Amphibians

Amphibians in the Park

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is home to 25 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. These species thrive in the park's diverse aquatic and wetland habitats.

Northern Spring Peeper

When visiting in the spring, visitors can often hear the mating calls of northern spring peepers (Pseudacros crucifer). These are small tree frogs that only grow to 1.5-2 inches. They have an incredible ability to camouflage with their surroundings and can be very hard to see. Spring peepers hibernate in the winter and reemerge in spring when temperatures start to rise.

Green Frog

One of the most common amphibians seen by visitors is the Green Frog (Rana clamitans). They are a medium sized species that range from 2 to 4 inches long. They live in shallow, weedy habitats that surround lakes, ponds, and streams.

Eastern Newt

Occasionally, there will be a bright flash of orange on the forest floor. This is likely a Red Eft, the juvenile version of an Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). Despite their small size, Eastern Newts have a lifespan of 12-15 years in the wild. In their juvenile stage, Eastern Newts live on the forest floor. However, once they reach their adult stage, Eastern Newts become aquatic and move into pond or stream habitats.

Spotted Salamander

Another species found within the park is the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum). This species has a very large range and can be found all throughout the eastern United States and even into Texas. They generally grow to be 6-10 inches long with females being larger than males. In their adult stage, spotted salamanders live on land, but lay their eggs underwater on warm spring evenings.

Protection

Amphibian populations are declining globally. There area many threats to these populations, including: habitat loss and degradation, disease, invasive species, chemical contamination, drought, illegal collecting, and more. The National Park Service and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area are committed to preserving and protecting these species and their habitats. In fact, all amphibian species are protected in the park. This means that collecting or taking any amphibian is strictly prohibited, according to the Superintendent's Compendium of Regulations.

Additionally, each year Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area takes steps to protect migrating amphibians by closing River Road in Middle Smithfield Township several nights in early spring. This closure allows vulnerable amphibians to crawl or hop across the road without the risk of being hit by cars as they make their way to moist ponds for breeding. These road closures are triggered by weather forecasts calling for evening rain with mild temperatures and are an important tool in protecting current and future amphibian populations.