Public Tracking of Salamanders, Snakes, and Such Can Help Save Michigan Species
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 19, 2024)
Michigan – When you happen upon a slithering snake or a happily croaking wood frog, or if you’re a dedicated salamander seeker, tracking your finds in the Michigan Herp Atlas can make a huge difference for Michigan’s amphibian and reptile population.
The Herp Atlas was started by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in 2004 to track the tiny creatures that are fundamental to the ecology of the state.
Anyone is welcome to visit https://miherpatlas.org/ and submit pictures and information about sightings. The website also includes a guide to help people identify Michigan species.
Autumn Baker, of Michigan Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy was a presenter at MARC’s recent conference in Midland where researchers, conservationists, and hobbyists gathered to learn more about how to help.
Herps, ie reptiles and amphibians, are important for a number of reasons. They help inspire curiosity and love of nature, especially in children. The are bioindicators of environmental health in an area. They help with carbon sequestering. They have a mid-level position in the food chain, meaning they help gobble up insects while also serving as a food source for larger animals. They help control invasive species. And they are being used for medical research, particularly studies of venom and medicine, aging, and regeneration.
Getting people involved in their preservation is important to. Having more people aware of the animals and what they do for the planet can lead to fewer deaths and more concern for nature as property maintenance and development happens.
For example, if snakes are living in an area, developers can avoid using plastic netting in landscape projects and opt for something that won’t trap the creatures. Data can also be used to guide decisions about pesticides and insecticides. One real-world example was a community in West Michigan, where there were plans to use herbicide to remove plants from a lake, but the presence of a threatened species prevented it.
Tracking also leads to learning, and even help in finding species that were once thought to be extinct in Michigan. The Herp Atlas has already gathered over 33,000 records, including 54 endangered species and 3,536 threatened species.
ETHICS AND SAFETY
Documenting herps and spreading the word is generally a good thing, but it has to be done ethically. Herp-seekers are encouraged to share their finds on social media, but Bakers cautions against sharing specific locations because their are poachers who search on social media for herpetological hot-spots.
The Herp Atlas collects data on where animals are found, but the public-facing side of the site only shows the county. She encourages the same for those posting on Facebook or Instagram. “Give general locations, like a county, so you can still get all the glory,” Baker said.
It’s also important to be good stewards of the animals and the environments they live in. MARC and Herp Atlas have ethics guides on their website. It shares that animals should only be handled with purpose and intent, rather than trying to hold every animal for the entertainment or challenge of it. This minimizes the stress on animals. Handling animals can help with relocation, identification, documentation and education, but should be done with the upmost care.
Seekers should limit the amount of time an animal is handled. Animals should be put back where they are found – with a couple of exceptions. Animals moved from dangerous roadways should be placed on the side of the road where they were traveling to. And if the animal was found under a log or other item – such as salamanders who love to hide – they should be placed next to the object so they can find their way back under without the danger of being squished.
Threatened or endangered wildlife should never be handled without a permit, except when on a roadway or in immediate danger.
Another thing to keep in mind is that simply touching herps can cause harm. Amphibians such as frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders, have absorbent skin – meaning that oils, lotions, soaps, sunscreen, grease and other things that people might have on their fingers can easily permeate the skin of those creatures. Salamanders also can become easily dehydrated by handling. MARC recommends using gloves when handling herps, and to wet those gloves before handing salamanders.
Cleaning shoes and gear is also important. Hikers and herp seekers can easily spread invasive species, fungus, and diseases. Keeping a spray bottle with 10% bleach and 90% water in one’s vehicle is recommended to clean hands, gear and shoes in between adventures.
And lastly, respecting habitats is important. It’s best to stick to trails, and not to enter sensitive areas like vernal ponds or streams as they can disturb the environment. If people move items like logs or stones, they should put them back after doing their search.
WORKING TOGETHER AND INCLUDING EVERYONE
Lastly, it’s important to be nice to the humans too. Sometimes people can be competitive, or irked by the enthusiasm and imperfection of amateurs. “Invite others,” Baker said. “There is no room for gatekeeping in conservation. Everyone needs to feel welcome, and we need as much help as we can.
MARC, which works with the DNR to maintain the Herp Atlas, is a consortium of many partners including agencies, nonprofits, researchers, and universities as well as amateur enthusiasts to have the most comprehensive network Michigan has ever seen. Among their efforts is being a central repository for research projects both contemporary and historic, to help track trends over time. Public outreach is also important. MARC held it’s first statewide conference in Midland in March, sharing more about the efforts of all these people who care about protecting the species.
Learn more about MARC at https://www.miarc.org/
Contribute to the Herp Atlas at https://miherpatlas.org/
Check out the Oakland County Times Explore section at https://oaklandcounty115.com/places-to-explore-in-oakland-county/
