In a wetlands area at the Blacklick Valley Natural Area we saw this intricate pattern created by a thin layer of ice and fallen leaves.
Bracket fungi are the tough, woody, shelf-like growths found on on the trunks of dead or fallen trees. These ones were photographed at Hemlock Lake County Park in northeastern Indiana County.
Our most abundant salamander is the Eastern Red-backed. They can be found living under rocks and logs. The Eastern Red-backed is a terrestrial salamander that lays it eggs underground. The female stays with the eggs to protect them until they hatch. When hatched the young salamanders are miniature versions of the adults. They are easily identified by the red stripe down their back. There is a black phase of the Eastern Red-backed known as the Lead-backed phase. The Lead-backed phase is less common in Indiana County than the red phase.
