Taking a Closer Look at Ponds

There is much more to ponds than meets the eye. Many pond-dwelling animals go unnoticed since most people aren’t trained to look for them. Unfortunately, the importance of ponds is underestimated and many are not protected. Did you know that ponds are hot spots for diverse wildlife, many of which travel significant distances to find these desirable habitats? For example, the Oregon State Sensitive Species northern red-legged frog adults migrate at night from forests to breed in ponds and each female can lay up to 1,000 eggs each season. These frogs only call underwater, so you won’t know they are around if you don’t know how to look for them.

Here’s your chance to learn more about ponds and how to observe wildlife in your own backyard or nearby park. Join Molalla River Watch for a presentation by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife amphibian and turtle surveyor Jim Holley to learn about wildlife that lives in ponds of the Molalla River Watershed on Tuesday, March 22, at 7 pm at the Molalla Adult Community Center.

This past spring and summer, Holley and volunteers surveyed ponds in the Molalla River Watershed for amphibian egg masses and turtles. Holley will describe local frogs, salamanders, and turtles, and will explain why wildlife and the ponds they live in are important to the health of our watershed.

For more information call Asako at 503-559-0885 or Kay at 503-824-2195, email [email protected], or visit www.molallariverwatch.org.