Mercer County Herp Blitz

Eastern redback salamander.

The Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey assembled a group of volunteers to do a citizen science survey in Mercer County.  We went along to lend a hand and get to know the local "herps". We found plenty!

PARS surveys are opportunities to help document the range of different species within Pennsylvania while potentially learning about these fascinating animals from an expert. This survey was really different than the previous one we attended in Greene County. PARS does not really have much information on their website for new volunteers. So now I know there are a few things it makes sense to ask a trip leader before showing up.

1) How much experience is required? Will we be working together as a group, with the leader identifying our finds, or will we be expected to work independently? On our first PARS survey, we worked together as a group, everyone to see every significant find, and we all needed less expertise than simple willingness to get messy and search. On this survey, we were all split up. We weren't prepared to i.d. our finds ourselves, and were disappointed that most participants missed at least a few unique species.

2) What kind of footwear is best? Our hiking boots are great for woodlands and streams, but not so much for wetlands where the water is knee deep. And I have not been able to track down any high rubber boots in my son's extra-extra wide size. We were lucky that wetlands were not surveyed for the majority of the Mercer County event; otherwise it would have been a real disappointment after 1 1/2 hours of driving. On the other hand, I wore my rubber boots to the first survey and they were quite uncomfortable after hours of tromping through the woods. So it's best just to ask what should work best.

3) Will we be spending most of our time in one area, hiking in and back out again, or will we be making a series of short stops at several locations? It definitely helps if you know ahead of time how much to carry with you, and whether it will be difficult to leave early if needed. They schedule definite start times for their surveys but not necessarily definite end times.

PARS does accept submissions of sightings, with photographs (and sound recordings of frog songs), via their website.  So if you don't need help from an expert, that's always a way to contribute. 

Before moving to Pennsylvania, we spent the last three springs doing amphibian egg mass surveys. We were given hip waders and we trudged through ponds every week or two for several months in a row, identifying and counting egg masses. We also attended numerous "bioblitz" events where we searched for amphibians and reptiles as a group, in woodlands and streams. The data was used by local governments to make decisions that might affect threatened species. So we got to make ourselves useful while learning a great deal about native amphibians. Now that we are in Pennsylvania, we've not been as lucky. These two PARS events were the only herp surveys I found within a reasonable driving distance of Pittsburgh this spring. PARS is a statewide organization, but I am hoping we will be able to learn if there are local organizations that do this kind of work? I hope so! 

Spotted salamander egg mass. Spotted salamanders are "mole" salamanders; they live most of their lives burrowing underground, but come out in the spring to mate.

Marsh marigold.

Skunk cabbage.

Eastern redback salamander.

Eastern redback salamander.

Amphibian egg masses.

Northern dusky salamander.

Northern two lined salamander and mountain dusky salamander.

Spicebush.

Mountain dusky salamander.

Mountain dusky salamander.

Spotted salamander egg mass.

Eastern redback salamanders.

Eastern redback salamander.

Skunk cabbage.

Millipede.

Northern two-lined salamander.

Northern two-lined salamander.

Northern two-lined salamander.

Eastern redback salamander.

Mountain dusky salamander.

Groundhog skull.

Northern dusky salamander.

Northern dusky salamander.

Northern dusky salamander.

Northern brownsnake.