ABSTRACT 



During 1995 and 1998, a total of 1 10 site surveys for amphibians and reptiles were conducted by 

 Montana Natural Heritage Program biologists in the Bureau of Land Management Miles City 

 District (the former Billings, Big Dry and Powder River Resource Areas) in eastern Montana. 

 During the 1998 contract period, 102 site surveys were conducted (8 of these were nocturnal 

 roadside call surveys, 94 were standard surveys) during April to July All surveys were conducted 

 by one individual. Surveys took from 5 to 180 minutes (mean = 58.5 min) and consisted of a 

 thorough search of the wetland perimeter in combination with netting of near shore aquatic 

 habitats for adults, eggs, larvae, and tadpoles Sampling was done by hand and dipnet At seeps, 

 rocks and logs were overturned in and near wet areas to expose hidden individuals In addition to 

 site surveys, observations of road kills were recorded, as were fortuitous sightings by those 

 conducting the surveys or other reliable individuals. 



Ten species (6 amphibian and 4 reptile) were detected within the Miles City District area during 

 1998 site surveys. Species included: Tiger Salamander (Amhystoma tigrmum), Woodhouse's 

 Toad {Bufo wuodhousii). Great Plains Toad {Bufo cogna(us). Western Chorus Frog {Pseudacris 

 triseriata). Plains Spadefoot {Spea bombifrons). Northern Leopard Frog {Rana pipiens). Painted 

 Turtle {Chrysemys picta). Racer {Coluber constrictor). Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix), 

 and Common Garter Snake (Tfiamnophis sirtalis). Four reptile species encountered in 1998 other 

 than on site surveys include Smooth Green Snake (Liochlorophis vernalis). Gopher Snake 

 {Fituophis catemfer). Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus), and Western Rattlesnake 

 (Crotalus viridis). In addition. Short-homed Lizard {Phrynosoma hernandezi). Sagebrush Lizard 

 {Sceloporiis graciosus), and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake {lliamnophis elegans) were 

 reported from the Miles City District by other observers in 1998. In 1995, 3 species were 

 detected during 8 site surveys in Carbon County: Tiger Salamander, Western Chorus Frog, and 

 Plains Spadefoot. Short-horned Lizard, Sagebrush Lizard, Gopher Snake, and Western 

 Rattlesnake were also encountered, but not during surveys. 



Of the 1998 surveys, 95. 1% had one or more amphibian or reptile species present. Western 

 Chorus Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, and Plains Garter Snake were the most frequently 

 encountered species in 1998, being recorded on 67.6%, 61.7%, and 22.3%, respectively, of the 

 site surveys. Species with records from the Miles City District area, but not encountered during 

 the 1995 and 1998 surveys, include Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Common Snapping Turtle 

 (Che/ydra serpentina). Spiny Softshell (I rionys spini/erns), and Milk Snake (Lampropeltis 

 tnangulum). 



Western Toad {Bufo boreas), Columbia Spotted Frog {Rana luteiventris), and Rubber Boa 

 {Charina hottae), all with montane affinities, have been documented but are marginal to the Miles 

 City District in the west. The Canadian Toad {Bufo hemiophrys), although recorded from the 

 Miles City District area in 1966, is now considered historical (not reported in >30 years). Wood 

 Frog {Rana sylvatica) might be documented eventually from the Miles City District area in the 

 Big Horn Mountains of Big Horn County. 



