Faces of the Forest Archives - Page 2 of 12

The stream pictured here had no obvious high quality nest sites for Wood Turtles prior to the extreme floods in July of 2023. Once floodwaters receded, however, several prominent sandbars were deposited along the streambanks that could be very attractive to nesting turtles. Photo by Kiley Briggs

4 minute read

Faces of the Forest

How Do Severe Floods Impact Wood Turtles?

ByKiley Briggs
August 10, 2024

Out of all the turtles native to New England, I suspect Wood Turtles are the species most directly impacted by extreme floods. As valley stream specialists, the rivers most prone to extreme floods are the same rivers where Wood Turtles thrive.

4 minute read

Faces of the Forest

False Mermaid Weed – A Rare Plant Rediscovered in Vermont During a Wood Turtle Survey

ByKiley Briggs
July 11, 2024

An early May Wood Turtle survey led to the rediscovery of a plant that hadn’t been documented in Vermont in over 100 years – false mermaid weed (Floerkea proserpinacoides).

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Northern Spring Salamanders, a Jewel of the Forest

ByKiley Briggs
June 12, 2024

It wasn’t until high school that I encountered Vermont’s largest stream salamander, the Northern Spring Salamander… I uncovered a 7-inch-long bright orange salamander that nearly knocked my socks off.

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Hybrid Salamanders Blurring the Lines Between Species

ByKiley Briggs
May 15, 2024

Blue-spotted and Jefferson Salamanders cannot breed with each other; they are distinct species. However, there is group of hybrids that can breed with either of the pure species.

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Northern Map Turtles

ByKiley Briggs
April 11, 2024

Northern Map Turtles have tan or grayish shells, yellow markings on their skin, and intricate markings on their shell resembling lines on a topographic map, giving the species its name.

3 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Animating Landscape-level Movements by Wood Turtles

ByKiley Briggs
March 13, 2024

We attached GPS transmitters to 15 Wood Turtles as part of a project aimed at identifying opportunities to prevent them from crossing a busy highway. The solar powered GPS units allowed us to collect a lot of data from each turtle. See where they ventured to.

Frog breeding frenzy - an American Toad amplexing a Green Frog

4 minute read

Faces of the Forest

Frog Breeding Frenzies and Misadventures in Mate Selection

ByKiley Briggs
February 12, 2024

Terrestrial frogs breeding in wetlands for brief periods each year often err in mate selection. With limited time to find a mate, they seize any opportunity, grabbing almost anything that moves.

5 minute read

Faces of the Forest

How the Loss of American Chestnuts Impacts Timber Rattlesnakes Today

ByKiley Briggs
January 15, 2024

Analysis on how the loss of American chestnuts impacts Timber Rattlesnakes today.