June is for Herping!

 

Heber Valley Herp Survey participants gather around as state agency partners collect biometrics on a Columbia spotted frog. Photo by Sierra Hastings.

Thank you to all the volunteers who joined us this spring for guided Herp Surveys! We're excited to see the passion that our herp community brings to conservation, and can't wait to see what cool critters y'all find across Utah's wetlands this summer.

During our recent Heber Valley Herp Survey, our team of 18 volunteers, staff, and partners logged 13 herpetofauna observations, including 7 Columbia spotted frogs!

We're so grateful that you spend your time supporting this important work to identify areas of declining amphibian populations. Each survey completed allows us to prioritize these habitats for future protection and/or restoration — thank you!

Submit your Herp Surveys, Get a Pin!

Have you been logging your herp adventures in Survey123? It's not too late! As the high alpine wetlands warm under the summer sun, so do our amphibian pals.

Now is the perfect time to get out and visit one of the sites on our Choose Your Own Adventure list and help us understand the whereabouts of our special status herp species (Columbia spotted frog & northern leopard frog.)

Volunteers who submit at least 2 independent surveys in the Survey123 app will receive a limited edition Utah HerpSearch enamel pin!

Once you've signed up for a site on the spreadsheet above, do the following to start your survey:

  • Download Survey123 - for iOS - for Android

  • In the app, select "Continue without signing in"

  • In the Search bar, type “Utah HerpSearch Observations” to add the survey to your menu.

  • When you're ready to begin, tap the icon and select "Collect" - the survey includes simple prompts to guide you!

Please reach out to Sierra (sierra@sagelandcollab.org) after you've submitted your surveys to get your pin or with any questions.

Dead or Alive: Look out for Those Herps!

As you're out enjoying summer summer activities, take photos of any amphibians or reptiles — dead or alive!

Graduate students at Utah Tech University are analyzing data from platforms like iNaturalist to highlight roadkill hotspots across Utah where road crossings could make the most impact. Your observations have a direct impact on the way our state agencies manage for wildlife!

When uploading roadkill observations to iNaturalist, add DOR (dead on road) into the "Notes" section to help researchers easily find these observations.

Volunteer Resources

Northern leopard frog. Photo by © John L. Richards.

May iNaturalist Breakdown

Sageland's Mary Pendergast takes a photo of a Columbia spotted frog. Photo by Sierra Hastings

This past month, we saw an exceptional 1,933 observations logged by 776 observers to the Herps of Utah project — these observations represent 64 species, with reptiles running the show!

Our most observed species this month include the Common Side-blotched Lizard, Gopher Snake, and Common Sagebrush Lizard!

Our top observers this month include:

Be sure to join the Herps of Utah project on iNaturalist to get the full breakdown each month!

Thank You

This work would not be possible without the generous contributions of our volunteers, partners, and donors - thank you! Your support puts Utah's imperiled herpetofauna species on the map, informing habitat management and state wildlife conservation plans.

If you're unable to join in the field this year, you can still make a positive impact by donating or sharing on social media. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns, and visit our project page to learn more about this work.

 
Sierra Hastings