Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026
NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
by Jeff Hall, NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Biologist, and Nathan Vaughan, Herpetology Technician
A long with partner agencies, including NC State Parks, staff continued surveys for the Neuse River Waterdog ( Necturus lewisi ) with several weeks of sur- veys over the winter months. Counties targeted for surveys included Warren and Halifax. Twenty-four waterdogs were found across 12 different sites, with an additional 12 sites yielding zero captures. Results from these surveys, along with surveys from four previous years, were provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice to be incorporated into their 5-year species status review. Plans are underway to strategize future sam- pling efforts for this federally threatened species.
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
Above Clockwise: Neuse River Waterdog; Biologists from NCWRC and NC State Parks processing waterdogs; Neuse River Waterdog.
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
Left to right: Gopher Frog egg masses; WRC Technician, Nathan Vaughan, points to a Gopher Frog egg mass; Gopher Frog egg masses hatching out in captivity for head-starting. A longside waterdog surveys, staff were hoping for rain to facilitate breeding for several imperiled winter-breeding frog and salamander species, such as Gopher Frog, Ornate Chorus Frog, Southern Chorus Frog, Mabee’s Salamander, and Eastern Tiger Salamander. Although most populations of these species had either little or no breeding, one population of Gopher Frogs at the Holly Shelter Game Land had an incredible breeding year, producing over 70 egg masses - by far the most egg masses staff have ever detected in this population! This amazing breeding output likely resulted from multiple efforts to bolster this population. Staff have worked for over a decade to restore borrow pits into breeding ponds by removing overstory vegetation, adding organic soils, and planting grassy vegetation. Partnerships with other groups, such as the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, have yielded the ability to head-start tadpoles into juvenile frogs in an effort to increase the overall population. Land and Water Access staff have altered the timing of prescribed fire to focus on the later growing season (some- times also called “lightning season”) in a zone around the breeding ponds to protect breeding adults moving across the landscape during the winter months. All these strategies seem to be working well in this coastal landscape and, together, give hope for the long-term survival of the Gopher Frog.
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