With spring comes melting snow, rainy days and nights, and amphibians making the journey to vernal pools that come alive with this spring weather. Vernal pools are ephemeral, meaning that they’re only temporarily filled with water in the spring and fall. The seasonal nature of these pools make them perfect breeding habitat and nurseries for many amphibians and invertebrates because fish and large populations of predaceous frogs (like Green Frogs and Bull Frogs) won’t survive in these small, isolated pools. Some species here in Maine are dependent on these vernal pools to breed successfully, like Wood Frogs, Spotted and Blue-spotted Salamanders, and Fairy Shrimp.
Do you have a vernal pool on your property with breeding frogs and salamanders? Are you passionate about protecting your vernal pool and its surrounding habitat? If yes, we encourage you to apply to our Vernal Pool Stewardship Award! This program is a collaborative initiative between Maine Audubon and Of Pools and People that celebrates landowners who follow simple vernal pool friendly guidelines on their property. The goal of this program is to promote better land stewardship for all vernal pools and the species that use them.
Conserving vernal pools is critical for a variety of reasons. Many amphibians will return to breed in the pool where they hatched. A number of other species use them for feeding or resting, including other amphibians and reptiles, Great Blue Herons, raccoons, and even moose! Several protected and rare species will also use vernal pools to find food, lay eggs, or hibernate like Blanding’s Turtles, Ringed Boghaunter dragonflies, and Eastern Ribbon Snakes. Not only is the pool itself important, but so is the surrounding forest habitat. After frogs, salamanders, and invertebrates breed, they move into the forest where they’ll spend the majority of their lives. This forest habitat is critical for them to find food and hide from predators. Amphibians and invertebrates in the forest also serve as important food resources for a variety of other wildlife.
We encourage homeowners and woodland owners alike to apply for the Vernal Pool Stewardship Award. Landowners who agree to implement our management guidelines for their vernal pool and its surrounding habitat may qualify for the award and will receive a sign to proudly display on their property! We also encourage participants to survey their pools for frog and salamander eggs in April and May (optional). Learn more and apply here!
