Research/Field Trips

2010 Field Survey

Where:Charles A. Lindbergh State Park

When: June 11-13, 2009

Details about this survey will be announced later.
To learn more about the park visit: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/charles_a_lindbergh/index.html

Please observe the park rules (found here): http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/rules.html

and the MHS Field Survey Rules and Procedures listed below.

The survey typically begins Friday afternoon and ends around noon on Sunday. Members may attend the entire survey, or a day, or partial day. In any case, attendees should let a Survey Coordinator know when they arrive and when they leave so hours can be properly recorded. Contact Jeff LeClere with any questions at (651) 488-6388 or Reptilia74@aol.com  or see him at a general MHS meeting.

Hope to see you there!

MHS has, since its beginning, been involved with conservation and study efforts both directly and indirectly. We have supported many herp related projects worldwide by providing grant money as well as member run field trips to different areas of Minnesota. We have surveyed public or state land as well as private property at the request of the MNDNR or landholder. Lately, our field work has been more member focused. MHS has solicited the MNDNR to conduct field herpetology work in the state parks system. Thus, we provide our members with an educational and fun event – while at the same time – provide survey results to the park and MNDNR. While MHS attempts to survey at least one state park each year, surveys may be performed in other natural areas as well.

Our first organized survey took place in 1985 with various other projects completed on a sporadic schedule through the intervening years. We resumed regular field surveys again in 2001 with a spring survey of Lake Maria State Park. Two surveys were then scheduled for 2002. The first was St. Croix State Park in May and the second was at Glacial Lakes State Park in June. In June 2003 a survey of William O'Brien State Park took place. Upper Sioux Agency State Park was surveyed in 2004. There was no survey in 2005. A “Field Herping Clinic” was held at the Haig residence and Sibley State Park was surveyed in 2006. MHS surveyed a Sand Coulee Area for the Friends of the Mississippi River in May of 2007, and our annual state park survey took place at Frontenac State Park in June 2007.

We try to keep the survey location reasonably close to the Twin Cities. They are scheduled to run over a weekend in the early spring through summer. Camp sites are often provided for those wishing to stay overnight. MHS typically will also provide firewood, park maps, necessary permits, entrance fees, and some food and drinks. Information on current county records, species identification, rules and protocol will be dispersed by the Survey Coordinator (who will also record all information) before each event. Members wishing to attend must notify the Survey Coordinator(s) prior to the survey; a notice will be run in the MHS Newsletter. Results may be published in brief in a society publication with detailed information provided to the MNDNR, Bell Museum or other interested parties.

 

Survey Rules

• The list of rules for participating MHS members will be enforced by the Survey Coordinator, Assistant Coordinators, or attending MHS Board Members. Violations of the rules may lead to a member’s expulsion from the survey.
• Must be an active member of MHS to participate.*
• Be respectful of others; stay reasonably close to the group you are herping with.
• Don’t wander off to herp without consulting with the Survey Coordinator; often there are restricted areas within the site due to protected or rare plants or animals.
• Don’t pick up or disturb any nesting turtle or protected species.
• All amphibians and reptiles found are to remain within the site’s boundaries.
• Animals must be released at point of capture after documentation.
• All material disturbed during search shall be replaced.

 

Animals captured may be brought to group meetings for photo sessions (except nesting turtles) and any extraordinary find may be held and further documented (i.e. new county record, etc.).

Survey Procedures

Survey methods used are: auditory/visual search and search and seizure. Anuran calling activity should be noted. Visual searching is self explanatory and includes animals that cannot be captured, i.e. basking turtles observed by binoculars, animals that elude capture, but are positively identified, and animals nesting. Search and seizure methods may be used for all amphibians and reptiles except nesting turtles or protected species. If the site allows, one or more turtle or minnow traps may be utilized to sample for aquatic species.

 

2009 Field Survey

June 12-14, 2009 --- Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

 

2008 Field Survey

June 20-22, 2008 --- Afton State Park

 

2007 Field Surveys

May 19, 2007 --- Sand Coulee area about 1 mile south of Hastings

June 8 -10, 2007 --- Annual survey at Frontenac State Park.

 

2006 Field Surveys

June 3, 2006 ---- Field herping clinic at the Haig residence in East Bethel, MN. The purpose was to teach MHS members various methods for finding herps in nature. This program was geared for those who have never herped and wished to learn, but was also diverse enough for anyone with more experience.

June 10, 2006 --- The annual MHS Field Survey for 2006 was held in Sibley State Park. It was a weekend long event with the goal to document new county records and submit an annual report to the MN DNR.

 

MHS members take photos of a wood frog (Rana sylvatica) found on a field trip to Lake Maria State Park in 2001.

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