Red spotted Newt

Box turtles and Scarlet Tenagers. Some years I see them in the spring woods and some years they elude me.

How bout wood turtles? They seem scare round here too though box turtles really plummeted as well

I don't believe I have ever seen a wood turtle in the wild where I frequent.

Bowguy67 said:

Idk why but I started thinking it’s getting close, within a couple months anyhow in my haunts the red spotted newt appears. Many mornings walking through the turkey woods they seem everywhere. Not sure why but since childhood they’ve always fascinated me. Maybe cause they seem so out of place and obvious. They’re never in the woods long but cool to see. Amazing such a common animal with no real use to me makes me stop and look each time I see some. Anyone else? Or what other seemingly to us non useful animal or plant does this to ya?

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Never see those little guys at home but every thing I move at camp has them hiding under it. They are interesting.

I can't remember the last time I saw a box turtle

Bob

newts are a sign of a good ecosystem

Actually, though they usually called newts, they are only newts when mature and in the water for breeding. While immature and land based they are efts. Like most everyone else though I still call them red newts even though I know they are actually efts.

I see thousands of them while bicycling on the gated roads during the spring gobbler season. I try not to run over them. But, I am sure I do run over some of them in the dark.

Dick Bodenhorn

Only time I'd actually see one now, is if I took a header and landed on the ground next to one? Eyes aren't all that great for things up close.

No problem with box turtles, as our gun club property is teeming with 'em. Generally see three or more every year while mowing our field archery courses that wind through the woods. And move another two or three off'n the roads near the place.

One of the rarest things I've seen, was during rifle deer season at camp years ago. Coming back across a neighbor's hay field, spotted a Monarch butterfly on a long, grass stem and it was still alive. Had been pretty cold up in Tioga County that fall, but there it was. That was at least 30 years ago and it's rare these days to see one in the summer time now.

My spring time hunt involves watching my road this time of year for the spotted salamander migration from the hillside woods to the swamp and creek for mating. I walk the road at night when it rains and often move them to the side they want to go so cars don't hit them. Every so many years there are hundreds of them but lately there are very few that I get to see. Have not seen any road flat ones during the day yet nor any live ones. The time is soon as the peepers across the road are singing. Waugh!

jimbridger said:

My spring time hunt involves watching my road this time of year for the spotted salamander migration from the hillside woods to the swamp and creek for mating. I walk the road at night when it rains and often move them to the side they want to go so cars don't hit them. Every so many years there are hundreds of them but lately there are very few that I get to see. Have not seen any road flat ones during the day yet nor any live ones. The time is soon as the peepers across the road are singing. Waugh!

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I had the same thing, live on the side of a mountain with a dirt road going down, creek and swamp below. Used to see the migration every year, been many years since seeing even a single one, I think they are gone.

tundragriz said:

I had the same thing, live on the side of a mountain with a dirt road going down, creek and swamp below. Used to see the migration every year, been many years since seeing even a single one, I think they are gone.

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I seen some last year but very few. I like those big black critters with the yellow spots. Waugh!

Another thing hasn’t happened round here yet and not exactly a sight but something always makes me stop to enjoy it. Might be one of my favorite non game type sounds. Peeper frogs singing in the spring always get me to stop and just listen. Love that sound.
Interesting bout the monarch, there’s still plenty here

I have a long running joke with my older brother. When I see my first spring red newt, I'll simply text him "Newt". He texts back "Gingrich".
Stupid, but I always get a kick out of it. We have a very healthy population of newts, turtles, and monarchs here.
I have to laugh when I see "townies" claim they are helping monarchs by letting a milkweed grow by their shed. Every ditch and fallow field around here is absolutely loaded with milkweed so I'm sure they have all they need.