HI. I will be visiting Hancock county with my 2 young children the 1st week of Aug. We came last year, had a great time and saw red-bellys, smooth greens, garters, & ringnecks. Also spotted salas., newts, pickerels and green frogs. I see that blue-spotteds occur in the county but does any one know if they are common? (Please ignore question if this is a protected species in your state) Also, can milks and water snakes be found in Hancock? Thank you in advance for any info- Dave

My home I grew up at in Franklin has an old fieldstone basement. This was and still is a prime hiberniculum for E Milks. I can remember growing up and even last year catching some during the spring and fall times of year. Usually found them while they were moving in and out of the basement. I think during the summer months they hide in our firewood pile and who-knows where else they move to. If you were interested, I am sure my father would want you to "take all that you could carry". As long as you put stuff back that you overturned and/or moved. I doubt this time of year they are in my basement, probably out and moving about. Any fieldstone rock wall or piles of granite you may find, usually house all the species you mentioned.

Nicolin Road in Ellsworth used to be very productive for various sallys and frogs on rainy nights as well.

Travis

Thx much for your quick reply Travis!-Dave

Thats awesome Dave, I have yet to find a spotted salamander this year. I used to find a couple a year when I was a kid, now that I want to show my kids they are no where to be found. I did find some red spotted newts though, its cool they stay efts before they become fully aquatic. In my father in laws pond we have found the adult kinds, but they look way cooler when they are efts, that bright red/orange color makes em wicked cute. They look so much different when they transform. And the garter population is healthy, finding them everywhere. Got some good pics today that I'll post in a new thread