None The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania Press Releases Search All Press Releases Patrick von Keyserling Phone: 717-232-6001 ext. 101 E-mail: pvonkeyserling@tnc.org

Nocturnal Hikes to Reveal Salamander Secrets

Volunteers will lead trip to The Nature Conservancy's Forest Pools Preserve

CARLISLE, PA — March 13, 2008 — Some of the most hidden and misunderstood environments of the region will be revealed by The Nature Conservancy in a series of public hikes March 19-26.

A small group of specially trained volunteers will lead nighttime forays to vernal pools at the Conservancy’s Forest Pools Preserve near Carlisle.

Vernal pools – also known as ephemeral, autumnal and forest pools – are temporary pools of water. No fish can survive in them, but they are a bustle of activity each spring, as salamanders, frogs and toads crowd into them to court and mate. The pools then serve as nurseries for the amphibians’ eggs and hatchlings.

“I hope that anyone joining us will gain information and respect for amphibians, and that they can pass along what they learn to friends and family, and maybe even to their local community and government,” said Tessa Bickhart, one of the volunteers, who is also an environmental consultant and bog turtle biologist with Herpetological Associates Inc.

The vernal pools at Forest Pools Preserve, at the base of South Mountain in Cumberland County, are essential to several species, including Jefferson, spotted and marbled salamanders, and the gray tree frog.

However, they are threatened by development and a lack of understanding of their significance.

To foster an appreciation of the pools, the Conservancy each year holds a few nocturnal hikes to them, an effort that is being expanded this year with the addition of specially trained, volunteer guides.

“It’s a fine balance,” explained Molly Anderson, director of volunteer and outreach programs for the Conservancy. “We want people to know about vernal pools, but we don’t want to be trudging around out there so much that we interfere with the animals’ natural rhythms.”
 
“We’re definitely able to do more hikes this year because of the volunteers. We could have done even more, but we want to be careful not to disturb the courtship rituals of the salamanders.”

Hikes are planned for Wednesday, March 19; Friday, March 21; Tuesday, March 25; and Wednesday, March 26. Each will run from 7-8:30 p.m. Participants are asked to bring flashlights or headlamps.

Space is limited on each hike, so advance registration is required. Contact Anderson at molly_anderson@tnc.org or 717-232-6001, extension 117.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.