As has been usual for me the past few years, 2014 was probably my best herping year to date.
These first few pictures are from the final days of 2013.
With the infamous winter of 13-14, winter herping in 2014 was scarce. However, there are nearly always salamanders to be found.
Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Zigzag Salamander (Plethodon dorsalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
With less herps around I pursued other wildlife, seeing these was definitely among my favorite nature experiences ever.
River Otters (Lontra canadensis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
River Otters (Lontra canadensis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
River Otters (Lontra canadensis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
During one "warm spell" in January I checked to see if there were any early Jefferson's. Alas...
Vernal Pool by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Still, getting out and seeing nature kept me sane throughout the winter...
Aquatic Isopod by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Frost on Berries by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Creek in Winter by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
The first real "warm spell" with rain didn't come until late February, significantly later than I'm used to.
Male Jeff
Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Female
Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Unfortunately it didn't last long, and I was left impatiently waiting for the rest of the spring migrations.
Southern Two Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
One day in early March I managed to find my first reptiles, unfortunely they were a little less than lively. I was surprised because at this point the temperature had not exceeded 55 degrees. This turtle was still alive, though obviously probably not much longer.
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
This was a major bummer. I have been looking for these for a long time. This would inspire me to search this location thoroughly during the spring.
Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandi) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandi) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Luckily it would not be too much longer before I saw some more lively reptiles.
Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Enough warmth finally convinved the amphibians to start breeding.
Spring Peeper (Psuedacris crucifer) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
This was a cool observation I wish I'd gotten a better photo of.
Eastern Newt Preying upon Jefferson's Salamander Eggs by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
More amphibians.
Eastern Newt Preying upon Jefferson's Salamander Eggs by Zach Truelock, on Flickrps://flic.kr/p/kXNqkT][/url]Midland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midland Chorus Frogs (Psuedacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midland Chorus Frogs (Psuedacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midland Chorus Frog (Psuedacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Red Spotted Newt (Notopthalmus viridescens viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Smallmouth Salamander eggs (left) and Chorus frog eggs (right) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Spring Peeper (Psuedacris crucifer) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midland Chorus Frogs (Psuedacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Smallmouth Salamander Egg Masses (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Smallmouth Salamander Embryo (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) & Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
If you can't tell, this is my favorite time of year to herp.
My first snake of the year was a Brown snake, found under tin intended for Kirtland's.
Midland Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi wrightorum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
More mphibians!
Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midland Chorus Frog (Psuedacris triseriata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Snakes started to be found more consistently.
Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Apologies for all the non-herps but I have to share this one-another reason this is the best time of year. Darters don their mating colors.
Orange-throat Darter (Etheostoma spectabile) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
This Smooth Earth snake was found in a shingle pile. They are not common finds in my area.
Western Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valerie elegans) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
American Toads (Bufo americanus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Most of these finds I don't have any story behind, other than that they're mostly byproducts of searching for Kirtland's snakes.
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifiga) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Midwestern Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus helenae) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Copper-bellied Water Snake by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Finally, one day in May, I found the holy grail...
Kirtland's Snakes (Clonophis kirtlandi) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Kirtland's Snakes (Clonophis kirtlandii) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Probably my favorite find of the year.
Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Aberrant Two lined larva
Albino/leucistic & Normal Southern Two Lined Salamander Larvae (Eurycea cirrigera) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
The Hoosier Herpetolgical Society had another good year for the annual herpout. Most of these aren't my finds.
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Racer (Coluber constrictor) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
In early summer, a doe gave birth in my neighbor's yard.
Mother Deer and Fawns by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Mother Deer and Fawns by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Various finds from late spring-summer herping.
Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifiga) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
For whatever reason, I really suck at finding rat snakes, so I was very happy to see this one.
Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Result of all that commotion back in March:
Jefferson's Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Newt (Notopthalmus viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Long-tailed Salamander (Eurycea longicauda) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Many summer nights were spent watching and listening to the toads and treefrogs.
American Toad (Bufo americanus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Over the summer I learned how to find rough greens reliably. I found this initial one on a fishing trip when I noticed the area looked goof for spotlighting. Night visits revealed many more rough greens at this spot and some elsewhere, though I've yet to find more than one per night.
Some in-situ
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
In July I made a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, for going in pretty blind I think I did ok, and found my targets.
Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Mountain Stream by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Black-bellied Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
My main goal, I ended up finding 11.
Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Red-cheeked Salamander (Plethodon jordani) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Mental gland by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Other finds
Ocoee Salamanders (Desmognathus ocoee) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Imitator Salamander (Desmognathus imitator) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Spotted Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus conanti) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
In August, herping typically slows down, however it turned out to be a great month for me.
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
I met up with Nick Scobel one weekend, and we went in search of vipers. We ended up finding 5 copperheads.
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
And a pretty milk.
Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
A friend in a pretty urban area called me to come see a snake in his yard, I was quite surprised to see a neonate racer.
Racer (Coluber constrictor) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
During August I was lucky enough to see a female Timber Rattlesnake at her birthing log.
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
You know fall is coming soon when you start to find these.
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
A cool observation, I was unaware Nerodia would/could eat crayfish. I suspect it had recently molted.
Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleauralis) preying upon crayfish by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Eastern Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
In October, I made my annual trip to Southern Illinois. Cold weather kept the numbers few but we still found things and had a good time.
Spring Peeper (Psuedacris crucifer) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Pickeral by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous leucostoma) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
A few final shots of late season 'manders.
Eastern Newt (Notopthalmus viridescens) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) by Zach Truelock, on Flickr
All in all, 2014 was pretty great and I can't wait for 2015.
-Zach
2014 in review: The Midwest
Moderator: Scott Waters
- ThatFrogGuy
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Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Good stuff. I still appreciate the old school mega post. Paticularly if it's from my area of the country.
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Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Beautiful longtail salamander!
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Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Very cool! I tweeted this out (@HerpNation), as well as posted on our Facebook page. Great stuff!
scott
scott
Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
We got the first snow of the season today in NE Ohio, so it was particularly nice to see your fantastic photos and think of the amphibians of February not too far away!
Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
That first red cheek is awesome - they all are actually! I also like the shot of the cottonmouth poking its head out. And all the chorus frogs chorusing - that must've been quite a sight and sound! Was that a wound on the belly of that dead Kirtland's - like something bit it? I also like the mammal shots. I'd like to be reincarnated as a river otter. The doe licking clean her newborn is special. Great post!
York
York
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Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Thanks everyone!
Wow I am honored, thank you Scott!Scott Waters wrote:Very cool! I tweeted this out (@HerpNation), as well as posted on our Facebook page. Great stuff!
scott
Thanks Carl, I always enjoy and look forward to your year posts.Carl Brune wrote:Good stuff. I still appreciate the old school mega post. Paticularly if it's from my area of the country.
Yea, I'm not really sure what happened there. I guess a bird could have dropped it or something.Y.Morgan wrote: Was that a wound on the belly of that dead Kirtland's - like something bit it?
Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Looks like a pretty good year to me! Congrats on the Kirtands too. Still have not found one here yet. Thanks for posting and good luck in 2015!
Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
So many beautiful creatures. Were all of those taken in Southern Indiana? I used to live in Henderson, KY and hike in Wyandott Woods and Hoosier National Forest, and would have loved to see many of those animals. Thanks for sharing your photographs!
Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Great post Zach. Salamanders can be difficult to photograph and you seem to have mastered it. I would love to show you around Northwest IN and also visit your area. A good goal for 2015.
JB
JB
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Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
BethH wrote:So many beautiful creatures. Were all of those taken in Southern Indiana? I used to live in Henderson, KY and hike in Wyandott Woods and Hoosier National Forest, and would have loved to see many of those animals. Thanks for sharing your photographs!
Thanks! All except the smoky mountain and IL animals.
Thanks, that would would be awesome! I'm actually attending Purdue in West Lafayette now so this spring I hope to get up North.JBBoiler wrote:Great post Zach. Salamanders can be difficult to photograph and you seem to have mastered it. I would love to show you around Northwest IN and also visit your area. A good goal for 2015.
JB
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Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Zach - WoW waaht an epic post! Those Kirtland's by the crawdaddy domes are sweeet! (great image). Red-cheeked sals really nice too. Love all the Jeff's and texanum/barbouri as well. But my favorite was the Red-ear Slider on ice. Great post.
Dave
Dave
Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Looks like a great season Zach, and great pics!
Re: 2014 in review: The Midwest
Ill pick you up on the way up north zack no worrys youll get up there next spring....