Herping High Elevation Shenandoah Mountains along the West Virginia Border

Author: Ty Smith
County: Rockingham 
Survey Time: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Basic Weather: Clear, Temps in the 80’s
Party Members: (2) Ty Smith & Evan Spears

We explored the area around High Knob, Lake Switzer, and Dry River to search for some salamanders for photographs. Our techniques were really just rock and log flipping. Some along creeks, some in high elevation areas. We found these species:

Northern Two-lined Salamander  (Eurycea bislineata) {1}
I targeted this species for photos, so once we found one we headed on. One adult along Dry River on a rocky island. 

Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon punctatus) {2}
Flipped under high elevation talus on a north-facing slope of the mountain. We found a young adult on the Virginia side and a gravid female just on the West Virginia side of the line.

Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) {2}
Two efts just roaming the damp forest. One on each side of the state line.

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) {1}
Shedding juvenile flipped along Dry River.​