Amphibians

Many of Vermont’s streams are currently lacking a very important habitat feature, large woody material. 

• Read more about Strategic Wood Addition to Improve Stream Habitat

The Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is one of Vermont's smallest frogs. Peepers fill their vocal sacs with air until they look like a balloon, then they let out a "peep" as they release the air. Its call can either be a short ascending whistle or it may be broken into a series of ascending peeps.

The Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) as a juvenile is reddish-orange with slightly bumpy skin. As an adult, the Eastern Newt turns olive green and their bellies reveal scattered black spots on a bright yellow background. They reach 5 inches in length. Juveniles and adults both have a dark horizontal line going through their eyes and rows of red spots outlined in black along their backs.

The Blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale) is the smallest of Vermont's three mole salamanders. They grow to five inches long and are black with small light blue spots on their backs and sides.

Field guides or identification books often comment that the coloring of Blue-spotted salamanders resembles old-fashioned enamel cookware.