Turtle Journal

Turtle Journal Office in the Field

Spring activity demands that the Turtle Journal team be on the road and in the field as amphibians and herps awaken from a long winter slumber.  So, as dawn breaks, we saddle up the Turtle Journal field office and head out into the wild for discoveries and adventures.

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)

Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) serve as troubadours of Springtime in the wetlands of the Great White North.  With snow and ice still clinging to SouthCoast swamplands, their distinctive and raucous croaks can be heard as temperatures crack the 40s.  For those unfamiliar with this special call of the wild, click here for one of our YouTube videos from 2012.

Wood Frog Egg Masses in SouthCoast Wetlands

Yes, an early sign of Spring in SouthCoast wetlands are the raucous, guttural calls of amorous wood frogs, soon followed by the appearance of egg masses.  We had been searching for wood frog egg masses for several days, and found them Thursday morning, April 3rd.

Wood Frog Egg Freshly Deposited

On close inspection, the eggs seemed freshly deposited with little development as illustrated in the image above.

Wood Frog Eggs Beginning to Divide and Develop

Yet, by later in the afternoon when we returned to the site, we could detect definitive cellular division and development.  The chorus of wood frogs continues and more egg masses appear each morning.

Large Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) in SouthCoast Bog

Turtle Journal explored the SouthCoast wetlands surrounding the abandoned Goldwitz cranberry bog in Marion on Thursday afternoon.  As we crossed a hard-packed, dirt road, we startled a large garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) — the Massachusetts state reptile – basking atop the warm roadway.

Large Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

And, yes; the snake startled us, too.  Its color scheme blended perfectly with the compact sand, and as it lay motionless, the snake was nearly impossible to detect … until it began to slither toward the swamp.  We compared its length to our boot size to obtain an eyeball approximation of 2.5 feet.

Rufus the Turtle Dog Tracks Garter Snake

Rufus proved particularly amused by the snake.  Reading her mind, I saw a cartoon bubble exclaiming, “Wow!  A stick that actually throws itself.”  She thought she had found the perfect doggie toy.

Garter Snake Slithers into Abandoned Cranberry Bog

Sliding down the bank, the garter snake slipped into the flooded wetlands.  It swam into the middle of the swamp and found a tangle of reeds and grass stocks on which it could continue basking in the 55 degree sunshine.  With sighting of the garter snake, Turtle Journal has observed most of our Spring signature species and we feel comfortable proclaiming that the Spring season is in full swing … at least until the next nasty snow storm strikes the Great White North.

Yellow Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

Nighttime March rain affords the key impetus for yellow spotted salamanaders (Ambystoma maculatum) to venture from woodlands to wetlands for their annual mating aggregation known as a congress.

Scooping Salamanders from Dark, Busy SouthCoast Roads

Thursday evening brought torrential downpours with mild 50 degree temperature.  The Turtle Journal team piled into the all-wheel-drive vehicle and patrolled flooded SouthCoast streets, spending the night scooping up slithering salamanders from dark, wet and busy roadways.

Weighing Yellow Spotted Salamander

Before releasing a sampling of these salamanders, we gathered sciientific data and examined them thoroughly.  Specimens ranged from as light as 16 grams to as heavy as 28 grams. 

Measuring Yellow Spotted Salamanders

The smallest salamander measured a little more than 15 centimeters from snout to tip of tail.  The largest specimen stretched nearly 18 centimeters.

IF YOU HAVE AN iPAD & CAN’T SEE VIDEO, CLICK HERE.

Examining Yellow Spotted Salamander

We examine each salamander in detail.

Yellow Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

No matter weight or size, each salamander seems packed with energy and filled with determined resolution to reach congress.  My goodness, with a smile like the one pictured immediately above, Turtle Journal might even consider voting him into office.

Closeup of Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Nothing in Nature says springtime in the Great White North more than a chorus of spring peepers.  Even with ice still clinging to the edges of pond, creeks and bogs, the gradual warmth of late March spurs these tiny critters to combine their voices into a symphony of hope … punctuated by the gutteral tones of a section of throaty wood frogs.

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Last evening, March 28th, gentle rains blew into the SouthCoast of Massacusetts with a warming breeze.  The Turtle Journal team waited until dark, then trekked over to an abandoned bog to savor the concert.

IF YOU HAVE AN iPAD & CAN’T SEE VIDEO; CLICK HERE.

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Alas, spring has arrived and irrepressible Nature has gained ascendency.