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REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS Creek Habitat |
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Cal Poly has many different creeks flowing through its land providing water resources for many different kinds of species. The main creeks are Pennington Creek, which is located by Escuela Ranch, Chorro Creek, which is located on Chorro Creek Ranch, and Stenner Creek, which is located by Cheda Ranch. The Brizzolara Creek runs through Peterson Ranch and Poly Canyon and continues through Serrano Ranch. It eventually meets with Stenner Creek. When walking by the creeks the most common reptiles and amphibians you will encounter are the California Newt, the California Toad, the Monterrey Salamander, the Pacific Tree Frog and the Red-legged Frog. These Amphibians are most likely to be found by the creeks because they thrive in cooler climate and can live in water and on the land. The California Newt breeds in the water and the California Red-Legged Frog can be seen in calm areas of streams or ponds. When exploring the beautiful and lush area of Brizzolara Creek we were surprised to find many more reptiles than amphibians. We found and identified two different kinds of lizards that were among the rocks and debris adjacent to the stream. Covering the ground were layers of dried eucalyptus tree leaves and bark. These huge trees located along the creek side provide shade and shelter for the many animals that live under them. We first spotted a small Western Fence Lizard sunbathing on a rock (see picture below). Moving a little further down the river we came across a larger, darker lizard, but before we could identify it or take it's photograph, it dove into a thick pile of sticks and bark.
Other Sources of Water There are many other sources of water located around Cal Poly that are home to many different tpes of reptiles and amphibians. We explored these ponds and reservoirs to see what types of species one would encounter on a daily basis. We were amazed to find an abundance of both species all around these beautiful places. The Nelson Reservoir
The Nelson Reservoir in Cheda Ranch was full of life. During the day and night frogs are chirping and the sounds of scampering creatures are all around you. Surrounding the pond we found many Western Fence Lizards. There were over a dozen of these species sitting on a group of rocks around the reservoir, and we were able to carefully catch one to observe it a little more closely (see pictures below).
The Frog Pond
This amazing area is also located on the Cheda Ranch, and believe us when we say it's called Frog Pond for a reason! The moment we arrived to this location we knew that we were going to encounter some frogs, but we had no idea how many. When approaching the pond over 20 frogs leaped into the water. With a loud chirp from each one they dove deep down into the algae were we they could hide. It was an amazing sight to see so many of these creatures in such a small location, but they seemed to have everything they needed to survive. |
