I spent Memorial Day weekend in the Salamander Capital of the World, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for a non-traditional bachelor party with my groomsmen and a few other friends.
We stayed in a rental cabin in Cocke County, Tennessee. If I had it to do over again, I would likely choose a base camp closer to the actual park, but we were pretty successful herping the rental property and the creek running right through the backyard.
Shovelnose Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Blackbelly Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Ocoee Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr (please comment if you think this ID is incorrect)
Any help on this one? Sorry, I don't have ventrum shots to aid in the ID.
Desmognathus sp. by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
On our first full day there, we went looking for the high-elevation salamanders and were not disappointed.
Red-Cheeked Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Red-Cheeked Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Imitator Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
I wish I had better images of this pigmy salamander, but I found it challenging to photograph.
Pigmy Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
I tried to balance salamander hunting with other activities so that my non-herper friends (including a computer science PhD, a telecom professional, and a Navy officer) wouldn't remember this as an incredible mistake, so we made trips to Ole Smoky Moonshine, Pancake Pantry, and other Gatlinburg fixtures and took time to enjoy a little (read: a little too much) beer. This resulted in lower intensity herping on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Along with a glut of Desmogs, we saw a few black-chinned red salamanders. Most were metamorphs with gill remnants.
Black-Chinned Red Salamander by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
Prior to departing on Monday, a few of us made it into the park again, and I found this black rat snake while walking over to see a red salamander my brother caught.
Black Rat Snake by Adam Cooner, on Flickr
All in all, it was a great weekend. I fully intend to return for a full-fledged herping trip in the future as my seemingly unending quest for a spring salamander continues, and I'd like to take another shot at finding a hellbender.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Adam Cooner
- Posts: 247
- Joined: July 8th, 2010, 3:50 pm
- Location: Calera, AL
Re: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
good stuff Adam
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
First, big congrats on the primary of the trip.
2nd, smooth move pulling a herping trip out of it as well!!!!
Next trip you guys need to come up here, 2 hours north, for even more diversity!
2nd, smooth move pulling a herping trip out of it as well!!!!
Next trip you guys need to come up here, 2 hours north, for even more diversity!
My first impression is "ocoee" again based on what you can see of the tail and location commonness.Any help on this one? Sorry, I don't have ventrum shots to aid in the ID.
- Adam Cooner
- Posts: 247
- Joined: July 8th, 2010, 3:50 pm
- Location: Calera, AL
Re: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
I'm sold! Thanks for your help on this trip by the way.BillMcGighan wrote:Next trip you guys need to come up here, 2 hours north, for even more diversity!
That's what I figured. Glad to have it seconded by someone with Desmog savvy.BillMcGighan wrote:My first impression is "ocoee" again based on what you can see of the tail and location commonness.