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By Avery Wickham

Intern Teacher/Naturalist

As winter melts away, keep your head down and try to spot one of these spring surprises on our trails. Melted snow and rain will collect in low spots on the ground forming temporary ponds, called vernal pools. While these puddles may look small, their short existence makes a large impact on the many animals that depend on them to survive, such as insects, frogs, salamanders, and more.

Unlike lakes or ponds, these pools will be gone and dried up by the time summer rolls around, which means fish can’t live in them. This makes them perfect homes for animals such as frogs and salamanders, because they don’t have to worry about fish eating their eggs or babies. Vernal pools can be found in forests, fields, and even near rivers, but how long they last depends on the weather. A very rainy spring might keep them around for a few months, but a dry season could make them disappear in just a few weeks.

Some of the most important animals in vernal pools are amphibians, who only live in water in the beginning of their life cycle. These temporary puddles are the ideal habitat for eggs and young larva, who will be ready to transition to land in a few short weeks. That’s why vernal pools are perfect for them, a predator-free rental property!

One of the first frogs to wake up in the spring and utilize a vernal pool is the wood frog. These frogs do something amazing in the winter … they freeze solid! Their hearts stop beating, and they don’t move at all. But when the weather warms up, they thaw out and come back to life. In early spring, you might hear their funny “quacking” calls as they look for mates.

Another visitor to vernal pools is the tiger salamander. In the spring, they crawl out on rainy nights and travel to vernal pools to lay their eggs. They are very loyal to their birthplace, and will travel long distances to return to the same puddle they were laid in. These secretive animals spend most of their lives underground, so people don’t see them very often, unless you stop into the nature center and see our two tiger salamanders inside of their enclosure.

Vernal pools don’t just help frogs and salamanders. Many tiny creatures live there too, like dragonflies and mosquitoes, who use vernal pools to lay their eggs. When the insects emerge, they become food for birds, fish, and other animals.

Even though vernal pools are important, they are often in danger. Since they disappear in the summer, people sometimes don’t realize they are special habitats. Construction, farming, and pollution can destroy them, making it harder for frogs, salamanders, and other animals to survive.

Vernal pools may not last forever, but they play a big role in nature. They give smaller animals a safe place to lay their eggs, provide food for many animals, and help keep the ecosystem in balance. If you ever find one in the woods, take a closer life and you might see some amazing creatures getting ready for spring!

Events at the Nature Center in April

April 1: Summer registration begins online

April 20: Interpretive Center Closed for Holiday

April 25: Cedar River Astronomy Club, 8-9 a.m.

April 26: 1:30 – 3:00 pm: Friends and Volunteer Appreciation Event, 1:30-3 p.m.

April 26: 9:00 – 11:00 pm: Sola Fide Observatory Free Open House, 9-11 p.m.