Dry Summer Hard on Vernal Pool Species

This summer's drought conditions were certainly hard on a variety of species and our vernal pool amphibians are no exception. These creatures rely on temporary bodies of water in the forest for reproduction. Wood frogs, spring peepers, and spotted salamanders are in a race against time as larvae. They must complete their metamorphosis and emerge before the pool completely dries up. A dry vernal pool (like the one shown below) can spell doom for many larval frogs and salamanders but serves as a smorgasbord for a variety of predatory creatures.

A dry vernal pool in the woods behind T.A. Note the wood duck nesting box on the far end.

At first glance there is little sign of drama at this once bustling woodland pond. A closer look reveals tracks that tell a tale of predators taking advantage of an ecosystem in flux. One of the most obvious signs of life in the mud were fresh fox tracks and the neatly excavated tunnels of small mammals created as the foxes hunt. The fox's hearing is keen enough to pick up the sounds of tiny creatures moving in their network of tunnels beneath the mud. A quick pounce from the fox is all it takes to capture its prey.

A fresh fox track in the mud.

A dug out small mammal tunnel indicates the foxes in the T.A. forest are well fed. 

While the fox tracks indicate recent activity, a myriad of old raccoon tracks show that several weeks ago dropping water levels provided an easy meal. As the pool shrunk and began to disappear the raccoons took advantage of amphibian larvae and aquatic invertebrates cornered by their shrinking home. The tracks they left in the mud have dried and been preserved. Recent winds have blown just enough sand in the tracks to highlight them against the dark mud. 

Raccoon tracks (Front Feet) preserved in the now dry mud.