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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The harmless western fox snake is a common Midwest species often found in the transition zone (ecotone) between wooded and herbaceous habitats. The...
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Animals,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Reptiles,
Snakes,
Western Fox Snake,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Frogs and toads are collectively referred to as Anurans. Anurans can breathe with lungs and through their skin. Highly aquatic anurans make greater...
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens)
The Northern leopard frog is one of the most commonly encountered species of frog in the Midwest. As wi...
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Amphibians,
Animals,
Anuran,
Exploration,
Frog,
habitat,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
Hiking,
illinois,
iowa,
Leopard Frog,
Lithobates,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
How many different types of frogs do you hear? Scroll to the bottom of this page for the answer.
#midwestmoment #naturephoto #wildernesscul...
Posted in
Amphibians,
Animals,
Anuran,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
Declining Species,
Forest,
Frog,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
illinois,
iowa,
michigan,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
minnesota,
missouri,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
prairie,
Sand Prairie,
VernalPools,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography,
wisconsin
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
In the Upper Midwest, the ornate box turtle inhabits open sand prairies. Their habitat is disappearing due to land development as well as a lack o...
Posted in
Animals,
Declining Species,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
illinois,
iowa,
michigan,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
minnesota,
missouri,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Nesting,
Ornate Box Turtle,
prairie,
Predators,
RemnantHabitat,
Reptiles,
Sand Prairie,
Turtles,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography,
wisconsin
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The Blanchard's cricket frog is a declining species in the northern portions of their Upper Midwest Range. This species hides along muddy banks w...
Posted in
Amphibians,
Animals,
backyard habitat,
Creeks,
habitat,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
midwest,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Rivers,
Streams,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
This rare Blanding’s Turtle was attempting to cross a busy highway, so I stopped and helped him cross safely. This time of year, many of the turtl...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BlandingsTurtle,
Creeks,
habitat,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
midwest,
Migration,
MississippiRiver,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Reptiles,
Rivers,
Streams,
Turtles,
Wetlands,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Two species of green snake occur in the Midwest, the smooth green and the rough green. The snake's green coloration is made using blue and yellow...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Reptiles,
Snakes,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
What animal left these tracks on a sand road in northwestern Illinois? Scroll below to reveal the culprit.
Here's a photo hint 🤔
The correct ans...
Posted in
Animals,
AnimalTracks,
habitat,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
illinois,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
MississippiRiver,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Reptiles,
Rivers,
SnappingTurtle,
Turtles,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Blue-spotted salamanders depend on temporary pools of water that fill with snowmelt and rain in early spring. This is where the salamander lays egg...
Posted in
Amphibians,
Animals,
BlueSpottedSalamander,
habitat,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Migration,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Salamanders,
VernalPools,
Water Quality,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Yikes, a venomous coral snake! Or is it? The non-venomous eastern milksnake is an eastern coral snake mimic; both species exhibit concentric bands ...
Posted in
EasternMilksnake,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
iowa,
midwest,
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wilderness,
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