Wehrle's Salamander was first discovered in Indiana County, PA in 1911 and named after its discoverer, R. W. Wehrle (1852- 1937). Mr. Wehrle was a successful businessman and an accomplished naturalist who documented many species of reptiles and amphibians in Indiana County during his lifetime. Mr. Wehrle credited his long and healthy life to daily walks in nature.
Although it's called Pine Ridge Park the most predominant tree found here is the Tulip Poplar. Some of Indiana County's largest Tulip trees are located in the Tom's Run area of the park.
The annual migration of spotted salamanders to their breeding pools occurs in late March and early April in Indiana County on a warm rainy night. The migration of hundreds of salamanders to the pools is one of the great spectacles of nature. The collection of Spotted Salamanders in the breeding pools is called a 'Salamander Congress'.
