A Chronological Look Back at My Favorite 100 Herping Memories in My Home State in 2018

Herp Habitat - in late February there was a thaw. It began to rain and ice started to melt. The first herps of the year were about to make an appearance.

An American Bullfrog on February 20th in the Ohio & Erie Canal.

These Midland Painted Turtles were seen on the same day.

It rained that night and this Jefferson Salamander was seen crossing the road.

This Spring Peeper was out and about too.

A Red-ear Slider seen at Canalway Center on February 27th.

A Midland Painted Turtle that I observed on March 11th.

On March 27th a second amphibian migration took place, bringing out this Spotted Salamander.

This Wood Frog was also heading to a vernal pool.

Red-spotted Newt.

It was still a bit too early for American Toads to be calling, but this one had awakened from hibernation.

While most of the amphibians were traveling towards the ponds, Jefferson Salamanders were leaving, having completed their egg-laying.

The calls of Spring Peepers were hard to ignore.

Early April brought with it more amphibians, like this American Toad on April 5th.

Green Frogs are my most commonly seen amphibian in northeast Ohio, but sometimes they take awhile to emerge from their long Winter's sleep.

Northern Leopard Frog.

A Leopard Frog look-alike, a Pickerel Frog.

Some of Ohio's March migrators were still hanging around pools of water, like this Spotted Salamander.

And a few Spring Peepers could be found as well, though there calls were becoming less conspicuous.

My first snake of the year was this muddy Eastern Garter Snake seen basking along the Ohio & Erie Canal on April 10th.

A hefty Pickerel Frog.

By mid-April turtles were coming out in full force. Here a Blanding's Turtle is basking with numerous Midland Painted Turtles.

American Bullfrogs were often seen in shallow water.

Common Snapping Turtles may not bask as much as other types of turtles, but this one was out on April 26th.

A handsome Midland Painted Turtle.