Tropical Herping Experience in Virginia — Cross Creek Nursery

Author: Ty Smith
County: Chesterfield 
Survey Time: 8:15 am - 9:30 am 
Basic Weather: Hazy, Temps between 85-95 Fahrenheit 
Party Members: Ty Smith & Evan Spears

We had seen 2 iNaturalist reports from this greenhouse of Brown Anoles (one this year and one in 2020), and we decided to check it out. We were impressed with the park-like nursery, and the Herps that came with it. It was amazing, as we combed through the tropical plants of the greenhouse for lizards, it reminded me of herping Miami (except for Miami had more Crested Anoles). I recommend anyone looking for a more passive herping trip to check out this place, but I also recommend if you are going to herp here, respect the business enough not to flip ornamental stones or the like and make a purchase to support the business. Here are the herps we found: 

Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) {9}
Several juveniles around the ponds. 

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) {1}
Seen near the upper pond.

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) {60+}
Several juveniles and adults (along upper pond), but mostly tadpoles in the lower pond.

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) {2}
Along the smaller ponds for the aquatic plants above the upper pond.

Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) {1}
Dove into water near boardwalk along lower pond.

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) {1}
One random adult male perched on a shelf in the greenhouse. Obviously an import on the plants, but it was a first-for-state for Evan.

Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) {18}
Appeared to be a very well established population. These would have definitely started out as transplants, but due to the gravid adult female, I am sure the numerous hatchlings were laid and hatched in Virginia. There were two other adults, both males, but one was flared-up very well. Warm greenhouse temperatures should be more than capable of allowing them to overwinter, so I would say these probably are not going away anytime soon. That said, they are not likely to spread far from the greenhouse, so they are not going to become invasive, like they have in Florida, and out-compete native lizards. So, I think these will be a neat treat for Virginia herpers in the future, and hopefully they will stick around to manage greenhouse pest insects for many years to come.