New Hampshire Vernal Pools

Vernal pools are unique habitats required for the life cycle of certain amphibians and macroinvertebrates. Help identify the NH pool locations (on public lands or where you have landowner permission) and migration paths by identifying wood frogs (including tadpoles and egg masses), spotted and other mole salamanders (including larval form and egg masses), fairy shrimp and other other larval macroinvertebrates. Sound recordings of wood frog calls taken at the pool are great too! Thanks for your interest!

Vernal pools typically have the following characteristics:

• Cycle annually from flooded to dry conditions, although they may vary from year to year.
• Form in a shallow depression or basin.
• Have no permanently flowing outlet.
• Hold water for at least two continuous months following spring ice-out.
• Lack a viable fish population.
• Support wood frogs, spotted (or other mole) salamanders or fairy shrimp, or other aquatic larval macroinvertebrates (such as dragonflies, midges, caddisflies, etc.).

Vernal pool amphibians migrate more than 1,000 feet from their year-round habitat to breed in vernal pools! less ↑