METHODS AND MATERIALS 



Historic locations of amphibians and reptiles were recorded from the literature (see 

 Bibliography) and museum specimen records; however, museum records only included Montana, 

 not South Dakota. Records were received from over 20 major museums in North America. 

 Location and other information was then entered into a database and digitized. Records from the 

 Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Berkeley, California, have not yet been received. 



Survey sites were chosen based on three criteria: 1) High priority areas as determined by the 

 CNF; 2) Location of streams, seeps and wetlands on topographic maps; and 3) accessibility of 

 the wetlands by roads or hiking trails. Based on the above. 2-6 sites were chosen daily for 

 surveys. Surveys were done in the following areas: Chalk Buttes. Ekalaka Hills, Long Pines, 

 North Cave Hills. South Cave Hills, and Slim Buttes. Ten minutes - 2.5 hours were spent at each 

 site, depending upon the size of the area and what was found. Initially, the entire shoreline, or a 

 major part thereof, was searched by walking slowly along the edge and up into the surrounding 

 vegetation, including rolling over rocks and logs. At regular intervals, the aquatic habitat was 

 sampled for tadpoles or larvae using dipnets. If the initial sampling showed amphibian/reptile 

 species present, further effort was expended in order to get some idea of abundance and 

 distribution. 



An attempt was made to capture at least the first few individuals of a species seen at a survey 

 site. The species name was recorded along with developmental stage and sex (if possible); the 

 animals were then released. Representative samples of the more common species in an area were 

 preserved for permanent museum records and are deposited at the Idaho State University 

 Museum. Water temperature, air temperature, and a general description of the area were 

 recorded. Standard data sheets used during this project are given in Appendix 1; the amphibian 

 survey data sheet was developed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is used extensively by a 

 variety of researchers in the western U.S. Much site-specific data was gathered during these 

 surveys; not all data has been analyzed or is presented in this report, but is available from the 

 Montana Natural Heritage Program. 



