May has been a good month for amphibians in Connecticut.
In the middle of the month, via the signature of Gov. Ned Lamont, Pseudacris crucifer became the state amphibian. Pseudacris crucifer is a frog — more specifically a spring peeper. Spring peepers may be hard to see — they tend to blend with their surroundings, especially if the surroundings look like trees and ponds — but they make more than their fair share of noise during the spring mating season.
The little frog now joins a number of interests that have achieved the honor of state designation. There is a state fossil, for example, called Eubrontes giganteus, named in 1991, that shows the impression of three toes suggesting relation to Dilophosaurus, a dinosaur that waited 186 million years to be named Connecticut’s state dinosaur (2017).
The Dilophosaurus nod came thanks to the enthusiasm of school students, a not uncommon method of ascension. The Housatonic marble achieved its status as the state rock thanks to lobbying by Mansfield seventh-graders, noted a recent CTInsider account.
Another bill would trim the American robin’s status as state bird to co-state bird, for a month each year to share the honor with UConn’s legendary basketball star Sue Bird. Does anybody want to argue about that? It’s part of legislation awaiting Lamont’s signature.
The turtle, of which there are many varieties, could not be in the running when it came to the amphibian designation — because it isn’t an amphibian. Amphibians are often confused with reptiles, and vice versa, because they tend to look and act like one another and live in the same places. Yet those who know how to look know the differences. Amphibians have moist skins and reptiles do not, for example.
While there is a state mineral (almandine garnet) and a state fish (Alosa sapidissima, or American shad) there is as of press time no state reptile, so the turtle should not be counted out just yet.
The turtle got a boost recently from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which is spreading the word about turtle nesting season, typically running from this month through July, and the threat female turtles encounter as they cross state roadways to reach waterway areas where they can nest.
“If you encounter a turtle in the road, remember: ‘Give turtles a brake’ and help them cross if it is safe,” said Jenny Dickson, DEEP wildlife division director, in a statement.
While that’s good advice, it’s hard to imagine how some drivers in Connecticut, who can’t be bothered to slow down for humans in work zones, would press the brakes on behalf of a turtle – and designation as state reptile won’t improve that. In any case, DEEP advice for helping crossing turtles includes keeping them headed in the same direction they were heading. Also: “Only assist a turtle when it is safe to do so and never attempt to stop traffic.”
That’s right. Humans do come first. But we are not alone in this world and share it with some amazing creatures, fellow denizens that rely on us. School children learn that, and we shouldn’t forget it.
