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.