Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2023 - 9

and maintain their shells. They acquire the necessary
nutrients from certain plants and limestone.
Eventually, my adult children arrived to help guide
the children. If better salamander hunters were ever
born, I surely have not met them. On every camping
and hiking trip since my kids were young, they
competed to see who could find the most salamanders.
It took them less than 5 minutes to put their children
on some salamanders. Before long, the kids had
found 12 or more red efts, or the juvenile phase of the
Red-spotted Newt, as shown in the artwork on page 8.
Pride swelled in me as my children instructed the
youngsters to observe the surrounding habitat to
determine what the salamanders needed. " They need
a little water but not too much, " exclaimed one child.
" They need some leaves to hide under, " yelled another.
" A branch to walk on, " shouted the next one. It was the
perfect moment to tell the children that salamanders
and crayfish live where clean water is present.
" One reason amphibians, like salamanders,
are considered an indicator species is their skin is
permeable. They are extra sensitive to pollution, which
can pass through their skin, " said Pennsylvania Fish
and Boat Commission's Southwest Region Education
Specialist Miranda Smith. I confess I was previously
unaware that amphibians had permeable skin. She
advised that we wash insect repellent and sunscreen
from our hands before handling amphibians because of
their permeable skin. That was yet another lesson for
papa. " Children should be taught that all animals have
roles within the food web, and species of snakes, birds,
fish, and mammals rely on these organisms in their
diet, which further explains why clean water is essential
to the health of the entire ecosystem, " said Smith.
There's little doubt in my mind that if you want
something on the ground located, you should just ask
a 7-year-old to find it. During a family hike, my wife
and our grown children were leading the grandchildren
along a wooded pathway. Being a dutiful grandpa, I
walked behind the kids to keep strays herded. Suddenly,
my grandson shouted, " snake! " Much to my wife's
horror, the adults had just walked within 12 inches of it
and never noticed it lying in the grass and ferns.
The boy reached for it, but we were in an area where
rattlesnakes are occasionally found, so I instructed
him to wait until I got a look at it. The reptile was a
harmless Eastern Gartersnake, which served as another
perfect demonstration of the camouflaging capabilities of many
creatures. My granddaughter said she despised snakes, and
though I share her feelings, I informed the children that snakes
fulfill a valuable service. " We need snakes, because they eat
mice, toads, lizards, and many insects. We wouldn't want an
overpopulation of those creatures, would we? "
Crayfish, snails, salamanders, and snakes are among the
small creatures that fascinate children, and they are perfect
props for teaching young children about the environment. As I
like to say, " Knowledge may be found in a book, but the lessons
that last are far outside the cover. "
fishandboat.com/Fish/
FishingRegulations/
Documents/2023SummaryBook.pdf
May/June 2023
9
youtube.com/shorts/
O2yKp0VlNQc
Herping
If an outdoor adventure that doesn't have any start-up costs,
requires no special skill, and promises to ignite curiosity and
wonder sounds appealing, welcome to herping. Herpers look
for amphibians and reptiles for fun. Getting started is as easy as
stepping outside and looking down.
Forests and woodlands are obvious hunting grounds for
herpers, but Kyle Fawcett, Pennsylvania Amphibian & Reptile
Survey County Coordinator and The PA Herps Facebook
Administrator, has been astounded by herp sightings " such as
downtown Philadelphia. " Even urban backyards and flower beds
promise discoveries of many snake, frog, and salamander species.
" That's one of the great things about herping, it can be done in
your backyard or at a local park or lake. "
Spring makes for good herping when underground species
emerge for breeding, like the Spotted Salamander. " Spotted
Salamanders are among my favorite native species of herps, "
said Fawcett. " They are visually striking and often look like
they're smiling, almost as if they're happy to see you. "
Amphibians and reptiles are regulated species in
Pennsylvania, so a fishing license is required for active hunting.
Herpers " should be aware of the species they may encounter
and how to properly
handle them. People
should know these
animals are not pets. "
Pennsylvania's
state parks are a great
place to explore,
and there are often
programs that teach
about amphibians,
reptiles, and good
herping practices.
Check out the park's
events calendar for a
program near you. Go
to paherpsurvey.org
for the distribution
and status of all
amphibians and
reptiles throughout
Pennsylvania.
Regulations:
Spotted Salamanders (top photo) and
Jefferson Salamanders (bottom photo)
live underground most of the year,
emerging only for breeding. They lay eggs
in vernal pools. The Jefferson Salamander
is a Species of Special Concern.
Video:
photos-Sean Hartzell

https://www.fox8tv.com/newspost/michael-kensinger-writer-artist-and-habitat-conservationist/?fbclid=IwAR1RZmq6vaSRW6JZ4IxNepdFr1TQKm6GiJscsV7YyL0j1Du_NjVSt53TPsc http://paherpsurvey.org http://fishandboat.com/Fish/FishingRegulations/Documents/2023SummaryBook.pdf http://youtube.com/shorts/O2yKp0VlNQc http://fishandboat.com/Fish/FishingRegulations/Documents/2023SummaryBook.pdf http://youtube.com/shorts/O2yKp0VlNQc http://fishandboat.com/Fish/FishingRegulations/Documents/2023SummaryBook.pdf

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2023

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