A total of 21 reptile and amphibian (collectively known as herptiles) species have been found in the University of Guelph Arboretum. Our extensive wetlands, field and forests give lots of habitats for various herptiles. Watch for turtles sunning themselves on floating logs in our ponds, gartersnakes on the edges of trails and toads in our gardens.
The Gray Treefrog is one of our most popular frogs with visitors. Their sticky toes, noisy song and ability to change colour make them a favourite Arboretum denizen.
Sometimes we need to move frogs from one of our garden ponds to Victoria Woods pond. This bucket of young Green Frogs took only a couple of minutes to fill in our Italian Garden pond. That's a lot of frogs!
We moved this female Painted Turtle off the road so she wouldn't get hit by a car. Female turtles often lay their eggs on roadsides and gravel pathways. Click here [1] to see a video we took of a Painted Turtle laying eggs in The Arboretum.
Reptiles and Amphibians of The University of Guelph Arboretum
Newts and Salamanders
- Red-spotted Newt
- Blue-spotted Salamander
- Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Frogs and Toads
- American Toad
- Spring Peeper
- Gray Treefrog
- Western Chorus Frog
- Wood Frog
- Northern Leopard Frog
- Green Frog
- American Bullfrog
Turtles
- Snapping Turtle
- Midland Painted Turtle
- Red-eared Slider (introduced)
Snakes
- Eastern Gartersnake
- Northern Watersnake
- Red-bellied Snake
- Dekay's Brownsnake
- Ring-necked Snake
- Smooth Greensnake
- Eastern Milksnake
Total: 21 species
