Massasauga sitting in the cool afternoon sun. 

Blue Racer - Michigan

Blanding's Turtle - Michigan

Eastern Massasauga - Michigan

The remainder of the month was relatively slow for exciting finds. To cap off April and my early Spring adventures, I had made a successful trip to Norfolk County, finding melanistic Eastern Gartersnakes, A very large Snapping Turtle, and several Eastern Hognose snakes. 

Melanistic Eastern Gartersnake

Common Snapping Turtle

Eastern Hognose Snake

Though early spring was done, the best is yet to come. Stay tuned! I'll continue sharing exciting finds over the next few weeks to get all caught up.

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