Sara Callaghan of the Forest Society displays a wood frog to Keely FitzGerald (10), Gerald FitzGerald, and Cody FitzGerald (13).
WAKEFIELD, NH — More than 30 people joined Moose Mountains Regional Greenways to explore vernal pools at a recent nature walk in Wakefield, NH.
Sara Callaghan of the Forest Society described the important role that vernal pools play in the life cycles of spotted salamanders, wood frogs, fairy shrimp, and other vernal pool critters. These unassuming important habitats are easily overlooked and rapidly being lost to development due to their small size and impermanent waters.
Moose Mountains Regional Greenways coordinated the conservation of Gage Hill
Farm in 2004 in partnership with the Forest Society and the
Town of Wakefield. This historic, 108-acre farmstead features
a network of wooded trails that are open to the public for
hiking, skiing and nature study.
The Vernal Pool Walk is part of a Moose Mountains Regional Greenways’ public outreach and education initiative funded by the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, whose mission is to protect, enhance and monitor the environmental quality of the state’s estuaries. For more information about the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, visit www.nhep.unh.edu or call 603-862-3948.
The Vernal Pool Walk is free and open to the public. Waterproof footwear is
recommended. For more information or to register, contact
Joyce El Kouarti at Moose Mountains Regional Greenways: 603-953-4473
or info@mmrg.info.
Moose Mountains Regional Greenways is a non-profit conservation organization that works to conserve and connect the most special natural places in northern Strafford and southern Carroll counties in New Hampshire.
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