Southern Pennsylvania Trip

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lassa8
Posts: 7
Joined: February 19th, 2016, 6:42 am

Southern Pennsylvania Trip

Post by lassa8 »

I finally made it up to southern Pennsylvania last weekend with hopes of coming across a Northern Spring Salamander (nailed it) and maybe a Timber Rattlesnake (no dice).

I only had about 4.5 hours, and I mostly covered stream habitat.

Totals for the trip:

White-tailed Deer – 2
Fox Squirrel – 1
Northern Dusky Salamander – 10
Northern Slimy Salamander – 5
Eastern Redback Salamander – 1
Northern Two-lined Salamander – 9
Northern Spring Salamander – 1 **LIFER**
Red Salamander – 2
Wood Turtle – 1 **LIFER**
Northern Ringneck Snake – 1
Pickerel Frog – 1 (heard only)

A few photos:
Northern Spring Salamander
Image

Red Salamander
Image

Wood Turtle
Image

Typical habitat I was going through:
Image

Full write-up at http://www.vertebratequest.com/herping/ ... nsylvania/
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Kyle from Carolina
Posts: 221
Joined: May 3rd, 2012, 8:12 pm
Location: western MA and NC

Re: Southern Pennsylvania Trip

Post by Kyle from Carolina »

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lassa8
Posts: 7
Joined: February 19th, 2016, 6:42 am

Re: Southern Pennsylvania Trip

Post by lassa8 »

Nah, no photo of that Fox Squirrel. Too many around the house every day for me to even think about it!
lassa8
Posts: 7
Joined: February 19th, 2016, 6:42 am

Re: Southern Pennsylvania Trip

Post by lassa8 »

Just as a friendly PSA, check for ticks! Turns out I picked up Lyme Disease from this trip up to PA. My second tick-borne illness from herping (had ehrlichiosis a few years ago when I was living in Missouri). I usually sweep for ticks when I get home and then again 24 hours later, but I forgot to do the second sweep and then found a very small tick on my ankle ~50 hours after returning home.

I watched the bite daily and on day 12 I found a little rash and went to the doctor for antibiotics. Fingers crossed I won't have long-term effects since I was on antibiotics within hours of the rash erupting!

Hoping I feel well enough to get out Labor Day weekend...three separate day-long herping trips planned for my six-day weekend!
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