From: Dave Wilson Jr. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 2:21 PM
To: 
Subject: Herp Search May 16 - Carpool from SU at 8 a.m.

 

Reptile, amphibian search May 16

The ninth annual Great Worcester Herp Search will take place Saturday, May
16 when volunteers scour county lands for reptiles and amphibians. 

Sponsored by the Coastal Bays Program, Delmarva Low Impact Tourism (DLITE),
Salisbury Zoo, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Salisbury
University, the search kicks off at 9 a.m. at the pavilion at the Pocomoke
State Park Shad Landing Area. Participants should park in the lot by the
dock next to the concession area. A brief pre-hunt training session will
feature live turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders and explain ways to
identify them in the wild. It is free to the public and will be held to prep
volunteers for searching four Worcester County sites in the morning and
afternoon.

Last year 99 reptiles and amphibians representing 15 species were the result
of the search held in Worcester County. Finds included black racers, worm
snakes, ringneck snakes, and common watersnakes. Box and snapping turtles
were found along with red-backed salamanders, five-lined skinks, ground
skinks, and fence lizards. Frogs and toads included Fowlers toads and green,
S. Leopard, and spring peepers. Calling Cope's grey treefrogs were also part
of the mix.

In Worcester, there are approximately 19 species of snakes, 15 species of
frogs and toads, eight species of salamanders, 13 species of turtles and
four species of lizards. Worcester County and the coastal bays watershed
have more reptile species than any other county in Maryland. The search will
provide data to help scientists better understand population trends in this
declining group of vertebrates. No animals are harmed or removed from the
wild during the search.

This year's sites include a 166-acre parcel on the south side of Public
Landing Road, and the state-owned 4,500-acre Foster tract which will be
broken into three segments. The tract, west of Route 12, is largely
unexplored by science. After the morning trips, volunteers will return to
the pavilion for lunch and a slide show of the a.m. findings. 

Participants should bring a sack lunch and drinks. A Salisbury University
van will leave the Henson loading dock at the NE corner of the Henson bldg.
on the campus at 8 a.m. Please email Dr. Ron Gutberlet at
 to let him know you'll be hitching a ride. Groups
will return to the field around 2 p.m. until approximately 5 p.m. The trips
are not recommended for kids under 8 years and all children under 14 must be
accompanied by an adult. Sunscreen, mosquito and tick repellant, and boots
are a must.

To view photos and the results of last year's search go to
www.delmarvalite.org/events or www.mdcoastalbays.org. For more information
call Jim Rapp at the DLITE office at 443-944-8097 or Dave Wilson at the
Coastal Bays office at 410-213-2297. 

-30-

 

Dave Wilson Jr.

Executive Director

Maryland Coastal Bays Program

9919 Stephen Decatur Highway, Suite 4

Ocean City, MD 21842

Phone: 410-213-2297

Fax: 410-213-2574

Email: 

Web: www.mdcoastalbays.org <http://www.mdcoastalbays.org/>