New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

A winter/spring drought and a slew of salamanders soon to be slipping across our roads.

Friday 03/24/2006

We are in a 7 week drought period. This is entirely different than what I was expecting last fall into the winter when the record rains had soaked the earth. I figure this spring's snow melt would mean weeks of flooding. Except the jet stream took a right turn two months ago and has been shunting the few storms well to the south. In my several weekly walks, which a week or two ago meant sloshing across a muddy corn field, now is practically a dust bowl. The frost has left the ground without much of a mess and the weeks of cold parched air has turned this springs "mud season" into hardly anything. The Suncook River looks more like a early May water level and not the last of March as I gaze out this morning.

The one thunder storm of two weeks ago started the frog migration, but the last ten days of well below average temperatures has put a lid on any amphibian movements locally. "The night" which is the night that spotted salamanders move en mass will be the next rainy night, no doubt in my mind. Even with the frigid air, our skies have been wonderfully clear and the sun has warmed the earth. Any rain now will mean mass movements of all the salamanders and many frogs

Yesterday I set up a NH Fish and Game display at the annual Kittery Trading Post Fishingfest. Our departments first time there. The staff, particularly Chris Henson and Justin Kane, have bent over backwards to accommodate our set up with just a weeks notice. Yesterday our booth was graced with the presence of former Fish and Game commissioner, and professional fly tier, Ellis Hatch. He spent twenty five years on the commission and still leaped at the chance to help out yesterday. Dedication to the max to the natural resources and fortunately to our department. I'll be at the KTP booth Friday afternoon and all day Sunday. Stop in and say Hi if you have a chance.