FISH & WILDLIFE REFERENCE LIBRARY Technical Report #84-4-05 1964 THE HERPETOLOGY OF THE UPPER JOHN DAY RIVER DRAINAGE, OREGON 7n- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Nongame Wildlife Program THE HERPETOLOGY OF THE UPPER JOHN DAY RIVER DRAINAGE, OREGON Alan D. St. John Oregon Department-of Fish and Wildlife Mongame Wildlife Program Technical Report #84-4-05 1984 CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................... I INTRODUCTION 1 ..... ................................................. STUDY AREA AND METHODS .......... ....... RESULTS ............................................................ 3 Species Accounts -- Amphibians 3 Long-toed Salamander ................................ 3 Western Toad ..................................... ............................................. 4 Pacific Treefrog 5 Basin Spadefoot......................................... 5 Great .................................... Bullfrog ................................................. 5 Spotted Frog 6 ............................................. Species Acconts 6 -- Reptiles ................................... Painted Turtle 6 Western Pond ........................................... 7 Turtle ...................................... Southern Alligator Lizard 7 Short-horned Lizard ................................ 8 ...................................... Desert Horned Lizard 9 Sagebrush ..................................... 9 Lizard ......................................... Western Fence Lizard 10 Side-blotched Lizard ..................................... 10 Western Skink ..................................... 11 ............................................ Western Whiptail 11 Rubber Boa ......................................... 12 ............................................... Racer 13 Might ....................................................Snake 13 .............................................. Striped Whipsnake 14 Gopher Snake ........................................ ............................................. 15 Western Terrestrial Garter Snake 15 Common Garter Snake ......................... 16 Western ...................................... 16 Rattlesnake ...................................... DISCUSSION ......................................................... 17 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................... i9 REFERENCES ......................................................... 20 APPENDICES ......................................................... 21 Appendix A. Bibliography of Oregon herpetology 21 ............. Appendix B. Distribution maps for the herpetofauna of the upper John Day River 23 drainage ........... i THE HERPETOLOGY OF THE UPPER JOHN DAY RIVER DRAINAGE, OREGON Alan D. St. John ABSTRACT Of 22 species of amphibians and reptiles reported from the upper John Day River drainage, 17 were located ftrina a 1QAd hPrnPtn1nMrA1 invantnrv Tha nnin+=,1 turtle (ChUse!!ys 2jLta) and pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata) are Known from only a few repor-t-s-a-n7-are apparently introduced to the area. Distribution records for all species located are summarized and mapped along with historical records. The status of the herpetofauna of the upper John Day drainage is generally good. However, the invasion of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) into the native bunchgrass habitat of the short-h-o-r-n-eU-71zard (Phrynosoma douglassi) and the western whiptail (_C_n_emidopho!Lus -tigris@) could adversely affect these populations. INTRODUCTION With the exception of Black and Storm (1970), very little field research has been done on the amphibians and reptiles of the John Day River drainage, in Wheeler and Grant Counties, Oregon. An area of diverse ecosystems, ranging from semi-arid desert conditions, through the juniper/sage association, to mountain pine/fir forests, it offers particularly favorable habitats for several reptile species. Sixteen reptile species have been recorded whereas only five amphibians are native to the area, with a sixth, the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) being an introduced species. The short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglassi), southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata), striped whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus), and night snake (Hypsiglena torquata) are known from the John Day River drainage by only a few records. One western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata) has been found near Canyon City (Black and Storm 1970) and there are unverified sight records for elsewhere in the John Day Valley. It is unknown at this time whether or not these represent introduced turtles or an isolated, relict population. There is also an old record for the desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) from "the John Day Country" (Gordon 1939). that has never been verified. Station; Riley Creek Meadows; Bates; Dayville; and Umatilla Creek. John Barss, a biologist on the Camp Hancock staff, reported finding these salamanders around Camp Hancock and along upper Pine Creek in Peacock Canyon. These greenish-yellow mottled ambystomids seem to be fairly widespread throughout the area and are the only salamander native to eastern Oregon. Although long-toed salamanders are most commonly found under rotting logs, boards, and damp rocks in the mountain meadows and forests, they range throughout the lower canyons as well. During the dry season, they become largely subterranean in their habits and are rarely encountered. Five subspecies have been described. The variety inhabiting the study area is the eastern long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum columbianum). Western Toad (Bufo boreas) The western toad appears to be common along the John Day River and was found at several sites. Some localities are: Clarno; upper Pine Creek; 10 miles east of Service Creek; Spray; 7.3 miles east of Spray; near the Cant Ranch; lower Murderer's Creek; and lower Fields Creek. Black and Storm (1970) recorded the western toad in Grant County from Lake Creek Guard Station; Wickiup Creek; Johnny Kirk Spring; Bates; Cant Ranch; Murderer's Creek Guard Station; Riley Creek Meadows; Miners Creek; Stewart Reservoir; and Big Cabbage Patch Spring. Although usually associated with the riparian habitat near streams, ponds, or lakes, these toads are sometimes seen at some distance from water. Three subspecies are recognized, the boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) occurring in Oregon. 4- Pacific Treefrog (@yla regilla) jyla were either seen or heard calling at many locations throughout the study area. Most were observed near water, but occasional individuals were encountered far from aquatic habitats. Some localities for the Pacific treefrog are: Clarno; Upper Pine Creek; Shelton Wayside State Park; near Spray; Kimberly; Foree Wayside; Picture Gorge; 6 miles south of Dayville; lower Murderer's Creek; Fields Creek; near Murderer's Creek Guard Station; Mt. Vernon; and near Prairie City. Great Basin Spadefoot (§.pea intermontana Despite frequent rainy periods, only two @pea were found; one on Highway 218 near Clarno and the other on Highway 19 at the western edge of Spray. Although I have few records in my files for this species along the John Day River, it is probably quite widespread in the area. In the past I have found it at Camp Hancock. The spadefoot prefers sandy habitats, usually near water, but will utilize temporary rain pools for breeding. Nocturnally active only during damp weather, these interesting amphibians spend most of their lives underground. Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Although reportedly widespread throughout the John Day Valley, I observed these large frogs at only two locations; one was heard calling near Clarno and another was heard near Mt. Vernon. As these large, predatory frogs usually crowd out smaller native anurans, it is possible that they are having a detrimental effect on the spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) along the John Day River. 1 -5- The bullfrog does not usually inhabit clear flowing streams and rivers, instead preferring sloughs, reservoirs, ponds, warm lakes, and the quiet backwaters of rivers. According to Black and Storm (1970), the bullfrog was introduced into the John Day Valley in 1923 by Irvine Hazeltine, district game warden for Malheur, Grant, Harney, and Baker Counties. Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa): A Protected Species Two specimens of this frog were found along lower Murderer's Creek. I have few records for this species within the study area. Most come from the higher, forested tributaries, where they seem to be fairly common. Black and Storm (1970) give two records that fall within the area inventoried; the South Fork of the John Day River and along Canyon Creek. @1- Most records for the spotted frog in eastern Oregon come from the transition life zone rather than the arid, upper sonoran life zone. They require permanent streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes, preferring the shallow waters where there is some type of vegetation. Species Accounts -- Reptiles Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) The painted turtle is represented here by one sighting. The turtle was observed by Cynthia Tait at 1200 hours on 28 February 1981, on a warm day in a ditch just east of the Sheep Rock Overlook, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Tait, a trained biologist with a thorough knowledge of herpetology, was at that time a staff member at the National Monument. As this is the only painted turtle that has ever been reported in the area, my feeling is that it was an introduced specimen. I 6- Four subspecies are recognized. The western painted turtle (Lhrysemys picta belli) occurs in Oregon. Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata)