Just So You know . . .

At about 1:30 pm on September 9th of this year I found my first Fowler's Toad/Bufo woodhousi ssp. in Hardy County, West Virginia. For those who care, a Fowler's toad differs from your standard American Toad/Bufo americanus in the following ways:

1. The dark blotches often contain three or more warts. In the American toad there are two or less.
2. The Fowler's toad's paratoid glands abut the ridge behind the eye. American toads usually have a separation.
3. There are no enlarged warts on the tibia (forearm) of the Fowler's toad.
4. The Fowler's toad lacks dark blotching on the "chest" area.

Memorize these characteristics and you will never again be at a loss when someone says, "Boy, wonder if that is a Fowler's toad or an American?"

What was I doing in Hardy County, WV; you ask? Taking a weekend canoe/fishing trip on the South Branch of the Potomac River; you know, the one that George Washington threw a silver dollar across? Of course, at the point that I fished it, some places were narrow enough that I could have thrown George Washington across. Ok, slight exaggeration, but the stretch we were on is somewhat smaller than the main stream.

Anyway, it was a great trip. 4 of us fishing from two canoes for an average of 9 hours a day and covering about 13 miles of river caught and released around 240 fish. Species included were smallmouth bass (our main quarry on this expedition), rock bass, largemouth bass, longear sunfish (which I had never seen before), rainbow trout, fallfish (suprisingly good fighters), and some strange looking, unidentified sucker type fish.

Lots of water snakes were also seen, including a baby one I caught that appeared to be lacking any red/brown pigment. It was black and gray (including the semi-circular belly markings), the same shades as an anerythristic corn snake. I don't know if it was a true mutant, or if red pigment takes time to develop in Nerodia like it does in Elaphe/Panthertophis.

A fun trip, and a destination to which, I believe, I will be returning.