Join Jake, SOFO’s reptile and amphibian specialist, for an exciting adventure to see a vernal or ephemeral, temporary pool.

Vernal pools are small, seasonal, depression wetlands, usually found in forested areas. These wetlands are defined by several characteristics—one of the most important being their ephemeral nature. Vernal pools are fed by snow melt and spring rains. They reach their highest points during the spring. Come summer and fall vernal pools may be almost or completely dry. Given these seasonal drying periods, vernal pools are fishless and instead host a unique collection of other plants and animals. Some of these animals require vernal pools for breeding purposes. These species are known as vernal pool obligates. Here on Long Island, examples of vernal pool obligate species include various amphibians such as the marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum), the blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale), the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), the eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum), the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus), and the eastern spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii), as well as invertebrates such as the fairy shrimp (Anostracan spp.).