Spring 2017 Newsletter

Spotted salamander moving across snow

during January warm spell in Sutton NH.

Photo by Jen Alford-Teaster

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

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

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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.

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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/.

Spring 2017 Newsletter

NH Wildlife Sightings – Use Your Smart Phone From Field

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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.

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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.

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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/blandings-turtle.html

Wood Turtles – Initial Surveys Completed

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

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

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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.

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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.

Spring 2017 Newsletter

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