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From the Field
amphibians + reptiles

blog posts

  • silvery salamander Vermilion County Illinois

    Silvery salamander

    Jul 11, 2022 2:15 pm

    In a video produced by Outdoor Illinois, INHS aquatic ecologist/herpetologist Andrew Kuhns describes his work in conservation and transportation compliance. He provides an overview of a project, funded by a State Wildlife Grant, to study the population demographics of the Illinois-endangered silvery salamander. Watch the team set up a drift fence to intercept salamanders migrating to their breeding pond. After collecting information, which will aid researchers in assessing population sizes, growth of individuals, and reproduction, the salamanders are released to the breeding pond.

  • Blanding's turtle

    A celebration of the turtles at Nachusa Grasslands

    May 21, 2022 8:00 am

    Nachusa Grasslands provides important habitat for five different turtle species—the midland painted turtle, common snapping turtle, eastern spiny softshell, ornate box turtle, and Blanding’s turtle. Learn about these cool creatures with this post by INHS Population and Community Ecology Lab doctoral student Devin Edmonds!

  • ornate box turtle

    The last turtle in the prairie

    Mar 10, 2021 4:15 pm

    Devin Edmonds studied a few of the last Ornate Box Turtle strongholds in Illinois. The baby turtle in the photo is one of only a handful of hatchlings he found in three years of searching.

  • a Kirtlands snake rests atop an artificial cover object

    Unearthing a fossorial snake

    Oct 12, 2020 12:30 pm
  • Someone holding a Blanding Turtle

    Gathering data to save a rare turtle

    Aug 13, 2020 9:00 am

    Two weeks each month from May to October INHS scientists visit Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area to monitor the wetlands' turtles. They are particularly interested in the endangered Blanding’s turtle. 

  • monarch on liatris

    Adventure on July 21, 2020

    Jul 30, 2020 9:00 am
  • eastern musk turtle

    Eastern musk turtle

    Jul 14, 2020 11:00 am

    Learn about the eastern musk turtle, a small turtle native to much of eastern North America.

  • diamond-backed watersnake

    Watersnakes

    Jun 1, 2020 8:00 am
  • spiny softshell turtle

    Spiny softshell turtle

    Apr 14, 2020 8:00 am
  • American White Pelicans. Photo by Michael Jeffords and Susan Post.

    Chilly April

    Apr 30, 2018 9:00 am
  • Lungless salamanders in Illinois

    Lungless salamanders in Illinois

    Apr 28, 2018 9:00 am
  • Spring breeding true frogs

    Spring-breeding true frogs in Illinois

    Feb 24, 2018 9:00 am
  • Spring breeding tree frogs

    Spring-breeding tree frogs in Illinois

    Feb 17, 2018 9:00 am

  • Mole salamanders in Illinois

    Feb 10, 2018 12:00 pm

  • Trapping a state-threatened turtle

    Sep 6, 2017 1:15 pm

  • Green Treefrog

    May 21, 2017 12:30 pm

    An encounter with a green treefrog—often considered one of the most beautiful tree frogs in North America—will certainly pique the curiosity of almost anyone.

  • Sights at Sand Ridge State Forest

    Apr 20, 2017 1:00 pm