May herping near lake Erie

[Willlis]

Just posting some photos from herping in early May near lake Erie. We saw tons of A. laterale hybrids, over 30, and probably some true blooded blue spotted as well. Quite a few red backs, maybe 25 or so, and an Eastern Hognose that we almost didnt notice while reaching to flip over a log.

 

[JessKB]

Great pics! The hognose is nice, did you get it to play dead for you?

 

[Willlis]

Thanks. I think the best way to answer that question is with a picture...

 

[axolotlfreak56]

If you don't mind me asking, what did you do to find the blue spotted salamanders (or hybrids)? Just curious, because I'm trying to do some herping in my area where there's supposedly blue spotted salamanders, but there's just an overwhelming abundence of red back salamanders. And you found so many as well, which is why I'm so amazed. Being mole salamanders, I'd assume they're pretty difficult to find out of breeding season, or am I wrong?

 

[Willlis]

I've never had too much trouble finding blue spotted salamanders through out the summer as long as it isn't too dry. Usually a nice rotted log is the perfect place to find one beneath. At this particular site I was having much more success finding them under rocks which you can see in the pictures. I went to this location because they do have a few A. opacum but no luck still hoping to find a good site to see one of them. I've tried a few sites down in Indiana as well but as of yet Marbleds are remaining elusive. One thing to remember about blue spotted salamanders is they could be all over one wooded area that has appropriate breeding ponds but a mile or two away you could have none. Just keep trying!

 

[Zach42]

Very nice. I sure don't find Ambystoma after March down here. Nice LE water snake! I'm going up there in a few weeks and I really want to find one of them.