Wildlife wonders right at home

ALLENTOWN - Naturalist John Becker carefully turned over a rotting log along a trail in Allentown's South Mountain Reservoir and called out, "I found some."

Four curious children craned their necks as the Wildlands Conservancy herpetologist lifted three small red-backed salamanders from the leafy debris into his hand.

After Sarah Steirer, 11, of Center Valley volunteered to hold one of the tiny amphibians, it tried to escape up her arm causing her to squeal, "No, not up my sleeve."

The salamander is just one of the many types of wildlife that can be found throughout Allentown's 38 parks, and the Wildlands Conservancy of Emmaus is hoping its new Wild in the Parks programs will introduce more people to the wonders of the city's metro-wilderness.

The nonprofit agency decided to start the program when its members realized many Lehigh Valley residents were unaware of Allentown's 1,600 acres of parkland and 25 miles of nature trails, explained Maureen Ruhe, conservancy director of environmental education.

"We have used Canal Park in Allentown as a base for our bike and boat programs in the past, and we discovered a lot of people didn't even know the park existed," said Ruhe. "It became our mission to let people know we have spectacular parks in Allentown."

Once a month, conservancy naturalists lead a nature walk through a different Allentown park to highlight the array of animals and plants living in that park.

"It is amazing there is so much biological diversity within Allentown's border," said Ruhe. "People think they have to go to the Poconos to see wildlife, but it's right within the city limits."

During the recent program at South Mountain Reservoir - a park that has several quarries filled with water that are home to fish, amphibians and waterfowl - Becker led a group through the park's winding trails in search of frogs and salamanders.

As the rat-tat-tat of a pileated woodpecker echoed across the water, Becker used a net to try to catch a big bullfrog that had been sunning on the edge of the pond. Instead, he caught a bullfrog tadpole, which the group examined before Jacob Steirer, 10, released it into the water.

"It was really slimy," the Center Valley boy said.

His father, Steve Steirer, signed his two children up for the program so they could learn about the environment.

"Now we know where to look," he said, as the family spotted a female mallard duck that was using leaf debris along the pond edge as camouflage for her nest, while her mate swam nearby.

"With this program they can get outside and get some education instead of playing Xbox," Steirer said.

Patty McNamara of Allentown brought her son Jack, 7, because he likes taking hikes. It was the family's first time in the wooded park.

"I'd never been here before," she said. "This is huge. It's really neat."

McNamara, who also got to hold a salamander, said she was surprised the amphibian wasn't slimy and it tickled when it wriggled in her hand.

Becker said the park is home to a variety of frogs, toads, salamanders and turtles, including red-eared sliders, a nonnative species often kept as a pet, that has and has naturalized over time. As he talked, two whitetail deer crashed through the brush.

Besides a wide variety of amphibians and birds, the Allentown park system is home to deer, opossum, raccoons, skunks and even foxes, which have been seen in Trexler Park, Ruhe said.

"In the middle of Allentown, we have fox," she said. "I think that's pretty cool."