FRIENDS OF THE BLUE HILLS PROTECT & PRESERVE April – June 2012 Volume 37, Number 2 As Incidence of Lyme Disease Increases, More Blue Hills Visitors at Risk After contracting Lyme disease last fall, tell-tale bulls eye red mark Westwood resident Elaine worries about that surrounds the bite of getting sick if she returns to the Blue an infected tick bite and her Hills. While we all can still enjoy the Blue doctor prescribed antibiotics Hills, Elaine’s story will become ever more that healed her. common as the incidence of Lyme disease She is back to her regular continues to climb. A neighborhood that activities now but is reluc- borders the Reservation reports that 30 tant to return to the park households have 30 incidents of Lyme because she is concerned disease. We need to work together to make about getting so sick again. sure Elaine and everyone who loves the Knowing she couldn’t help Blue Hills can continue to enjoy it. control Lyme disease by herself, she contacted the This is not your grandparents’ Blue Hills. When many of us were growing up, most people had never heard of Lyme laine Kerrigan used to love Friends of the Blue Hills disease. Now almost everyone knows someone who’s had it. Ehiking in the Blue Hills. and discovered that she’s not Elaine Kerrigan is one of them. Though she has lived her whole alone. Many people who visit the Reservation want we can work together to reduce the risk life in Weymouth, just 10 minutes to protect themselves and their families of Lyme disease and protect the for- away from the park, she didn’t start from Lyme disease and its potentially ests so that all visitors feel comfortable exploring here until she was in her devastating effects. exploring the Blue Hills. thirties. We appreciate your thoughts on how She always enjoyed exercising out- doors, so when she discovered how much fun she found hiking and cross- What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? country skiing, the Blue Hills was a Massachusetts Representative a donut. Flu-like symptoms, such as natural fit. She loved exploring differ- David Linsky issued a report on Lyme fever, headache, stiff neck, sore and ent areas with her friends: starting at a disease that affirms that “the occur- aching muscles and joints, fatigue and different trailhead, exploring the Blue rence of Lyme disease has reached swollen glands may also occur. dot trail one day and Red dot the next. near epidemic proportions in Mas- Even though these symptoms may go That was before she contracted Lyme sachusetts.” Even so, many doctors away by themselves, treatment during disease from a tick last October despite do not recognize the symptoms and the early stage prevents later, more taking precautions. Elaine was always often misdiagnose. Although you can serious problems. still have Lyme disease without any careful to avoid tick bites by wearing Later stages (weeks to years): If of these symptoms, here are common long pants, covering her arms with long untreated, people with Lyme disease symptoms to look for. sleeves, donning a hat and checking can develop late-stage symptoms even herself after her many walks. Still, she Early stage (days to weeks): Rash if they never had a rash. The joints, found herself one day unable to get out where the tick was attached. It often, nervous system and heart are most of bed and suffering from excruciat- but not always, starts as a small red commonly affected. area that spreads outward, clear- ing headaches and joints too painful Source: Mass Department of Public ing up in the center so it looks like to move. Eventually she found the Health Lyme disease fact sheet. 1 Blue Hills Critters What’s Yellow and Black and Parties once a Year? By John Walsh April), these critters temporarily vacate ave you ever been beautifully their underground quarters during the night and clandestinely make their way dressed up with nowhere to H to a nearby vernal pool. These pools go? Such is the life of the spotted typically form in depressions that fill salamander (Ambystoma macula- with water during the fall and winter, tum) which spends most of its life yet are shallow enough to fully dry out beneath ground emerging but for as the summer goes along. By drying a brief time to mate before return- out completely, these pools thus are not ing to its subterranean and solitary able to sustain populations of fishes that existence. might otherwise prey on tasty salaman- ders and their eggs. While this might be Unlike its more abundant and fully an effective mechanism to reduce fish terrestrial relative, the red-backed predation, it means that salamanders salamander ( Plethodon cinereus ), the are racing the clock. The race begins spotted is hard to overlook. A monster with the salamanders reaching these by comparison, stretching upwards pools where the males place packets of Photo by Jonathan Twining of seven inches or more, the spotted sperm (spermatophores) on submerged possesses a striking black background surfaces followed by females who take through much the sequence but during punctuated with large yellow dots. up the spermatophores. The activity can the fall, instead of the spring and The spotted has several notable close get frenzied with these breeding con- summer months. This strategy has its relatives all distinguished by a similar gresses, as they are known, sometimes advantages resulting in an advanced lifestyle. Commonly known as the mole involving hundreds of individuals. state of growth for marbled larvae that salamanders in recognition of their The female then deposits the fertilized overwinter in these pools allowing them below ground (or fossorial) existence, eggs in masses that can contain varying to prey on their newly hatched relatives members of the family Ambystomatidae numbers of individual eggs depend- in the spring. are unique to North America and are ing upon the species. These egg masses Like amphibians globally, our own represented by a single genus compris- can readily be distinguished from most populations are at risk. Although spot- ing some 32 currently recognized spe- other amphibian species as they have a ted salamander populations are rela- cies. However, only three of these are smooth appearance due to a gelatinous tively secure, the blue-spotted is listed known to inhabit the Blue Hills. Along cover. The masses may also take on a as a species of Special Concern by the with the aforementioned spotted sala- green coloration due to the growth of state of Massachusetts. The marbled mander, which is the most common of symbiotic algae that may both pro- is at even greater risk and is currently our local mole salamanders, the blue- vide oxygen and camouflage for the listed as Threatened by the state. This spotted (A. laterale ) and the marbled developing eggs. Incubation typically greater level of endangerment may, in (A. opacum ) may also be found in the lasts a month or so with the larvae part, reflect the fact that our state is at Reservation. The blue-spotted is distin- undergoing a rapid metamorphosis in the northern limit of its natural geo- guished by possessing small blue spots which the external gills of their aquatic graphic range. However, the range of or flecks on a dark background, an stage give rise to the features needed threats to all of these critters is daunt- appearance reminiscent of vintage blue for their terrestrial futures as mature ing. Leading the list is unquestionably speckled enamelware. The marbled, as salamanders. They then usually emerge habitat loss, degradation and fragmen- its name suggests is distinguished by from these drying pools during the tation. Pollution including road runoff having a stockier build with grey or summer months and then disperse to and acid precipitation, coupled with white bands on a black background. surrounding upland habitats. It should road kill as they migrate across roads However, it’s that party once a year be noted that while this scenario is true on their way to breeding pools, also that really sets these mole salamanders for both the blue-spotted and spotted apart. With the first warm rains of early salamanders, their marbled cousins go (continued on page 4) spring (typically late March through 2 Calendar of Events Pull and post this section of the Friends of the Blue Hills Newsletter and join us for some exciting events in the Blue Hills Reservation! Spring 2012 ▲ FBH sponsored event Blue Hills Bird Walk FBH joint walk with Brookline Bird Club. Several short hikes, each about one mile, Sunday, April 1, 8:00 am the first of which is steep, to look for early spring migrants. Beginners are welcome. Bring binoculars and bird book. 4.5 hours. Meet at the small parking lot on Chicka- tawbut Road just off Randolph Ave. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585. ▲ DCR Trailwatch Mountain Here’s your chance to perfect your pedal power. Join the DCR Trailwatch volunteers Bike Rides on a series of introductory rides to acquaint you with the biking trails of the Blue Saturday, April 7, 9:00 am and Hills as we kick off the biking season. Bring your own bike. Helmet required. Eye Sunday, May 5, 9:00 am protection and gloves recommended. Meet at the Houghton’s Pond main lot. Regis- tration required: 617-698-1802. Space is limited. Park Serve Day Lend a hand for DCR Park Serve Day. Join us to spruce up the trails. Includes a hike Saturday, April 21, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm to the work sites. Wear long pants and gloves. Tools, water, snacks and lunch provided.