7-13-10 and 8-12-10

Trip Details

Location: Linn County, IA

Conditions: 75 degrees and sunny with little wind. Both were after major thunderstorms.

Time: about 6:00 p.m. for both dates

Herpers: Matt Ricklefs
Account by: Matt Ricklefs
Photos by: Matt Ricklefs

Thought of the Day: Carry on my wayward amphibian!

I was mowing the lawn and noticed that there was movement in a little "pond" that forms after rain by our box in the front of my yard. I looked closer and it was a juvenile Bullfrog (Rana clamitans) about four inches long.

This was after a very good thunderstorm but the nearest body of water would be our sewer system and other than that it's a ways before there is even a small body of water. So it was a bit of a surprise. We have had toads in the yard before and that is what I expected. It was a cool surprise.

Before I had a chance to post the previous account we had another storm and yes, another visitor. This time it was the expected, an American Toad (Bufo americanus) about four and a half inches long.

It takes a little while before the "pond" dries up, and by that time they have moved on, but it is still neat to have this little visitors stop by as herps on my property are always cool - and welcome!

On the second occurrence we also had a honey bee that had stopped over and looked a little weak. I picked it up and put it on my grill table and gave it a little peanut butter (that is what it is eating in the picture) and after a while it was "well" enough to fly away.

Another happy stop over.

Happy (and easy) herping!