© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

An Atlas to Track Connecticut Critters That Slither, Hop, and Crawl

Dennis Quinn
/
Connecticut Herpetology
Spotted salamanders are common throughout Connecticut in deciduous forest.
"You can look through a variety of pictures and see what species you might have encountered."
Dennis Quinn

If you’ve found yourself out hiking Connecticut’s trails this summer, you may have encountered a snake or two. Would you be able to tell the difference, though, between a non-poisonous water snake and a poisonous northern Copperhead?

That's the purpose of a new website called Connecticut Herpetology, created by Dennis Quinn, an environmental scientist specializing in reptile and amphibian research. "I set it up so you can look through a variety of pictures and see what species you might have encountered," he said. "Once you have identified what it could potentially be, you can click on it."

That click yields more photographs, which Quinn said he has compiled from years spent photographing reptiles and amphibians in the wild. Each page also has information about animal size, color, behavior, and habitat.

Credit Dennis Quinn / Connecticut Herpetology
/
Connecticut Herpetology
A bog turtle is three to four inches in length and rarely encountered in the wild. The state has listed it as endangered.

Quinn said the site also allows users to report exotic or non-native pets, like the red-eared slider, which owners often release into the wild. "This is a problem, because this species is capable of out-competing native species here in Connecticut," he said. "We’re worried if the number of red-eared sliders begins to take off, we’re going to eventually lose some of our native turtle populations."

There is also a reporting mechanism for snakes spotted exhibiting symptoms of Snake Fungal Disease, a poorly-understood emerging condition in the northeast.

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content