ࡱ> Z\Y \6bjbjrr wd}_}_.W0 0 )))))$MMMP|<M%UURm%o%o%o%o%o%o%(n+do%)o%))%))m%m%_  BI.w Y%%0% ,++ z+)%!4o%o%%+0 :  The Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Update 2024 February 10, 2025 For the Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative (FEMC) James S. Andrews Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (2024) Background Localized intensive monitoring Amphibian monitoring at Mt. Mansfield provides locally intensive data on a subset of amphibian species. While these data are particularly valuable and allow us to see year-to-year population changes of the monitored species at Mt. Mansfield and provide local information on abnormalities, and natural history, they do not allow us to see more widespread changes in the distribution and/or natural history (calling times, migration dates, etc.) of the full range of reptiles and amphibians statewide. Nor do they allow us to see changes in forest health or the impacts of forest fragmentation and consumption on a larger scale. In addition, there is a real need to get reptile and amphibian natural history and management information out to a wide variety of landowners, land managers, and other natural resource professionals. Statewide extensive monitoring The Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas is an effort begun in 1994 by the Reptile and Amphibian Scientific Advisory Group for the Vermont Endangered Species Committee. The atlas project initially began as an effort to gather data for use by this committee. Data were needed in order to make informed recommendations regarding the appropriate status and conservation of these species. Since then, the goals have widened to incorporate education, citizen involvement, and dissemination of information. The ultimate goal of the Atlas is to gather and disseminate data on the reptiles and amphibians of Vermont in a way that involves and informs Vermont individuals and organizations so that they will become more informed and effective stewards of wildlife habitat. The Atlas has grown since its inception in 1994 to involve over 7,000 volunteers and thirty-five private organizations and government agencies. With the help of organizations, agencies, volunteers, and staff members, we are continuing to collect information and broaden our knowledge base regarding the natural history, distribution, and effective conservation of Vermonts reptiles and amphibians. By providing the best and most up-to-date information on the conservation of these species in Vermont, we have become a trusted party in many conservation activities throughout the state. Goals for the 2024 Atlas work The goals for the 2023 Atlas work were: (1) to gather data for the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas; (2) to update and improve the Atlas website, Facebook page, and other outreach efforts (3) to review and enter current and previous years herpetological reports; (4) to forward electronic files of the most recent calendar years data to the VT Nongame and Natural Heritage Program; (5) to continue to prepare all data and original reports and photos for long-term electronic archiving through the assigning of latitude and longitude coordinates to all reports in our database; (6) to update all our reptile and amphibian distribution maps (7) to respond to daily requests for information on the identification, conservation, natural history, and management of Vermonts reptiles and amphibians. We were also required to submit this report and the most recent full-years data to FEMC in the format of an Excel spreadsheet(s) with appropriate labels and metadata (for tabular data). The data will be added to the FEMC project library and made available to other researchers (subject to accessibility restrictions). The written report will be posted to the FEMC website. The data have been sent. This is the final report for the statewide Atlas for 2024. Contributed records Between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, 896 contributors provided 3,661 new records that were entered into the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Database. This brings the total number of reports in our database to 126,784. The 2024 reports included 70 verified reports of S1 species, 147 verified reports of S2 species, 284 verified reports of S3 species, 264 verified reports of S4 species, and 2,883 verified reports of S5 species. Reports also include unverified and negative records, amphibian and reptile road-crossing locations, vernal pools, turtle egg-laying sites, snake dens, and other significant herptile habitats. Sightings came from 239 towns, cities, grants, gores, and all Vermont counties. They included all of Vermonts native species except Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata - probably extirpated from Vermont, last reported in 1999) and Fowlers Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri - last reported in 2021). A group of Vermont Fish and Wildlife, USF&W, and Vt Herp Atlas employees and volunteers documented the first North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) in Vermont since 2014. All S1-S3 reports were exported to Jodi Shippee of Vermont Fish and Wildlife earlier this January. Exotic species Every year, we receive a few reports of non-native reptiles and amphibians that were either released or escaped pets or were accidentally transported via boats, trucks, RVs, and cars. We received a report of an escaped Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria, South American) in Newark. We also received a report of one dead and possibly one more living Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta) at the Intervale in Burlington. Vermont Fish and Wildlife employees later trapped this area but did not catch any sliders. This is a common pet turtle species that has become invasive in southern New England. As our climate continues to warm, they could become invasive in Vermont. Hypothetical species We received a report of a Blandings Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) from Randolph. This was our only report of a hypothetical (possibly native) species entered during 2024. The last verified report of an Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) was in 2021. Eastern Box Turtle is another species that may be native in Vermont. New locations out of the expected range The report of an Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis saurita) from South Hero is the most exciting new location and the first verified report of that species from Grand Isle County since 1934. We personally located a Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) in the town of Whiting for the first time, and we entered the first reports of Smooth Greensnakes (Opheodrys vernalis) from Essex Town and Colchester and Jefferson Salamander Group (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) from Waterbury. In addition, we entered or updated over 60 new town/species combinations for S4 and S5 species. Targeted survey efforts During this period, we personally visited 58 towns (or cities, gores, or grants) to gather new records. Many survey trips focused on those towns (including cities, gores, and grants) that have had the least survey effort. This is usually the result of low numbers of residents. Other trips focused on species that are not often reported by citizen scientists. These species include the Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) and Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus). We filled many data gaps (species/town combinations) with these trips. No reptiles or amphibians were killed or harmed during any of the above activities. Review of data As usual, all these reports have been personally reviewed by me or one of my assistants and when at all possible, the contributors have been personally contacted and thanked. Scores of ID and conservation questions have been personally responded to as well. Field trips, courses, presentations, and media outreach During this time, I met with the press for a number of interviews and news pieces on Vermont herptiles. These included five editions of Wildlife Watch, one of Across the Fence for WCAX TV, and an interview on Vermont herptiles for Vermont Publics Vermont Edition. I also conducted trainings for staff of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), an environmental consulting firm (VHB), and a training series called Habitats and Highways for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, As usual, I led many field trips and/or gave in-person presentations for a variety of events or organizations. These included the Green Mountain Club, the Lewis Creek Association, the Monkton Town Forest Committee, the VT House Committee on Energy and the Environment, the Vermont Natural Resources Committee, the Cornwall Conservation Commission, the Smokey House Center, Castleton College, the Grafton Natural History Museum, Dead Creek Wildlife Festival, and the Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival. Data sharing This past year, we provided Vermont distribution records of herptile species to the US Geological Survey, the Vermont Endangered Species Committee, The Nature Conservancy of Vermont, the Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Fish and Wildlife, the Green Mountain National Forest, պ, The Watershed Center, and a steering committee for a future Monkton Town Forest. Wood Turtle records were again provided to Kiley Briggs of the Orianne Society, and distribution data on a variety of herptiles was provided for the Natural Resource Conservation Service for land under their conservation easements. I continue to be more aggressive about providing data to contributors from target towns where we need more data. What I provide to these people is a list of common reptiles and amphibians that are expected to be in their towns but have not yet been photo-documented. For towns that have a good chance of providing habitat for rarer species, I include our list of herptiles that should always be documented. Like last year, we provided this sort of data to residents of over forty towns. Many of these exchanges resulted in new town records. The Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative and the Colby Hill Ecological Project continue to get exported monitoring data and reports, but they paid for the monitoring and reports. Significant sightings were shared with state herpetologist Luke Groff as they were received and as mentioned above, reports of all S1-S3 herptiles are forwarded to Vermont Fish and Wildlife annually. Coordinates All our new records are entered into our database with latitude and longitude coordinates for point mapping. Many smartphone photos show us almost exactly where the photos came from. This was not always the case. Older records most often came with physical descriptions of roads or landmarks describing the location. We have now finished the reviewing and assigning of lat longs to all reports of S1 through S4 species. Records with lat longs assigned now total more than 112,000 of 127,000. Molly Parren and Ira Powsner are now adding lat longs to older reports of S5 species. All towns in Addison, Grand Isle, Orleans, and Rutland Counties have been finished, along with all the towns bordering Lake Champlain. We are very pleased with this progress. This project will be ongoing for a couple more years. Update of the Website/Atlas Monthly updates have continued to be made to our website. We have recently updated all of our distribution maps and posted them on our website. This is a major project that we undertake approximately every five years. I send out periodic Herp Update newsletters to a group of over 450 people. These Updates get added to our website so that they are available to anyone. Additional funding and matching requirements Additional funding for 2024 came from the South Lake Champlain Fund, The Lintilhac Foundation, VT Fish and Wildlife, and an online fundraiser. For those sources of funding that required a match, it has been provided by my (Jim Andrews) volunteer hours.     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