Tonight – VERNAL POOL Night Hike at West Hill Dam

http://allaboutfrogs.org/files/sounds/wood.wav LISTEN! You can hear these sounds in the woods across Holbrook’s Cove! They are wood frogs and require a moist pool in the spring inwhich to lay their eggs…

Did you know there are a number of vernal pools in the Manchaug Pond watershed? and endangered species that find these areas critical?

This workshop will introduce you to vernal pools with a slide show and then a hike to see for yourself the frogs, salamanders and other creatures who live there! Don’t forget your flashlight!

Vernal Pool Night Hikes – Friday April 9, from 7:30-9:30pm Salamanders and wood frogs awaken from winter’s rest. They migrate during rain events to the vernal pool they hatched from to lay eggs. Join us, rain or shine, all ages, bring a flashlight, best suited about ages 6 and older.

Join us for our annual night trek, April 9, 7:30-9:30pm. We will view a brief slide show on local species and the special reproduction that occurs in vernal pools. Bring a flashlight as we are off to explore several local favorite pools to see how healthy our populations are. Allow at least two hours for this spring night hike. Meet Ranger Viola at the West Hill Dam Project Office, 518 East Hartford Avenue, Uxbridge, MA (978) 318-8417. No fees, hot chocolate and cookies for the humans who make the trek. Light rain or snow we go, heavy snow stay home. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared to walk about a mile and dress for the weather. Junior Rangers Level-2, earn credit. Call Ranger Viola Bramel at (978) 318-8417 for details. http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/whd/whdevents.htm

(photo of eggs taken here at Manchaug Pond)

Can’t make it? Visit these websites!

http://www.vernalpool.org/vpinfo_1.htm
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/publications/nhesp_pubs.htm#aerial_photo_survey
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/vernal_pools/vernal_pools.htm