In addition to its use of temporary ponds, ditches, marshes, and lakes for egg laying, this species breeds in the temporary flood margins of streams and rivers. The call of this frog has been likened to a long, rattling snore often followed by several rapid short grunts. Its egg masses are loose and are usually attached to submerged vegetation. The tadpoles growth rate is temperature and food dependent and they usually transform into adults in July or August. In colder water systems this can be delayed as late as October.

The adults of this species utilize a wide variety of invertebrates for food, particularly flying insects. Once breeding has been completed the adults will often leave the wetland to forage in moist habitats. Adult Northern Leopard Frogs usually overwinter in permanent water sources. When they utilize overwintering areas which freeze right to the bottom or in which the oxygen levels fall too low, they die and their bodies can be seen littering the bottom. Because population crashes occur in Canada due to the rigors of the weather, concerns have been expressed about the commercial exploitation of this species for laboratory specimens.

HANDLING SALAHBNDERS, FROGS, AND TOADS

Salamanders and frogs are particularly susceptible to drying so, if you are handling them, do so with care and ensure containers are wet and/or humid. Be careful to avoid using insect repellants containing DEBT on your hands as amphibian's skin can be quite susceptible to chemical transference.

TEE ISLAND'S SNAKES by J. Dan MCAskill

There are over 2,300 species of snakes in the world. The Island is blessed with three of these species, none of which are poisonous. These species are the Maritime Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus), the Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis vernalis), and the Northern Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata). Descriptions and drawings of each of these species are provided below. The following key will allow you to quickly separate the native species of sankes.

characteristic Species 1. Having longitudinal stripes * confined to scale rows 2 and 3 Maritime Garter Snake 1. Not having longitudinal stripes Go to number 2 2. Having nape spots and, normally, a Northern Redbelly Snake red belly 2. Having a green back and pale belly Smooth Green Snake

* Scale rows are determined moving 1/4 of the way back on the snake's body and counting upward from the ventrals (the large belly scales). "Confined to rows 2 and 3" means the stripes are located on the 2nd and 3rd row of scales above the ventrals.