Frosty Meadows

 Spermataphores  attached to leaves at the bottom of this pool left behind by the male spotted salamander. Both male and female salamanders perform a courtship ritual where the male tries to tempt the female to obtain his spermataphore  in the hopes of fertilizing her eggs.

Spotted Sal Spermataphores Frosty Meadow

Close up of the spermataphore Spotted Sal Spermataphores Frosty Meadow

Egg Mass Egg Mass Frosty Meadow

 

This wetland borders the the edge between the woodlands and open meadow.  It doesn’t qulify as a vernal pool given it appears to have some current. However evidence of the types of animlas that utilize vernal pools for their life cycles are present.

Frosty Meadow

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