identifying NH reptiles and amphibians

Can you tell the difference between a leopard frog and a pickerel frog? Both are typically two or three inches long and have brown or greenish skin with rows of dark spots. But if you look closely, the leopard frog’s spots are rounder than those of its pickerel cousin, and leopard frogs lack the bright coloring that is seen on the inner thighs of pickerels.
This distinction is important because, while pickerel frogs are abundant throughout New Hampshire, leopard frogs are currently vulnerable to extinction.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department recently launched a new Web page to help wildlife enthusiasts identify the state’s reptiles and amphibians. The page includes information about various species of frogs, turtles, snakes and salamanders, with photos and descriptions of each animal. The profiles also include information about each species’ conservation status, distribution, habitat, life cycle and conservation threats.

According to wildlife biologist Mike Marchand of N.H. Fish and Game, the Web page sprang from the Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program, which Fish and Game initiated in 1992. The program encourages volunteers around the state to report sightings of reptiles and amphibians and send in pictures.

“That’s where citizens of New Hampshire can report their observations to us, and we use that information to assess the status of reptiles and amphibians, whether they’re common or rare, in the state,” Marchand said.

But the Web page is also designed to help average citizens identify the crawly things in their backyards. The page even allows viewers to listen to the distinctive croaks and chirps of various frogs and toads, from the high-pitched bleeps of the spring peeper to the deep, guttural wails of the bullfrog.

There are a handful of species in New Hampshire that the state ranks as “critically imperiled.” Among them is the timber rattlesnake, New Hampshire’s only venomous snake, which once ranged from Massachusetts to the White Mountains but has been reduced to a single known population. Marchand also pointed to the eastern hognose snake and the marbled salamander as species that are especially at risk. Others, like the Blanding’s turtle and the spotted turtle, have been on a marked decline in recent years.

If someone reports a sighting of an especially rare species, officials from Fish and Game first verify that the report was accurate. If the sighting is confirmed, they make an effort to ensure that the species is preserved.
“Depending on the status, of course, we want to contact landowners and work with them to establish appropriate conservation measures,” Marchand said.

But the Web page and reporting program are aimed at determining the distribution of all reptiles and amphibians, including common species like green frogs and garter snakes. The Web page includes links to distribution maps, detailing where populations of different species have been spotted. Most of the people who currently participate in the volunteer program live in the southeastern part of the state, leaving gaps in reports from northern counties.

Marchand hopes the new Web page will increase both the accuracy and frequency of wildlife reports. The photos and descriptions help people identify unique features of each animal that make it easier to differentiate between species that look similar at first glance.

“There are key differences in the species, and if you really target those features you can successfully identify the different species,” Marchand said.

Anyone interested in participating in the program can get more information by visiting the new Web page at www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/reptiles_amphibians.htm. 

fishermen look to pinch out Chinese mitten crabs

The Chinese mitten crab’s sparse presence off the coastline of New York may seem far away and insignificant, but the small creatures’ destructive potential has the entire Northeast on edge. In response, the New Hampshire Estuaries Project has initiated a New England-wide campaign designed to curb the crustacean’s possible proliferation.

The approach is simple: “Nip it in the bud,” said NHEP project coordinator Dave Kellam. Kellam is worried that failing to address the mitten crab’s presence immediately could allow the population to expand exponentially. Once the population becomes significant, nothing can be done to slow it down.              

The fears stem from other instances in which the invasive species’ existence quickly spiraled out of control and harmed commercial fishing industries in places like San Francisco Bay.  Native to Asian waters, the mid-sized crab is recognizable by its hairy, white-tipped claws. Mitten crabs were first discovered on the West Coast in 1992 and, by 1998, the population had ballooned to over 775,000 crabs. Many Bay-area fish populations have been compromised, as the crabs are especially effective hunters, leaving native species with a limited food base.

Adult mitten crabs destroy commercial fishing gear and spend much of their time in saltwater areas, but they migrate back to freshwater streams to reproduce. Soon after reproduction, the adult crabs die and their offspring begin burrowing into freshwater soil, increasing erosion and causing other species that dwell at the bottom of the stream to suffocate. After an approximate five-year maturation process, the crabs begin migrating to saltwater, clogging fish passage structures and hindering native fish populations.   

No one is certain how mitten crabs arrived off the shore of New York, but Kellam sees growing reason for concern. The crab was first discovered in the Northeast three years ago, and 12 more have since been spotted. According to Kellam, the most recent observation took place in January in the Hudson River, “and there could be some reproduction going on,” he said.
There are a lot of unknowns involved with Chinese mitten crabs. The crabs might not thrive in cold-water climates, but the NHEP isn’t taking any chances. The project is producing materials to help New England’s commercial fishermen identify the crabs and increase awareness about their existence.

If fishermen spot a mitten crab, they are urged to catch it. Further information regarding aquatic invasive species, including the Chinese mitten crab, will be distributed in May, when the N.H. Sea Grant hosts a seminar for commercial fishermen. For more information, contact the N.H. Sea Grant at 603-749-1565 or call Kellam at 603-862-3403. 

 
planting a greener Portsmouth

Whether you enjoy trees for their aesthetic value or for their role in the environment, residents of Portsmouth will have 33 more reason to be grateful this summer. Later this spring, employees from the Portsmouth Public Works Department will plant 33 trees along various Portsmouth roads.

The exact locations and dates of planting are still being determined, but the city has taken measures to ensure that each newly planted tree successfully makes the transition to its new site. Among the factors the city weighs are the location of electrical wires, the tree’s level of salt tolerance and the location of planting beds.  

“We have done extensive research,” said Everett Kern, DPW’s highway general foreman.

The planting has become an annual undertaking, known as the “street trees” program, co-sponsored by the city of Portsmouth and the mayor’s Committee on Trees and Greenery. Established in 2003, the city-funded program has assisted in planting 111 trees throughout the community.

The program provides further proof of the city’s commitment to achieving a sustainable future. Kern noted that, each year, the city loses trees due to human activity and natural factors. “Rather than just losing trees, the city is trying to be proactive,” he said.

The list of trees to be planted includes Canadian plumb, trident maple, hedge maple, tree lilacs, honey locust and pear trees.
The trees will be 2.5 to three inches in diameter and will generally be five to 10 years old. Once planted, the trees will require a good deal of attention, especially during their first year. A list of instructions will be given to nearby residents or business owners regarding each tree’s necessary care, which mainly involves watering.

Portsmouth is always looking for areas in need of trees. Suggestions for sites can be made by contacting Kern at 603-766-1428 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it