NC PARTNERS IN AMPHIBIAN & REPTILE CONSERVATION (NCPARC)
Learning and Connecting by Jeff Hall, NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation D uring this final quarter of 2024, two North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) staff held a one-day workshop on herp field techniques for graduate students in the Environmental Sci- ences field from UNC Wilmington. Participants met at Carolina Beach State Park to learn about minnow and turtle trapping, the use of artificial cover boards, drift fencing, and other sampling methods to increase the probability of detecting various herp species. Many species were found during the workshop with highlights including a juvenile American Alli- gator, 3 feet in length, a Striped Mud Turtle, several Eastern Newts, and a Barking Treefrog. Later in the quarter, staff had the opportunity to visit several private lands in Hyde County with conservation targets of the Spotted Salaman- der, Wood Frog, and Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake. Several rattlesnakes were seen during visits and although none of the target amphibians were found, staff deployed three automated audio recording units (ARUs). These ARUs will run through the first quarter of 2025 and will hopefully record vocalizations of Wood Frogs in the area.
MONICA ROTHER
Above: biologist Jeff Hall demonstrating trapping tech- niques for the herp field techniques workshop for UNCW at Carolina Beach State Park.
Finally, NCWRC and Natural Heritage staff met at Halyburton Park in Wilmington to provide wetland management and resto- ration recommendations to park staff. Several ephemeral wetlands are on-site there and have the potential to support SGCN amphibians and reptiles including Oak Toads and Eastern Chicken Turtles.
From the Field by Jeff Hall, NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation F ocused on upland SGCN snake surveys, staff conducted road-cruis- ing and visual encounter surveys across many counties in the Sand- hills and Coastal Plain. Species recorded included the Southern Hognose Snake, Mole Kingsnake, Mimic Glass Lizard, Timber Rattlesnake, and Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake.
To prepare for the upcoming breeding season and this year’s Gopher Frog head-starting efforts, WRC staff and partners from the NC Aquari- ums and NCSU CMAST participated in collection of plant substrate mate- rials for use in the mesocosms where tadpoles will hatch and develop before release. Three different facilities will assist with head-starting the Gopher Frog from Coastal Plain populations, including the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, NCSU CMAST, and the USFWS National Fish Hatchery in Edenton. Road-cruising during rainy nights in November 2024 yielded a new location for the state threatened Mabee’s Salamander in Bladen County as well as sightings from a known population in Pitt County. During December 2024, staff deployed 18 ARUs at target wetlands across the Coastal Plain. Primary species of interest include the Gopher Frog, Ornate Chorus Frog, Southern Chorus Frog, and coastal populations of Wood Frog. Analyses of these recordings will take place during summer and fall 2025. Above: An adult Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake from Hyde County JEFF HALL/NCWRC
47 2024 Wildlife Diversity Program Annual Report
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