Amphibians & Reptiles - Activities & Education Portal

Growing Up Amphibian
Puzzle – Frogs and toads are an amphibian. They don’t just hatch from eggs and look like adults. They go through metamorphosis.

Make a Spotted Salamander
Craft that will guide you on how to create your own Spotted Salamander.

Make a "Walking" Turtle
Craft that will guide you on how to create your own Woodland Box Turtle.

Salamanders of Pennsylvania
17 x 22 inch color poster showing the variety of salamanders found in Pennsylvania.

Salamander Sudoku
Know your salamanders? Try your luck with Salamander Sudoku!

Salamander vs. Lizard Ven Diagram
Know the difference and similarities between salamanders and lizards? Try your skills with this “Ven” diagram.

Superhero Bingo
Cross of the squares on this Bingo Sheet to earn your Superhero status!

Traveling Salamanders
Coloring – Design your own salamander!

Turtles of Pennsylvania
17 x 22 inch color poster showing the variety of turtles found in Pennsylvania.

Vernal Pool Word Search
Find the vernal pool words in this fun word search.

Coloring Pages

Frogs/Toads

Lizards

Salamanders

Snakes

Turtles

PLAY Newsletters

You can find additional activities and crafts on the last page of every PLAY (Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth) newsletter!

Read Along with PFBC playlist

Listen and/or read along with PFBC staff as they share Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth newsletters in a video format.

"My Adventures" write-your-own story booklet
With this 12-page activity booklet you can write-your-own adventure about a trip on or near a PA waterway (e.g. stream, river, pond, lake). You can also share something you learn, share how you would teach someone else about what you learned, and share a memory that you will keep with you as you grow. Begin your story today!

PLAY: Introduction to Amphibians
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Introduction to Amphibians; PA Amphibian Family Tree, What is an Amphibian?; The March Migration Madness; Where do Amphibians Live?; and Amphibian Acoustics Activity.

PLAY: Introduction to Reptiles
PLAY issue containing the following articles -
What a reptile is; Turtles; Reptile family tree; Snakes and the law concerning reptiles.

PLAY: Handsome Hoppers
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Growing Up Amphibian; Could You Croak that Again Please?; Frog or Toad What is the Difference?; Hop to It; Frogs and Toads of PA.

PLAY: PA Lizards
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
League of Lizards; Lizard or Skink: What do you think?; Defense on a Fence (Eastern Fence Lizard); Don’t Blink or you may miss this “cool” skink (Northern Coal Skink); Reading Between the Lines (Five-Lined Skink); Another Tall “tail”- The red-headed Scorpion (Broadhead Skink); Scales vs. Slime – Who’s Who?

PLAY: PA Salamanders
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Secret Salamander Treasures; Growing Up Salamander; Salamander Secrets; PA’s Most Fascinating Salamanders; Travelling Salamanders; Salamander Sudoku.

PLAY: PA Snakes
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Aren’t Snakes Spectacular?; All About Snakes (Crossword); Common Snakes of PA; Venomous Snakes in PA.

PLAY: Superheroes of Summer
PLAY issue containing the following articles-
Fishing and Boating; Reptiles and Amphibians; Check out a “Live Stream”; and Superhero BINGO.

PLAY: Vernal Pools
PLAY issue containing the following articles-
Vernal Pool Vocabulary; All About Vernal Pools; Ecology and Life Cycles; Vernal Pool Indicator Species; Vernal Pool Facultative Species; Functions and Values; and Vernal Pool Word Search.

PLAY: Where Do They Go In Winter?
PLAY issue containing the following articles –
Where Do They Go In Winter; Finding Fish Under the Frozen Water; A Warm Place for Winter; Living in Cold Water; Frozen Alive; and A-Mazing Winter Survival (maze game).

Videos

PLAYLISTS

The following two links are playlists that will take you through all of PFBC’s videos related to amphibians and reptiles OR you can go through them individually by clicking links below.

Eastern American Toad

American Toads breed during the spring and are especially active during the month of May following significant rainfall events. They move to ponds, stream edges, ditches and low-lying areas. The males call to the females and the interactions between males can get quite aggressive. The remainder of the year American Toads live solitary lives eating insects, worms, and other small invertebrates. They expand their vocal sack when calling which helps to amplify the trilling sounds.

Eastern Gartersnake

The chances are very good that anyone who has spent any time at all outdoors has seen an Eastern Gartersnake at least once. It is the most widely distributed and familiar snake in North America. Adults attain lengths of 18 to 26 inches, a bit larger than the shorthead garter snake, but about equal to the ribbon snake, a close cousin.

Fang-tastic Facts About the Timber Rattlesnake

This yellow-phase Timber Rattlesnake is doing a great job reminding us to maintain social distancing guidelines when out enjoying the outdoors!

Garden Friend – Eastern Gartersnake

A gardener’s best friend, the Eastern Gartersnake, loves to eat insects. A snake’s tongue plays a key role in locating food & staying away from enemies. Watch this slow-mo video of a Gartersnake!

Growing Up Amphibian (Bullfrog Tadpole)

This Bullfrog tadpole will soon look very different.

It’s World Turtle Day

The PFBC recognizes Saturday, May 23rd as World Turtle Day! Pennsylvania is home to more than a dozen native species of turtles, many of which are threatened by illegal collection and trade.

Mudpuppy in Brown’s Creek

Mudpuppies are also known as waterdogs. Despite belief by some, Mudpuppies do not bark and they are not poisonous. Mudpuppies are fully aquatic and are often caught by anglers. They are completely harmless and must be released immediately if caught. Their possession limit is zero.

Old “Red-Legs”

"Old red legs" is Pennsylvania's second most terrestrial turtle. This nickname comes from its reddish-orange legs, neck, and tail. This turtle has a beautiful wood-grained look to its upper shell. Although a land turtle, the wood turtle is very much at home in the water, seeking habitats that include marshy meadows and cool streams.

PA Native Turtles

Pennsylvania is home to more than a dozen native species of turtles, many of which are threatened by illegal collection and trade.

Protecting Native Amphibians and Reptiles

The "Fish & Boat Code" not only sets seasons, sizes and creel limits for fish but also from reptiles and amphibians including the Spotted Turtle.

Snapping Turtle

Keep an eye out for Snapping Turtles in streams around your neighborhood. They are active from April-October and spend the rest of the year hibernating in burrows in the mud. They like basking in the sun, foraging for food, and resting.

Toad-ally Cool!

Check out the strength in the legs of this American Toad as it leaps to it’s new hideaway. Most of the time toads will crawl and stalk their prey, but when in a hurry to avoid potential predators or capture prey, they will leap.

Tree Climber (Black Ratsnake)

Black Ratsnakes (also known as Eastern Ratsnakes) are one of the largest snakes native to Pennsylvania. At maturity, they can reach lengths of six to nearly eight feet. They are well known as tree climbers as evidenced by the video footage.

Turtle Crossing!

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Natural Diversity Section Chief, Chris Urban, explains why many of Pennsylvania's native turtle species are on the move during late spring and early summer. Also, learn how you may be able to safely assist a turtle if you see one crossing the road.

Additional Resources

A Picta Worth a Thousand Words: Portrait of a Painted Turtle
Brochure on one of Pennsylvania's most popular turtles: The Painted Turtle.

Beautiful Bufo
Information on the three kinds of toads found in Pennsylvania, their life history and identification.

Birth of a Snake
Fact sheet describes type reproduction of snakes; viviparous, oviparous, ovoviviparous.

Bog Turtles: Slipping Away
Brochure on biology and ecology of bog turtle. Includes information on causes of population decline and Commission efforts to protect and restore bog turtles.

Frog and Toad Metamorphosis
This fact sheet shows the steps in metamorphosis from egg through adult stages.

Lizards and Skinks of Pennsylvania
Identifies lizards and skinks found in PA. Includes photos, food, habitat, range, characteristics and identification of lizards and skinks found in PA.

The March Migration Madness
Amphibians migration to vernal ponds.

Moles in the Pool: Spotted Salamanders
Brochure about the spotted salamanders. Their identification, habitat and future.

Northern Copperhead
Biology and ecology of the Northern Copperhead. Includes information on habitat, reproduction and range.

PA Amphibian Family Tree
Taxonomic tree of Pennsylvania's amphibians.

Seeing Spots: The Northern Leopard Frog
Brochure on biology and ecology of the northern leopard frog. Includes information on habitat, reproduction and range.

Snakes in Basements and Buildings
How to discourage, in an environmentally friendly way, snakes from entering homes and other buildings.

Snakes in Pennsylvania
Identifies commonly encountered snakes. How to identify venomous from non-venomous snakes. Also includes some general biology and ecology information. Includes links to other snake web pages.

Those Other Turtles
Discusses spotted and wood turtles.

Timber Rattlesnake
Discusses the timber rattlesnake - description, life history, distribution, threats and conservation, the future, etc.

What is an "Amphibian"?
Characteristics of amphibians and their differences from other animals.

Where Do Amphibians Live?
Habitat of amphibians.