Aquatic Animals Galore

By David S. (Intermediate)
ed. by Rob Lee

Sept. 17^th, 2005

It was a warm, rainy day -- perfect for finding salamanders and frogs. "We arrived at the southeastern end of the Macoun Club's Study Area and then divided into groups," says David. "The group Rob was leading turned left at the end of the boardwalk and headed for a deciduous forest, while my group (led by Barbara) turned right. This trail took us into the 'flat-rock area,' where we observed lichens, fungi, and mosses. Some trees had their roots growing right on the solid rock. Around the edges of this area, we noticed that the trees there had no greenery below a seven-foot level. Barbara explained that this was because of the overpopulation of White-tailed Deer, which eat everything they can reach. Next, we decided to move into the bush instead of taking the trail. In the woods we found a Leopard Frog, a Wood Frog, a Green Frog, a Tree Frog, and a Spring Peeper. Under a log, we found an Eastern Newt that had the orange belly of a Red Eft. We also took a look at some Poison Ivy. And some interesting berries. By then it was getting late, and so we started back. Along the way we found a Garter Snake and some Nannyberry Treehopper eggs."

In the deciduous woods, Rob's group found more of the same kinds of frogs. They also found a large Blue-spotted Salamander (5 inches nose to tail, said Gabby, who found it). But many more rocks and logs were turned without finding anything but isopods, earthworms, and slugs. Despite 20 hours of rain, the soil under most logs and rocks was still dry.

Those who stayed after lunch formed a third group, and they found eight more Leopard Frogs in the low vegetation of the 'flat-rock area.' In the maple forests, they saw many treetop branches that had been cut off by Porcupines and dropped, after they had eaten the acorns and nuts.

At the very end of the trip, in the woods and far from water, the group met two adult beavers coming up the path. It has been a dry summer, and Rob said these animals were refugees from their dried-up ponds.

"All in all," said David, "the field trip was very successful. We had fun and we found a lot of interesting animals."

Past Trips

• Jan. 29, 2005 - Tagging Trees, Lots of Lichens, and Macoun Members Munching on Maple Leaves
  
• Jan. 15, 2005 - Mystery Muskrat
  
• Dec. 4, 2004 - Animal Tracks and Tasty Trees
  
• Oct. 2, 2004 - Sand Pit Excursion in Pakenham
  
• Sept. 18, 2004 - Salamander Hunting During Another Trip to the Study Area
  
• April 24, 2004 - Stalking Snakes in the Study Area
  
• Dec. 6, 2003 - Early Winter in Pakenham
  
• Sept. 20, 2003 - An Early Autumn Trip to the Macoun Club's Nature Study Area
  

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