From the Michigan DNR

A Blanding’s turtle, a species of special concern in Michigan. Photo courtesy of Michigan DNR.

As you are out enjoying Michigan’s natural resources this summer, please take a moment to help collect valuable information on Michigan’s reptiles and amphibians.

Anyone can help by reporting sightings of turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, salamanders and lizards online at www.miherpatlas.org.

There is also a mobile app available for download to make field reporting quick and easy. The Mobile Mapper is available for Android and iOS (Apple) devices.

The Michigan Herp Atlas Project is the first statewide inventory of reptiles and amphibians ever conducted in Michigan. The project’s purpose is to document the distribution of Michigan’s reptiles and amphibians, collectively known as herpetofauna or “herps.”

In addition, citizen scientists around North America are being asked to report any possible disease cases in reptiles or amphibians to the new Herpetofauna Disease Alert System. More information about this new reporting tool and how to submit an observation can be found at http://wildlife.org/new-herp-disease-alert-system-relies-on-info-from-public.

Learn more about Michigan’s herpetofauna by visiting mi.gov/wildlife – click on Wildlife Species and look for Amphibians and Reptiles.

You also can find out more about Michigan’s snake species by watching our 60-Second Snakes videos.

This gray tree frog is just one of the many species of Michigan amphibians and reptiles to be celebrated during Michigan Wildlife Weekend. Photo by Jim Harding.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will highlight herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) during Michigan Wildlife Weekend (June 23-25), with three days of outdoor education programming in a handful of Michigan state parks. The family-friendly programs are free for campers and visitors.

This year’s program will feature pond and wetland hikes, animal identification programs and other interactive activities. Participants will learn about frogs, turtles, snakes, salamanders and other interesting creatures. The annual program features a different group of animals each year, while providing a fun and educational experience for the whole family.

Michigan Wildlife Weekend and many other programs are led by state park Explorer Guides and park interpreters who work in the park and present a variety of outdoor education opportunities in nearly 30 Michigan state parks. These enthusiastic, nature-minded folks lead hikes, activities and programming that shine a spotlight on each park’s unique resources.

To find nearby Michigan Wildlife Weekend programs, visit www.michigan.gov/natureprograms and look for Wildlife Weekend under Special Programs. To see all available Explorer programming throughout the summer, view the interactive map or alphabetical list of parks.