Howard County Salamanders Rare Find for Herp Search

The Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas enlists a team of volunteers to document amphibian and reptile populations across the state.

These "herp searchers," short for herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles, have been busy lately. 

Bonnie Ott snapped a picture of only the second (and third) Four-toed Salamanders spotted in Howard County in 3 years of searching, according to Sue Muller, coordinator for the Howard County herpetology atlas.

In the Patapsco Valley State Park, on the border of Howard and Baltimore County, Jay Killian spotted the first Eastern Fence Lizard to be seen in Howard County, Muller said. 

Unfortunately for Howard County, the lizard was technically on the Baltimore County side of the river. 

"Surely there must be some Fence Lizards on the Howard side of the river," Muller told her herp searchers in an email. Please keep your eyes out for this lizard in Howard, I would love to add this species to the Howard County Herp list."

Keep your eyes open.

If you are interested in learning more about the Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, email Muller at: Smuller@howardcountymd.gov. She also encourages people with pictures of unidentified amphibians or reptiles to email her with the photos for identification and inclusion in the survey.

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