Early spring is one of my favorite times of the year, because it is when turtles, salamanders and other reptiles and amphibians emerge to lay their eggs. That means that they become much more visible, especially, in the case of turtles, anyway, on roads they are trying to cross to reach their breeding ground.
A road must seem an almost overwhelming obstacle to a turtle. While walking my dog today, I imagined how a typical strip of country road must appear to the gentle reptiles. Putting it into human terms, I decided that it would compare to a shopper trying to cross a Wal-Mart parking lot that was being used to hold a demolition derby. It's no wonder that the lives of so many turtles (and other reptiles and amphibians) end abruptly as they valiantly try to cross yet another human-made barrier in their instinctive struggle to keep their species alive. It has become such a problem that turtle tunnels have been constructed in some areas to direct the little guys safely from one side of the road to the other.

Reptiles and amphibians have been losing ground in recent years for many reasons other than road kill. Loss of habitat (especially wetlands needed for breeding), climate changes due to global warming, acid precipitation, pollution from pesticides, fertilizers and heavy metals, higher levels of UV radiation, the introduction of exotic (non-native) predators, collection by humans as pets, food or lab specimens, fear (especially of snakes) and other factors have all contributed to the decline of herpetofauna (from the Greek word meaning "things that crawl").

Only recently have efforts been made to monitor reptile and amphibian populations over time. A Department of Natural Resources (DNR) program called the Herp Atlas Project began four years ago to collect data about the various species in Michigan to document their distribution and, eventually, changes in their populations. (The Herp Atlas Project is also active in numerous other states). Last year, herpetologists and others with expertise in herpetology were asked for their help in conducting surveys in areas where more information is needed. Prior to the start of the project, only a few local studies had been conducted and, of those, fewer still were long-term. The Michigan Frog and Toad Survey begun in 1988 by the DNR was the only statewide survey that had been attempted, according to the Herp Atlas Project website.

Based on the data that is available, two species of reptiles in Michigan have been placed on the endangered species list - Kirtland's snake and the copper belly water snake. The spotted turtle and Eastern fox snake are both listed as threatened, while the six-lined racerunner, the black rat snake, Blanding's turtle, the wood turtle, the Eastern Mississauga and the Eastern box turtle are all species of special concern, which means that their numbers have not declined to the point where they have been afforded special protection under the Michigan Endangered Species Act but bear close watching to prevent their further reduction and designation as threatened or endangered. Amphibians that have been placed on the list are the small mouth salamander (endangered) and the marbled salamander (threatened). Species of special concern are the Blanchard's cricket frog and the boreal chorus frog.

It is illegal to harm any of the species mentioned above or to collect them without direct permission from the DNR. It is also unlawful to collect or harm reptile eggs. A fishing license is required to collect other herp species and the take is limited by number and season.

There is a very good reason for not picking up reptiles, other than the law, and that's salmonella, a disease that can be transmitted from reptiles to humans. Salmonella contracted from reptiles became a public health issue with the increased popularity of turtles, iguanas and other reptiles as pets. It became such a concern that the sale and distribution of the little turtles that were sold in five and ten cent stores when I was a kid was prohibited in 1975. According to an on-line article by the MVMA Zoonotic Disease Committee, "the ban is estimated to have prevented approximately 100,000 cases of salmonellas annually," although the disease is again coming to the forefront due to the rising number of pet iguanas.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that about two to three percent of the two to six million cases of salmonellas in humans each year can be traced to reptiles. It is not necessary to touch a reptile to contract the disease, since it is carried in fecal matter and can also be transferred from one person who has touched a reptile to another by contact.

According to the CDC, "most reptile species sold in the United States are wild caught and imported into this country and the salmonella organism can reportedly remain viable in the environment for up to 30 months." The CDC recommends that reptiles not be kept as pets by persons at risk for infection (e.g., pregnant women, individuals with compromised immune systems and children age five or younger). People who handle reptiles should also wash their hands immediately afterward.

So, if you're the type of person who helps turtles across the road, you might want to keep some plastic gloves and antiseptic skin cleanser in your car. And, while this may seem a no-brainer, be sure you place the turtle on the side of the road it is heading toward. If you don't, it will just turn around and have to cross the street all over again since it is heading instinctively toward, or away from, its breeding ground.

Finding a reptile or amphibian can be an exciting experience, whether it is a plate-sized snapping turtle or a tiny tree frog. But herps are very sensitive to changes in their environment and should be disturbed as little as possible.
At our educational farm and around the cranberry bogs where I ran, I had the good fortune to watch snapping turtles laying their eggs (including in the middle of my compost pile), painted and spotted turtles sunning themselves on logs, garter snakes sneaking up on bugs in the gardens, salamanders snoozing under logs and other herp activities. Once, I found an intact snake skin wrapped in a complete circle around a tire in a garden bed. At times, I was able to share these experiences with visitors.

One such time took place when a group of young men from a nearby juvenile detention center was helping dismantle our hay maze so we could erect a new one with fresh bales. I had gone up to the barn to fetch those "city boys" some gloves so they wouldn't have to touch the black, rotting hay with their delicate hands and returned to shouts of delight about the large number of snakes, snails and other creatures they had found. One tall, muscular boy with a shaved head who could make a country girl like myself tremble in her boots if she ran into him late at night on a city street, grinned shyly at me and held out his hand.

"What's this," he asked with childlike wonder.

"It's a spotted salamander," I replied, smiling back. I had only seen a few, myself, and was in awe of its magnificent size and bold markings.

"It needs to be where it's damp," I continued. Without further comment from me, he pointed to a swampy area a few feet away.

"How about there?" he asked.

"Perfect," I said, cringing as he began to walk, so sure was I that this oversized teen would accidentally drop the slippery creature or squeeze it to death if it tried to escape. But to my surprise and delight (which continues to this day as I remember the incident) he carefully cupped his hands and practically tiptoed toward his destination, murmuring to himself, "Gently, gently, gently" over and over again until the salamander was safely back on the ground. Then he looked at me and smiled a smile that revealed his pride in a job well done as well as the thrill of a new discovery.

His words are a reminder to us all about the proper way to live upon this good earth - "Gently, gently, gently."

For more information about the Michigan Herp Atlas Project, visit the Department of Natural Resources website at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

You can email Karen at karen@lakeshoreguardian.com.