Website Under Construction
We are currently building up our Herp Guides, Trip Reports, Explore features, and photo inventory. Some things on the site have not yet been added or polished to perfection. Please check back for more updates soon. Thank you! (November 2022)
Our Online Field Guides
Herpetological News & Weather
News on website updates, research, exploration, or herping for any of our Virginia species.
Education
Want to learn more about herps and herping? We don't all learn best by reading scientific works or reading straight out of the guide. We strive to offer new ways to learn to help all kinds of learners.
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Our iNaturalist ProjectAre you an iNaturalist user? Our project takes all herp species observed in Virginia and makes all of the observations digestible. Join our project, add observations, and identify observations to aid our research. You can even ask our experts questions through messages and observation comments. The project has:
Almost 100,000 observations to explore.Over 150 species from all corners of the state.Over 12,000 observers aiding us map species.Several reputable experts to help identify photos and audio. |
Herp of the Month
Enjoy a highlighted herp each month! Learn about a new species or gain a new appreciation for species you already know.
November/December 2022 | Wood Frog
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I cannot think of any amphibian species with a range large enough to rival that of the Wood Frog. Wood Frogs can be found down in Alabama; up the Appalachians and beyond to Newfoundland and Labrador; west to Alaska; and down the Rockies to Colorado. It is believe that historically this species was even more wide spread around the time of the last ice age. With genetic testing, this could one day be a species complex (personal thought looking forward based on the size of their range). They also have what I can only describe as an "animal superpower", as they can freeze themselves solid to survive the rough winters. But that can't be where all of this species awesomeness stops... can it...?
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Destination Highlight
Learn about a Virginia, herping destination that you must check out in the near future.
Flag Rock Recreational Area
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Way down yonder in "Wood Booger" Country, there is a City called Norton. Here there is a park in the mountains that is a preserve for Salamanders. I personally love this place, but if you go herping here, please bring a trash bag and some grabbers and pack a bag of trash out. People throw trash down in the rockwork constantly, and this can kill these amazing salamanders. If we want these salamanders to out live us, we really need to preserve this preserve.
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Herp ID Challenge
Some Herps can be tricky. Test your knowledge with our monthly challenge.
