Nature enthusiasts of all ages had a nice stroll down the American Tobacco Trail at the New Hill trailhead on our “Hoppin’ Herps Hike,” led by Kara Solomon, NCWF Conservation Coordinator. We kept a lookout for herps (reptiles and amphibians) in the ditches along the way, but the best opportunity was when we reached the wetland at Beaver Creek. A lot of herps were smarter than us and burrowed into the mud to stay cool, but we did spot some interesting turtles, including a large snapping turtle, a painted turtle, and a yellow-bellied slider. We heard at least one frog, which was either a bullfrog or a green frog (they sound a lot alike). We also saw something large swimming below the surface and pop its head up that looked very much like an otter, so that’s our story, and we’re sticking to it! There were dragonflies galore, of course, and we did spot a couple of different kinds of fish, including a largemouth bass and a bluegill.
While we are on the subject, check out this HerpMapper site. This non-profit created the site to gather and share information about reptile and amphibian observations across the planet. Use their mobile app or website to submit observations.
Nice! Looks like it was fun AND educational!