Volunteer Spotters Needed for Michigan Reptile and Amphibian Survey

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking volunteers to join them this Friday to help count and identify Michigan reptiles and amphibians.

The event is part of the Michigan Herp Atlas Project, the first statewide inventory of reptiles and amphibians ever conducted in Michigan. The project’s purpose is to document the distribution of Michigan’s reptiles and amphibians, collectively known as herpetofauna or “herps.”

Friday's "Herpathon" takes place at Port Huron State Game Area in St. Clair County.

At the Herpathon volunteers will identify and collect information on amphibian and reptile diversity and distribution. The Herpathon begins at 10AM. There also will be live reptiles and amphibians on display, courtesy of Nature Discovery.

Observations must be verified by a knowledgeable source or by submission of a photo, audio recording or body part accompanied by the data card. Animals should NOT be killed for the purpose of identification.

“We need volunteers to help collect information about the reptiles and amphibians they see,” said Herp Atlas Project coordinator Lori Sargent. “We need information on all species, no matter how common or rare they are.”

Although local surveys have been performed in several areas, the Herp Atlas is one of just a few to be conducted over multiple years. Observations of all herp species will continue to be collected, and data collected will be mapped to evaluate species’ distribution over the entire state.

“With continued effort, we can document changes in herp populations,” added Sargent. “The Atlas will also serve as a baseline for looking at distribution changes.”

Anyone can help by reporting sightings of turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, salamanders and lizards. There is also a mobile app available make field reporting quick and easy.

Preregistration for the Herpathon is required. For more information and to register, volunteers should contact SargentL@michigan.gov or 517-284-6216.