Herps are Back in Town

Reptiles and amphibians are sensitive species— water quality and temperature can effect how often and where they are seen. Thanks to both federal and state protections, they’re becoming more common sights, but we’ve still got a long way to go.

When the calendar turns and temperatures rise, reptiles and amphibians emerge from their long torpor, often with one thing on their mind: breeding. The croak of spring peepers, the stumbling of salamanders across the pavement, and the sloshing splash of breeding turtles are point towards the revival of our ecosystems.

Don’t be afraid of our scaly neighbors. Snakes like the Eastern Garter and Dekay’s Brown snake munch on invertebrates and pestilential small mammals. You ,may see turtles a long way from the water in the coming weeks—and thats normal too. They’re laying eggs!