Vernal Pools

It's that time of year again when frogs sound like ducks and the spotted salamanders are ready and waiting for a rainy night to travel to....

their favorite vernal pools.

I wrote about vernal pools for my Nature's Ways column this week so check out The Register or the Cape Codder to read it on Friday. You can also learn more about vernal pools at the Mass Fish and Wildlife website.

Vernal pools are the first really active places to find spring springing along. They can be very small or quite large but they are often just like this one, surrounded by bushes and brambles, muddy and shallow. At night they are quite noisy. Listen for the wood frogs in and amongst all those noisy, high pitched peepers. They really do sound more like ducks than frogs...