Michigan Herp Trips

Every year, the spring peepers make the coming of the spring months apparent with their emergence in massive numbers as they call loudly throughout the night. Spring is probably my favorite time of the year to herp, because it is the peak of amphibian season for the entire year and they can be found out in huge numbers. Also, some amphibian species can only be seen during the spring months, such as the mole salamanders and as well as the chorus frogs & spring peepers.

Vernal Pool in Washtenaw County, Michigan

March 31st brought weather in the low 60s during the day, and the night was supposed to have rain with temperatures in the mid 50s. It was perfect, I couldn't have asked for more ideal conditions to begin my first night of salamander surveying at my site. After getting out of class at 8 PM, I raced on over to my site and headed out. It certainly didn't take long for things to get underway, within a few minutes I already had a handful of salamanders out on the move.

Spotted Salamander

This Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) was found migrating downhill towards the vernal pond. I was so happy to see my first salamander of 2008, it was a real sign that spring was on its way. Not more than a few feet from this sally was another spottie sitting at the edge of the water.

Spotted Salamander

Why hello there Mr. Maculatum!

Before I knew it, I was turning up maculatum everywhere. In the water, under logs, migrating towards the pond. There were so many Spotted Salamanders that I was a little overwhelmed. When I was able to be a part of this salamander surveying project I had hoped I would see a few salamanders, but in the first ten minutes of being out in the field, I was completely overwhelemed with hoards of Spotties.

Another Spotted Migrating

Ambystoma maculatum

With the maculatum out in full force, I was hoping that I would come across another species that I was supposed to be looking for, the Blue-spotted Salamander. I knew that they are known to populate my survey site, so it was only a matter of time. And a little while later, I came across this little beauty.

Blue-spotted Salamander

The weird thing about the Blue-spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma laterale) in Washtenaw County is that a lot of them like this individual show charachteristics of both Blue-spotted Salamanders and Jefferson's Salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonium). So technically, a lot of the Blue-spotted Salamanders here are hybrids such as the individual above. Pure laterale are much darker with more defined spots while hybrids show a lighter toned color with blue flecks. After photographing this little beauty, I followed the loud peeep-peeep which was coming from a fallen log not too far away. I found two Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) near the log calling back and forth to one another. Pretty loud litts guys for being only one inch long!

Spring Peeper

Pseudacris crucifer

After photographing the peepers, I found another Spotted Salamander a mere three feet from the peepers making its way from the hills to the pond.

Spotted Salamander

A few minutes and many more Spotties later, I shined my flashlight into this, another gorgeous looking hybrid Blue-spotted Salamander. It was making its way down to the pond, but was a good sixty feet above the pond on a steep slope. It just amazes me how persistent these little amphibians are.

Blue-spotted Salamander as Found

Blue-spotted Salamander

Ambystoma laterale

I started noticing more and more Spotted Salamanders to congregate along a certain point of the bank at the water's edge. At first there were only a few, but within ten minutes, there could have been twenty or more all congregating together and dropping spermataphores.

Spotted Salamanders

Spotteds Congregating

Lots of maculatum!!!!!

The first official night of the 2008 Michigan herping season was one to remember. I found one more Spotted Salamander on my way back to the car, which brought my totals for the night to a very high number. 56 Spotted Salamanders, 7 Blue-spotted Salamanders, and 16 Spring Peepers. Surveying is just beginning, and I can only wait to see what other great herping trips it holds in store.

Spotted Salamander

Species Observed:

• Spotted Salamander
• Hybrid Blue-spotted Salamander
• Spring Peeper

Back to Trip Reports

Back to Michigan Herps Home