http://www.paherp.org/forum/ PAHERP Forum » Forum: General Talk - Recent Posts en Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:42:34 +0000 http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/silent-spring-sooner-than-you-think#post-695 Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:18:52 +0000 DirkStabula 695@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Few people realize the subtle squeaks that send them gently off to sleep on starry spring nights are frequently caused by Spring Peepers, an adorable frog whose soporific squawk renders cacophonous crickets’ vibrations vapid. Yet, as Rachel Carson alluded to in her vanguard volume Silent Spring, Mother Nature stands to lose many of her composers. Due to the effects of Global Climate Change and habitat loss, Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers, an assortment of salamanders, and other creatures may lose their homes and disappear forever.<br /> Many of these animals have complicated breeding needs that can only be met in temporary shallow woodland ponds known as vernal pools. These pools provide an ideal habitat in which these delicate species can moisten their skin during the desiccant summer heat. Due to their ephemeral essence and inland isolation, vernal pools also provide a nursery ground for eggs and tadpoles devoid of predatory fish. The circle of life for amphibians revolves around the presence of these pools, which are diminishing in number for a multitude of reasons. Increased temperature shrivels the abundance and size of vernal pools. When climactic vicissitude violates the integrity of pools, it forces ambulatory amphibians to travel farther in their search for sanctuary, and habitat destruction due to the burgeoning human population’s endless quest for housing further reduces their options. Many salamander and frog species cannot withstand these perturbations, contributing to the general decline of the class amphibia.<br /> Vernal pools are not only critical to the conservation of our amphibious friends, but also for the preservation of ground water and flood control. The loss of these pools impedes the ability of wetlands and wooded areas to absorb water after torrential downpours or during snowmelts. As witnessed this year, the loss of nature’s buffering system results in more frequent and severe flooding events, polluting water quality and accelerating soil erosion. Furthermore, the reduction in water absorption lowers the water tables, resulting in severe drought and habitat destruction during arid years. The consequences of these effects result in extraordinary economic loses and can be catastrophic for the agricultural community, recreational fishing and boating, and especially to drinking water.<br /> The admittedly depressing loss of suitable habitat should not illicit lamentation, but rather urgency! Efforts to fight climate change should be strengthened, wildlife sanctuaries extended, and efforts taken to physically rebuild vernal pools by digging out areas where rainfall can pool. By implementing these changes, water quality will be maintained, economic losses from natural flooding can be mitigated, and most importantly, the health and vitality of both communities will be preserved. If we don’t, we may be facing our own silent spring sooner than you think.</p> <p>Dirk Stabula and the HerpetoloG-Unit<br /> Lafayette College</p> <p>Contact Mr. Bill Sweeney for more information on how to help amphibians at Jacobsburg State Park! </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/pa-herp-laws-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place#post-668 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:47:22 +0000 seto2112 668@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>So far no problems have occurred -Thank God! </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/pa-herp-laws-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place#post-666 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:25:32 +0000 krloucks 666@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Still want to be on the right side of the law... Be straightforward with the officers and there should be no problem. My encounters have ended positively luckily and all have been good folks. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/pa-herp-laws-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place#post-665 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:43:59 +0000 seto2112 665@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Thanks for your support! I think I might have an idea. Have the Police Officer and/or Park Ranger go along and document the release. Just like it was documented that the Timber bodies were turned over to the CCEEC (Environmental center) See the posted record on that stupid incident.</p> <p>There is one other thing I want to know-why aren&#039;t park rangers trained to move snakes themselves-they have the equipment but don&#039;t know how to use it?! What is up with that? I could train someone in 10 minutes to use it properly. </p> <p>AND when you report someone poaching from State Parks-they don&#039;t do anything about it. Even when the person has the snake openly in hand. The park in my area is very specific about NOT removing anything-not even flowers or rocks! Then I get conflicting info-while messing with a Black Racer to get photos-they told me-take it out of here( the park) cos we don&#039;t want them here....WTF! Then while walking with a snake hook-which I haven&#039;t done in years since-I got frisked to see what I might have used it for.....I was like I used it to get the snake into a better position for a photo and it wasn&#039;t a protected species then or now. So fine-I&#039;ll just bitten to get a better shot of a Black Racer--does that make them happy?</p> <p>Sorry for venting a bit...oh yeah-and get this..while walking, I came across a ranger who I knew, and he asked me to catch a Timber and a Copperhead in said park for him to use for instructing new recruits....I was like I don&#039;t want to get into trouble....sigh....luckily I had 3 witnesses and one of those people did have a catch permit. Still-I don&#039;t get if those cover State Parks and/or Gamelands. One person says yes and another says no. Sigh.... </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/pa-herp-laws-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place#post-662 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:02:46 +0000 krloucks 662@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>It is kinda the same as moving a box turtle off of a road.... &#039;in hand&quot; can be deemed &quot;possession&quot; and is against the law. But, the law aside, I would still do the right thing and move the turtle 100% of the time. So if you are doing the right thing by removing snakes, permit or not, I would do it. Hopefully any officer would recognize rescuer vs. poacher.<br /> Good work by you... keep it up. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/pa-herp-laws-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place#post-661 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:02:45 +0000 krloucks 661@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>It is kinda the same as moving a box turtle off of a road.... &#039;in hand&quot; can be deemed &quot;possession&quot; and is against the law. But, the law aside, I would still do the right thing and move the turtle 100% of the time. So if you are doing the right thing by removing snakes, permit or not, I would do it. Hopefully any officer would recognize rescuer vs. poacher.<br /> Good work by you... keep it up. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/pa-herp-laws-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place#post-660 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:41:45 +0000 seto2112 660@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Okay I can&#039;t get a straight answer from the PAFBC on removing snakes from people&#039;s homes. For some reason I get called from time to time. Just because the local police know that I know about snakes and have extensive experience with them. 30 years. Which includes doing educational programs and so on. Anyway-I called the PAFBC last year and they told me-they don&#039;t remove snakes cos they don&#039;t have the budget or manpower.<br /> &quot;Snakes can be removed by anyone-a neighbor, a police officer, a snake expert, exterminator, wildlife center-because we don&#039;t do it anymore&quot; &quot;The only restriction is that whoever does it may not kill the snakes&quot;</p> <p>Now wait does that include protected species ? and she said Yes. I asked does that include Rattlesnakes and Copperheads for which you need a permit and she said &quot;it&#039;s not like you&#039;re catching them to keep or eat, so it&#039;s different.&quot; So I then asked-&quot;but can&#039;t I get into trouble for possession?&quot; :She said &quot;Not under those circumstances-you are an agent of the police&quot;<br /> Okay?</p> <p>This year-I called again about this-and the guy asked who told me the original info and I told him. He&#039;s not sure that is correct and is supposed to get back to me. He morally thinks it&#039;s fine to try to save the animals but doesn&#039;t know what the legalities are. Does anyone here have a clue? Most people won&#039;t remove a Milksnake from their bathroom closet!! etc. </p> <p>BTW-Since websites like this and mine and other ones can ID snakes online quickly-80 % of the people who get IDs will leave it alone-unless it&#039;s in their house or is venomous. </p> <p>I don&#039;t want to get into trouble for by doing something the police ask me to do.</p> <p>Just to note-I never keep anything-I release them outside the home or within the same area because I know they have territories. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/yearly-goals#post-645 Thu, 19 May 2011 01:54:01 +0000 Rattler 645@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>My goal...lots and lots of TR&#039;s. I love to just lay with them and observe them. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/yearly-goals#post-643 Thu, 12 May 2011 02:44:27 +0000 paherp 643@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Always room for excitement. :)<br /> Another is my all time nemesis - Smooth Green Snake. Why, I have been to known spots, historical spots, missed a group outing where they were found, been on a group outing where they were seen, and I have missed it every time. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/yearly-goals#post-642 Thu, 12 May 2011 00:55:21 +0000 Daileye1 642@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Ooh I've got a long list of lifers left to achieve ... I figure if I get at least a few every year I can stretch my excitement out for a few decades ;)<br /> Already knocked off Red Salamander this year.<br /> Need to work on my habitat species honing skills overall. </p> <p>Congrats on the MCF. I'd love to see the green sals in person but not this side of the state ;( they really are stunning looking in the photos I have seen. Good luck! </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/yearly-goals#post-641 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:09:34 +0000 paherp 641@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>What are your goals for the year? Any lifers you want to make off? </p> <p>I did one of mine already - Mtn. Chrous Frogs. </p> <p>Others I would not mind seeing this year would be Green Salamanders and Valley and Ridge Salamanders. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/anyone-out-yet#post-640 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 02:57:50 +0000 paherp 640@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>In SW PA they are out in strong numbers in the areas I frequent. </p> <p>If you are near Allegheny Co. PA send me an email. You can use the contact page on PAHERP to do so. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/anyone-out-yet#post-639 Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:26:16 +0000 nmmattheus 639@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Hi All. I'm looking for Wood Frogs, specifically large populations. A colleague and I are in the area working on measures of environmental stress and genetic diversity in the Wood Frog. Any out yet? I hope we did not miss their explosion yet. Where would you suggest looking? We are working across the state and into OH. Many thanks!! </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/anyone-out-yet#post-638 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 23:40:52 +0000 dw6245 638@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>I went out on the 28th for some spotteds in Montgomery Co. and things were reeaalll slow but there was a little action. This weekend should be pretty hot. I got the camera charged and all my flashlights ready. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/anyone-out-yet#post-637 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:35:13 +0000 Rattler 637@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Phil, did you get the pics of Jeffersons from Rich? He sent me some the other day. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/anyone-out-yet#post-636 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:54:01 +0000 flip3238 636@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>next rainy 40 + temp night kev...they started about 90 miles south of here last night but it will probably take at least 1 more rainy night to really get all the spotted's to move....jeff's im not so sure...they may have had their mass migration last night up here.... they are always the firsts after all and kyle, to my knowledge, saw none last night 90 miles south </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/anyone-out-yet#post-635 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:21:30 +0000 paherp 635@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>I was out Sunday night and saw three woods. The temps are still not high enough here and Monday they dropped and dried up. So I am patiently waiting the weekend. :) </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/anyone-out-yet#post-634 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:19:11 +0000 Rattler 634@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Got word from one of my buddies that the Jeffersons are in the pools. I know one thing, i will be off work for a coupel weeks yet due to and ice fishing accident ands the herps better look out! Molly (3 yr. old daughter) and i are gunna spend some quality time herping! Cant wait for the spotteds! </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/enlighten-me#post-618 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:07:13 +0000 Rattler 618@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Thanks Kyle, i wasn't sure. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/enlighten-me#post-610 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:41:34 +0000 krloucks 610@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>I dont thing it's fully developed at birth...</p> <p><img src="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w175/krloucks/Herps/1%20Herps%202008/5-27-08%20South%20Jersey/IMG_2115.jpg"> </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/enlighten-me#post-609 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 02:36:36 +0000 Rattler 609@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>A hatchling box turtle, does there shell hinge at birth? </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/northern-brown-snake#post-565 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:33:55 +0000 NASAAN101 565@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Thanks for that, the little guy found was so clam, i was thing he was going to try and bit me! the name is Nikki, I'm 27 years old.. But i Have high-functioning ADD.. which mean, Attention Deficit Disorder. But I'm also high-functioning MR, which means mental retardation! </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/northern-brown-snake#post-564 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:06:13 +0000 paherp 564@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>No laws for that particular species. Overnight is not a problem. It is releasing them after a few weeks that I would think to be more of a concern. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/northern-brown-snake#post-563 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:50:13 +0000 NASAAN101 563@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>hey Guys,<br /> I was at a hotel this weekend, and went for a walk and for a baby Northern Brown Snake! he tryed to bite when i first pick him up, but calmed really quickly, What are the rules about keep these snake for a day and letting them go the next morning? thank you,<br /> Nikki </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/a-possibly-odd-question-re-northern-water-snakes#post-560 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:01:48 +0000 jennysrainbow 560@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>I realize this may be an odd question, but I figured I'd ask anyway. We have 2 man-made ponds in our back yard. They are filled with Eastern Newts, Green Frogs (adult, juvenile &amp; tads), Wood Frog Tads and all sorts of aquatic insects. Last year we had our first Northern Water Snake take up residence. This year we have 3! They are doing quite a number on my other critters... and I'd love to catch and relocate the snakes to the larger lakes in our community. This, however, has proved to be a nearly impossible task. Those buggers are QUICK and since they're always in the water or at the water's edge, they can easily escape and take cover. Any ideas how we can catch them? I do find them very interesting - but in such small ponds, I fear they'll quickly do major damage to the population of everything else living in there. Thanks so much in advance for any suggestions. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/great-day-afield#post-547 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:06:35 +0000 Rattler 547@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>We figured all the turtles we seen we looking to lay eggs, they were all on the gravel access road we used. All the turtle were females but 1. We had 1 giant male wood turtle.<br /> I also found a new TR site today. Weather didnt coperate real good, but i did see one TR. Stuck his head out just far enough for a couple pics. Pretty sure it was a big male judging by his head size. Now we will have to go back and look for his ladies. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/great-day-afield#post-546 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:02:02 +0000 Daileye1 546@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>So many turtles...I'm green with envy. Good luck tomorrow. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/great-day-afield#post-545 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:07:11 +0000 Rattler 545@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Was a great to be out. We found a new TR site, 9 box turtles, 3 wood turtles, wood frogs, great horned owl, red eft's some deer and turkeys. Cant wait to get back at it tommorrow! Only bad thing of the whole day was, my batteries went out in the GPS right away so i had to rob them out of the camera, which means no pics. I have high hopes of another TR or copper site tommorrow, this time i will be prepared with some extra batteries. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/my-best-day-ever#post-537 Thu, 27 May 2010 23:55:26 +0000 paherp 537@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>Looks like a nice day. Congradz on the wood turtle. That by itself would make my day. </p> http://www.paherp.org/forum/topic/my-best-day-ever#post-536 Thu, 27 May 2010 23:17:46 +0000 Timber_Wood 536@http://www.paherp.org/forum/ <p>I was herping last Friday in Cumberland county and found 3 different species of reptile. I'm an amateur so that was a great day for me. It would have been perfect if I had found what I was looking for, our venomous slithery friends. If anyone would be willing to help me out sometime that would be great. I know we can't list specific locations so it would be nice to go herping with a pro sometime. Here are my finds:</p> <p>5 Lined Skink<br /> <img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv329/openyourmind88/ReptileShow005.jpg"></p> <p>Male 5 Lined Skink<br /> <img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv329/openyourmind88/ReptileShow011.jpg"></p> <p>Ring-neck<br /> <img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv329/openyourmind88/ReptileShow010.jpg"></p> <p>Wood turtle<br /> <img src="http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv329/openyourmind88/ReptileShow022.jpg"> </p>