RAARP!

By Rosemary Conroy on Friday, May 9, 2003.

listen:

If you are looking for something to do with the kids this summer, try Fish and Game's new identification program. RAARP is looking for volunteers to help locate, count and identify reptiles and amphibians throughout New Hampshire. To register for RAARP, please call 271-3421.

Welcome to this week's edition of Something Wild.

I'm Rosemary Conroy for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

Now is the time for all good nature-lovers to RAARP.

That wasn't a belch. RAARP is an acronym for the Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program run by the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department.

Basically, they want to know every time you see a frog, salamander, snake, or turtle. Why? Because it helps scientists to increase their understanding of these fascinating and vulnerable creatures.

RAARP volunteers are looking for both common reptiles, like turtles and frogs, and less commonly seen reptiles, like this red eft. (Photo courtesy Alan Perkins)

The RAARP folks are particularly interested in sightings of reptiles and amphibians that appear to be in decline. North Country reports are particularly needed, too.

You may think, oh, all I see are bullfrogs or snapping turtles - nothing special. But believe it or not, sightings of common species are just as valuable as rare ones. Scientists really just don't know enough about any of the creatures that hop, slither, or crawl around our state.

And, biologists tap into the data volunteers provide to help direct development projects to minimize impacts on wildlife like reptiles and amphibians.

RAARPers are also helping to solve scientific mysteries. The data collected from this multi-year program, for example, is helping biologists understand why deformed frogs seem to be on the increase.

Fish & Game will send you a handy kit with forms, information on the various species, and tips on how to find them - all completely free of charge. You then participate as much or as little as you want to - but every bit really does help.

And the more knowledge we have, the better off all species will be.

So, wondering what to do with your kids this summer? Well, just head over to the Something Wild section of the NHPR website to learn how to get your RAARP kit today.

Just think about how extra exciting seeing a snake will be!