Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers, Inc.

SALAMANDERS

 spotted salamander

.  Ambystoma maculatum

 This large salamander is very common, yet seldom seen.  The spotted salamander spends most of

its life underground.  It emerges about once a year to breed.  In the middle of March to the beginning of April, the first rainy nights of the spring draw thousands of spotted salamanders from underground.  They can be seen all over the roadways, woods, and fields looking for a small pool of water in which to mate.  After this short period, they return to their burrows for the rest of the year.

northern red salamander

Pseudotriton ruber ruber

 This brilliantly colored salamander is common to the mountainous parts of Maryland.  It is found in clear, cool, rocky streams in woodlands.  These salamanders are thought to mimic the toxic red eft stage of the red-spotted newt, hence their brightly colored appearance. 

TURTLES

common snapping turtle

Chelydra serpentina serpentina

 This is the largest and one of the more common turtles in our region.  An adult common snapping turtle can weigh well over fifty pounds.  Common snapping turtles can become aggressive when they are harassed on land, but pose no threat to humans in the water.  When they are on land, leave them alone!  They have a powerful bite.

eastern painted turtle

 Chrysemys picta picta

 This colorful turtle is commonly found in Deep Creek Lake.  The eastern painted turtle is an aquatic turtle that can be seen basking on logs above the water’s surface.  Sometimes over a dozen painted turtles can be seen basking on the same log.  The eastern painted turtle depends on aquatic vegetation as habitat for its survival.

red-eared slider

Trachemys scripta elegans

 This turtle is found in the southern United States, but has been introduced to many other areas including Maryland.  It is one of the most common pet turtles, easily found in pet shops.  These turtles are hard to care for.  Therefore, people release them in ponds and rivers around their home.  These turtles adapt well to other climates, and out compete our native turtles for habitat.

FROGS

northern spring peeper

Pseudacris crucifer crucifer

 This tiny frog is common all over the state.  It can be heard in large choruses around almost any wetland throughout the spring.  It is named after the loud peeping sound it makes when it calls.  This frog is also part treefrog.  After the breeding season, it can be heard calling in the tree canopy.

Cope’s gray treefrog/ gray treefrog

Hyla chrysoscelis / Hyla versicolor

 This small frog is one of the last frogs to come

out of hibernation in the spring.  The gray treefrog

can be heard calling in the late spring and early summer

months around bodies of water.  The call is a long rapid

trill.

 SNAKES

eastern hog-nosed snake

Heterodon platirhinos

 This short stubby snake is common in Maryland with the exception of the western counties.  When the hog-nosed snake is disturbed, it has the ability to roll on its back and play dead.  The main part of the hog-nosed snake’s diet is toads, which it can deflate like a balloon with its powerful jaws.

black rat snake

Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta

 The black rat snake is the largest snake found in Maryland.  It can reach lengths of over six feet.  This snake can spend much of its life living in the crowns of trees.  The black rat snake is an excellent source of pest control around your home.  It is often found in and around houses and gardens.  It poses no threat to humans, and gorges on mice and rats until they are gone.

  PHOTO SOON

northern pine snake

Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus

The northern pine snake is thought to be extirpated from Maryland.  It was at one time found on the Eastern Shore.  Today this snake is found in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.  Efforts to reintroduce this species to Maryland have been discussed.  This snake is very short tempered.  When encountered, it will inhale and exhale harshly to produce a hissing sound.  It will then vibrate its tail rapidly to mimic the sound of a rattle snake and strike repeatedly

eastern king snake

Photo coming soon