A brief pre-hunt training session will feature live turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders and explain ways to identify them in the wild. It is free to the public and will be held to prep volunteers for searching the four Worcester County sites chosen this year- the 800-acre Weidman Farm north of Greys Creek, the 230-acre Isle of Wight WMA along Route 90, 200 acres of state land along Bell Road, and the 2,000-acre Newport Farms on Hayes Landing Road. Volunteers should bring gloves, boots, and must have a bag lunch.

Last year more than 40 reptiles and amphibians representing 15 species were the result of the search held in northern Worcester County. Box turtles, rare four-toed and two-lined salamanders, skinks, frogs and five species of snake were among last year's findings. A very rare red-bellied watersnake highlighted the event.

In Worcester, there are approximately 19 species of snakes, 15 species of frogs and toads, eight species of salamanders, 13 species of turtles and four species of lizards. Worcester County and the coastal bays watershed have more reptile species than any other county in Maryland. The search will provide data to help scientists better understand population trends in this declining group of vertebrates.

Van service will be provided for both morning and afternoon trips. After the morning trips, volunteers will return to Showell for lunch and a slide show of the a.m. findings. Groups will return to the field around 1:30 p.m. until approximately 5 p.m. The trips are not recommended for kids under 9 years and all children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information call Dave Wilson at 410-213-2297 or Jan Hill at Assateague Coastal Trust at 410-629-1538.

Results Of The 2002 Search
Species Church Branch headwaters Rte 376 ES Adkins property Total
Green frog 11
Wood frog tadpoles only tadpoles and one metamorph 1 + tadpoles
Southern leopard frog 2 6 + tadpoles 8 + tadpoles
Bullfrog tadpoles only 1 regurgitated by watersnake 1 plus tadpoles
Fowlers toad 4 + tadpoles 26
New Jersey chorus frog 2 metamophs 2
Northern two-lined salamander 11
Four-toed salamander 11
Red-backed salamander 4 (3 lead phase & one red-backed) 3 (2 lead phase & one red phase) 7
Five-lined skink 22
Eastern worm snake 33 Southern ringneck snake 314
Eastern garter snake 11
Black racer 1 shed skin only 11
Red-bellied watersnake 1 + shed skin from 2 individuals 1
Box turtle 11
TOTAL 22 + tadpoles 19 + tadpoles 41