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Last Weekend in Southern Ohio

T

tspuckler

New member
From April 30 - May 2, 2009 I accompanied 18 students from the Independence High School Biology Society to Hocking Hills. There was a lot of rain, which made conditions ideal for finding salamanders. We stayed at Lake Hope, which is in south-central Ohio.

Located within the 26,824-acre Zaleski State Forest, Lake Hope offers many opportunities to observe nature.
lakehope.jpg



A night hike near Lake Hope's Furnace turned up Green Frogs, Red Efts, Spring Peepers, Redback Salamanders, and several of these - Longtail Salamanders.
longtail2.jpg



The first snake I found on the trip was this Midwest Worm Snake - it's the first time I've ever encountered one.
midworm.jpg


Northern Water Snakes were the most commonly encountered reptile.
northern2.jpg


Probably the most blue I've ever seen on a "pure" Jefferson's - and the only one I've ever found outside of breeding season.
jefferson1.jpg


A Black Racer found patrolling the shoreline of Lake Hope.
racer2.jpg


And a Stinkpot found in the lake.
stinkpot.jpg


Slimy Salamanders were relatively common (though nowhere near as common as redbacks).
slimy2.jpg


This Spring Salamander was found - you guessed it - in a spring.
spring2.jpg


And finally, a Black Rat Snake.
blackrat2.jpg


Additional photos can be seen in the "Herping USA" section of my website.

Tim
Third Eye
www.thirdeyeherp.com
 
Cool photos! I really like that blue salamander, very neat! It looks like you had a successful herping adventure. :)
 
Sweet pictures Tim, thanks for sharing! esp. the "Jeffersons" blue? Were you close to the shore of Lake Hope when you all found most of the animals?
Is there camping there in the state park?
thanks, Kyle
 
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Sweet pictures Tim, thanks for sharing! esp. the "Jeffersons" blue? Wee you close to the shore of Lake Hope when you all found most of the animals?
Is there camping there in the state park?

Black Rat Snakes, Ringnecks and Water Snakes were seen at Conkle's Hollow. The Racer, Stinkpot and Worm Snake were seen on the shoreline of Lake Hope. It was damp enough for Salamanders to be just about everywhere. There is a swampy area as well as railroad tracks near Lake Hope. I'm told both are good spots, but I was not able to check them out. We stayed in cabins, I'm not sure if they have camping, but they do have a website which would probably have that information.

Tim
 
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