NH Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program (RAARP) & NH Wildlife Sightings Dear RAARP/NH Wildlife Sightings Participant, After a snowy start to February that had ski mountains cheering, an extended warm spell mid-month hit the low 70s F in southern NH and exposed bare ground in much of southern NH. As a result, we had several reports of wood frogs, peepers, and other critters moving in late February. But typical cooler weather moved back in extending the major amphibian movement. Then, 1-2 feet of snow hit much of NH in mid-march!!!! Well, it is New England! Early season reports of amphibian and reptile movement such as those observed this year are important to submit to NHFG. These reports help us track annual changes in wildlife movement. This newsletter highlights some of the ongoing conservation efforts for reptiles and amphibians in NH and includes a summary of reports submitted during 2016. Time to get ready for spending time in the woods and wetlands! Remember that photos and exact locations of sightings are extremely important for biologists to verify your reports. If you are unable to take a photograph, note a description of the size, coloration, distinctive patterns or markings, and habitat. This information substantially increases our success in verifying reports. Recordings or descriptions of their calls are also helpful. We are encouraging reporters to use our online NH Wildlife Sightings reporting system. If you have difficulty using this system or prefer another reporting mechanism, we still allow reporting slips to be snail mailed and/or emailed - we just need all of the information filled out, preferably on the Spotted salamander moving across snow during January warm spell in Sutton NH. Photo by Jen Alford-Teaster standardized form (especially location and species description details). Coordinates of the location are preferred, but a nearest address and description of where on the property is sufficient. It is also worth noting that roadkill & road crossing observations are also accepted and encouraged to help us identify animal road crossing hotspots in the state. This year we even added most mammals to the NH Wildlife Sightings page for this purpose. For more information, see reporting details below and on NHFG website. Your reports are valuable to us and we appreciate your input on the reporting process as well. New RAARP volunteer (above) catches wood frog
WHAT S NEW? NH Wildlife Sightings How to find Site: http://nhwildlifesightings.unh.edu/ or google NH Wildlife Sightings. Things you can do on NH Wildlife Sightings site: Report Wildlife observations including all reptiles and amphibian species. Report vernal pool locations and associated wildlife species. Use interactive map to locate observation. Upload photos to observation. View town distribution maps for all species eligible for reporting. See all of your wildlife observations and vernal pool reports on a map and table located on your home page (see image below as example). Download all of your observations.
We encourage you to submit your future reptile and amphibian observations through NH Wildlife Sightings (other species groups can be reported there as well). Mapping tools allow observers to pinpoint the location of their wildlife observation. Digital photographs can be uploaded as part of your submissions. Detailed instructions are available on the website. http://nhwildlifesightings.unh.edu/.
NH Wildlife Sightings Use Your Smart Phone From Field
RAARP/ NH Wildlife Sightings Reporting Form If you are not using NH Wildlife Sightings website, we request that you submit your reptile and amphibian observations on a standard reporting form. This form is available for download on our website. Why? The reporting form matches the format of the web-based reporting and is intended to gather all of the important data we use for conservation purposes. You can report 2 different species on one form as long as they are at the same location (same habitat type and within close proximity of each other). Observations can be submitted to NHFG in any of the following ways: 1) Online (see NH Wildlife Sightings information above), 2) Email completed reporting form to RAARP@wildlife.nh.gov, http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/nongame/raarp/raarp_wildlifesightings_emailfo rm.doc 3) Mail in hard copy reporting forms to: NHFG, Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord NH 03301. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/nongame/raarp/raarp_report_form_new.pdf Call 603-271-2461 for questions.
Updated NH Vernal Pool Documentation Manual Available on NHFG Website The new manual has updated reporting forms, updated species information, and color photographs. Check it out and don t forget to send in your completed forms http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/vernal-pools.html Remember: Vernal pool data can be submitted through NH Wildlife Sightings website. Select Vernal Pool under Habitat Information. Most fields under Vernal Pool form are optional but fill in as much as you can.
Blanding s Turtles - Surveys Continue & Conservation Implementation Underway The Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program was recently awarded a second Competitive State Wildlife Grant from the USFWS to continue population monitoring and implementation of conservation strategies to protect these state endangered turtles. NHFG will be using radiotelemetry to track their movements across the landscape and working with land owners and land managers to enhance habitat. We are excited to get to work when the weather warms up! Reporting your sightings is strongly encouraged! For more information on our efforts for Blanding s turtles in the northeast U.S., see: http://www.blandingsturtle.org/ and the NHFG website: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/profiles/blandingsturtle.html Wood Turtles Initial Surveys Completed NHFG recently completed surveys under a USFWS funded Competitive State Wildlife Grant for wood turtles. Our surveys documented many previously unknown sites and gathered population data at each. Over 200 stream surveys were conducted in 2014-2015, and nearly 250 individual turtles were marked, weighed and measured. The data from this effort will be used to develop conservation strategies. We will continue surveys during spring and fall of 2017 and future years. Reporting your sightings is strongly encouraged! For more information on Wood turtles, check out the NHFG website: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/profiles/wo od-turtle.html NHFG Website: Snake, Frog, Turtle, and Salamander Pages To assist with identification, NHFG created a web page with information and photographs on snakes, turtles, frogs, and salamanders. Calls of NH frogs can be listened to on this website as well. Also, town distribution maps can be viewed for each species. To find these pages, go to the NHFG website: Wildnh.com/nongame and click on reptiles and amphibians. http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/reptiles-amphibians.html Attached you will find the 2016 report summary. Thank you for your participation in RAARP/ NH Wildlife Sightings! I look forward to seeing all of your reports during 2017. Sincerely, Michael Marchand Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program
2016 Summary Reports AMPHIBIANS Frogs/Toads # Reports Salamanders # Reports American Toad 9 Spotted Salamander 15 Wood Frog 6 Eastern Newt 8 Gray Treefrog 2 Redback Salamander 6 Green Frog 4 Two-lined Salamander 4 Northern Spring Peeper 5 Dusky Salamander 2 Bullfrog 3 Spring Salamander 2 Fowler's Toad* 0 Blue-spotted X Jefferson Salamander* 4 Mink Frog* 5 Four-toed Salamander 2 Pickerel Frog 6 Slimy Salamander 0 Northern Leopard Frog* 1 Marbled Salamander* 0 Mudpuppy 0 TOTAL FROGS 41 TOTAL SALAMANDERS 43 TOTAL AMPHIBIANS 84 REPTILES Turtles # Reports Snakes # Reports Blanding's Turtle* 63 Common Garter Snake 16 Wood Turtle* 27 Northern Water Snake 15 Spotted Turtle* 9 Milk Snake 12 Eastern Painted Turtle 17 Northern Black Racer* 6 Snapping Turtle 22 Eastern Ribbon Snake* 6 Musk turtle (Stinkpot) 3 Eastern Hognose Snake* 13 Eastern Box Turtle* 3 Ringneck Snake 3 Red-eared slider (non-native) 0 Redbelly Snake 10 Smooth Green Snake* 4 Brown Snake 3 Timber Rattlesnake* 0 TOTAL TURTLES 144 TOTAL SNAKES 88 TOTAL REPTILES 232 *NOTE: The numbers reported above represent the number of observations REPORTED. These observations have not been validated and these reports do not necessarily represent distinct populations.
Targets for 2017 Frogs/Toads: Very few Mink frogs have been reported since 2012, with a slight increase in 2016. NHFG staff added several new records from the North Country Region this past summer. Mink frogs have a northerly distribution (north of the White Mountains). We encourage our northern NH RAARP volunteers to report this species and if you don t live up north, it would make a great get-away weekend. Listen for their call in June and early July (sounds like hitting 2 boards together). If you are fortunate to capture one, try to take a good photo!! Mink frogs can look very similar to our more common green frog. Another tip for identification: The smell test! Mink frogs have a rotten onion smell that is a dead giveaway. Fowler s toads can be difficult to verify; try to listen for their distinct calls during spring (calls can be listened to on the NHFG website). NHFG has confirmed one population in Boscawen during a 2016 survey and another was reported in the town of Hinsdale. Other sites likely exist and are just waiting to be identified! We need verified reports of Leopard frogs; photos are crucial!! Most reports of Leopard frogs turn out to be Pickerel and green frogs. Focus searches during late summer in floodplains, fields, and agricultural areas along rivers. See the NHFG website for description of species. Northern Leopard Frog Pickerel Frog Salamanders: Jefferson and blue-spotted salamanders breed in vernal pools in early spring. Four-toed salamanders associated with sphagnum wetlands. Marbled salamander - State endangered species; be sure to take a photo if you come across one of these and call NHFG ASAP (603-271-2461). Most likely to be found in: Hollis, Brookline, Milford and Hinsdale. Spring & dusky salamanders live in/near streams and seeps statewide. Mudpuppies known from Connecticut River but we need more records to determine distribution.
Turtles: EXCITING NEWS! NHFG has discovered the first known Eastern Box Turtle population in the state. We are using radiotelemetry to track these individuals with hope of finding others and better understand their habitat here in the granite state. These turtles are likely restricted to towns along the southern border. If you observe one call NHFG ASAP (603-271-2461) and get a photo!! Male box turtle with transmitter Female box turtle with transmitter Blanding s turtle - have been among the top reported species for the last several years. This is probably due in part to the species large size, and movement patterns which bring it into frequent contact with residential areas and roads. Keep those reports coming! Keep the reports flowing for Spotted and Wood turtles. Even Musk turtles are underrepresented in RAARP reports. Keep a look out for Red-eared sliders and other non-native turtles. Non-native turtles can compete with our native species and potentially introduce diseases. Reports of non-native species are just as important. Snakes: Hognose snakes are state endangered and their sandy habitat continues to be developed in southern New Hampshire. To protect this species, we need to document the best places where they still occur. Photos are critical. We initiated a Black racer study during 2010 and the press associated with that project at that time resulted in a number of new records. Continue to send these reports in soon after racers are observed. Ribbon snakes and smooth green snake were listed in the NH Wildlife Action Plan as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Photographs are critical for Ribbon snakes. Check out the NHFG website to help with identification. Garter snake (right) - common statewide Ribbon snake (above) - not common