The Amphibian Foundation's Frog Blog

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COTTONMOUTH VIDEO UNDERCUTS MYTH Cottonmouth in a south Georgia stream (Matt Moore) By MATT MOORE Judging by comments at public education programs I’ve done, cottonmouths are the most misunderstood and maligned of Georgia's six native species of venomous snakes. I have worked in close proximity with many   cottonmouths (aka water moccasins)   over the years and I encounter dozens each year in the south Georgia swamps where I conduct wetland field work. Yet I’ve never had a cottonmouth chase me – a prominent myth concerning this species – or try to bite me. Earlier this month while wading in a narrow, shallow stream in a south Georgia swamp, I met a large eastern cottonmouth – approximately 4 feet long – swimming upstream.   My video of the encounter   shows the snake's initial curiosity as it tries to figure out what this large obstruction in its path is. After deciding that I’m an animate object and thus a potential predator, the snake decides to avoid the threat

Erin Zaballa, Environmental Educator at Pettit Environmental Preserve and Vice President of the GA Reptile Society shared this info and pictures for how she made her pool 'amphibian safe'. As you probably know, it is not just the chemicals present in most swimming pools that are lethal to frogs and salamanders that might inadvertently (or advertantly!) fall/jump in a pool — it is also very difficult for them to find a way out. (if they aren't poisoned, they drown) Luckily, there are some devices to aide our native amphibians in exiting the pools. 'The blue ramps are called Frog Logs, it is recommended to have at least one on each end of the pool. The other item is the Critter Skimmer skimmer cover. It allows animals sucked into the skimmer to escape via a ramp and tiny door. One really great thing is that if the ramp is not long enough, they will send you an extension for free (just pay shipping). The Frog Logs and Critter Skimmer work exactly as adver

Young Snapping Turtle Crossing the Road. Road Mortality is a major cause for turtle declines. Here is a link from USFWS describing safe turtle helping procedures

via Instagram http://ift.tt/2rfELfy Incilius alvarius is the most basal of the Incilius group. Formerly most toads, and particularly the toads of the New World, were nested in the genus ‘ Bufo ’. Several years ago, this group was split into several genera with the majority of North American bufonids placed into the Anaxyrus genus. The Colorado River Toad is one of the exceptions. One of the largest toads, I. alvarius is a magnificent species with several extra-partotoid glands located throughout it’s body. It’s poison is also uncommon in the bufonid world, containing hallucinogenic compounds along with the bufotoxin. For this reason, the species has been over-collected. That in addition to the pressures that all of today’s amphibian communities have to face (climate change, habitat loss, emergent infectious disease, etc …) this species is considered declining throughout much of its range. We are grateful to have a breeding group of these animals to work with (donation courtesy

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Last week, we had a special visit from Laura Seydel (Turner Foundation/Captain Planet) and Jairo Garcia (Climate Policies & Renewables at the Atlanta Mayor's Office of Sustainability). It was great to talk with them about important global environmental issues (and of course, how it relates to our beloved amphibians) No one can resist Princess' charms Laura, who was instrumental in getting the salamander lab set up at the Amphibian Foundation, holding one of the 5 known Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders from Georgia Laura finally got to hold a Flatwoods Salamander! It was a very exciting visit, and both Laura and Jairo are now on our Board of Directors!! Things keep coming together in the most beautiful ways.

This tiny (yet fierce) Brown Snake ( Storeria dekayi ) is a harmless brown snake, often mis-identified (and killed) as a Copperhead. This beneficial snake eats slugs and can help keep your garden healthy. Questions About Snakes? DNR Has Answers FORSYTH, Ga. (4/27/2017) From spring through summer, calls and emails about snakes are a given at Georgia Department of Natural Resources offices. Yet most of those contacts involve only two questions: What species is this and what do I do with it? “Only every once in a while, is it a venomous snake,” said John Jensen, a senior wildlife biologist with DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section and co-author of “Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. ”Whether it’s a venomous snake is, of course, the concern or outright fear underlying most of the questions. Chances are it’s not, Jensen said. Only six of the 46 species native to Georgia are venomous and only one – the copperhead – usually thrives in suburban areas, where the majority of Georgia