Amphibians and Reptiles of
Acadia National Park
Several authors from the 1930s to the 1980s have reported the presence of species not currently known to be present on Mount Desert Island. Recent investigators have documented the species found below in the common species listing. Several inventories and research investigations are currently being conducted. Contact Acadia's Division of Resource Management for further information.
- spotted salamander--moist woods, stream banks, beneath stones, logs, boards
- red-spotted newt--ponds, weedy areas of lakes, marshes, ditches, backwaters, pools
- redback salamander--mixed deciduous or coniferous woods; under stones, moist litter
- four-toed salamander--wet woodlands w. sphagnum moss; tamarack bogs
- Northern two-lined salamander--floodplain bottoms to moist forest; streams; seeps
- Eastern American toad--gardens, woods, yards with cover and damp soil (limited distribution on island)
- Northern spring peeper--marshy or wet woods; sphagnum bogs; near ponds & swamps
- bullfrog--near shorelines of large bodies of water with emergent vegetation
- green frog--shallow freshwater margins
- wood frog--wooded areas, often far from water in summer
- pickerel frog--colder waters of lakes, ponds, streams, springs, sphagnum bogs
- common snapping turtle--bottom dweller in any permanent/semipermanent water body
- Eastern painted turtle--quiet, shallow ponds, marshes, woodland pools, shores, bogs
- Northern redbelly snake--moist woods, hillsides, bogs, meadows; under debris
- Eastern garter snake--islandwide
- Northern ringneck snake--secretive, under cover in moist shady woodlands
- Eastern smooth green snake--upland areas, grassy fields, meadows
- Eastern milk snake--farmlands, woods, outbuildings, meadows, river bottoms, bogs
Possible Species (not recently found within range)
- blue-spotted salamander--wooded, swampy or moist areas
- spring salamander--cold, clean undisturbed mountain streams; cool seeps and springs in forested areas
- Northern dusky salamander--woodlands at the margins of cool running water
- Northern leopard frog--wet open meadows and fields; wet woods (not reported since 1950s)
- gray tree frog--wooded areas with small trees, shrubs, and bushes near shallow water
(not reported since 1950s)
- wood turtle--meandering streams with sandy bottoms & overhanging alders
- stinkpot--still, shallow, clear lakes, ponds, rivers; muddy bottoms preferred
- Northern brown snake--islandwide
Sources for additional information:
Resource Management Division, Acadia National Park
Historical Resource Inventory for Acadia National Park, 1992
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Last update 1/15/00
