Observations: August 29, 2006 Time: 9:30 am Weather: Warm and sunny

Multiple Marmot Moniker  A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and a groundhog (Marmota monax) by any other name would be just as entertaining to park visitors. Within the English language alone, this large rodent has a number of names including eastern marmot, woodchuck, monk and whistle pig. The name whistle pig comes from the fact that these animals will emit a high pitched whistle to warn others of a perceived threat. When not eating its fill of grasses and clover off the hillside near the Information Kiosk, it can often be found sunning itself on the top step leading to the Interpretive Shelter beside the kiosk. The groundhog locates its summer den in the middle of its food source, usually a pasture, so that it may have quick and easy access to food. A den is often reused for many years. The tunnel/den near the kiosk is approximately 3.5m long and 0.75m deep. Its winter den, where this true hibernator can spend up to 5 months sleeping, is usually a little more secluded, located in the nearby woods. Hibernation is a survival strategy for this rodent as there is only so much nutritional value in bark and twigs ( winter forage) for this high energy creature. The strategy of sleeping through the cold and time of poor food sources has obviously been advantageous, as populations remain strong. While hibernating, his core temperature can drop to as low as 3 degrees Celsius and his heart rate will drop as low as 4-5 beats per minute. At this point in the year, our groundhog is almost at its maximum weight of 4.5kg (10lbs). He ll be bedding down for winter by early October. When he emerges mid to late March, he ll have lost 30 of his weight and will need to quickly regain some of this by foraging on bark and small twigs until things green up.

An Accidental Amphibian Encounter While birding just off the Chickadee Trail today, I was concentrating so much on identifying the flash of grey and yellow (a Northern Parula), that the raised root of a yellow birch sent me flying to the ground. Rolling over, looking for my binoculars, I noticed I upturned a log with a red-striped amphibian underneath. The red-backed salamander is our province s most common species. Although amphibian means “two lives”, referring to the two life stages (aquatic larval – adult) that most amphibians go through (i.e. tadpole – frog), the red-backed salamander does not lay its eggs in water and they hatch as miniature adults, almost fully independent. Typically found under rocks, logs or within leaf litter, their body must be kept moist as they have no lungs but breathe through their skin. The moisture helps the oxygen transfer. Salamanders will avoid areas of high soil acidity such as pure spruce fir forests along our Fundy coast, preferring the mix of hardwood and softwood or pure hardwood which tend to create a “sweeter” (more alkaline) soil. Acidic soil (pH of 4 or so) will create a lethal chemical imbalance in these amphibians. There are local colour variations or “phases”, which can mean the red-backed may not have a red back, but a darker grey stripe or no stripe at all (leadback phase). Regardless of upper body patterns and colour, the belly and side of all are mottled grey black. Adults are generally 5-9 cm long, with 1.5-3cm of this being a tail. Predators such as moles and snakes will often get only a “snack” of a tail, while the rest of the body scurries to cover and regenerates a new one. Except during the breeding period in the Fall, these salamanders lead fairly solitary lives and are very protective of their feeding territory. They leave scent markers and scat along boundaries to warn others of ownership. The diet of red-backs is varied but includes leaf litter critters such as earthworms, spiders, millipedes and beetles.

The Naturalist's Notebook is a regular publication. If you have any questions or topics that you would like to see addressed, please call John Gilbert, Manager, Fish and Wildlife, J.D. Irving, Limited, (506) 632-7777 or email honeyman.kelly@jdirving.com