Flora & Fauna — Reptiles & Amphibians

Our 894 acres offer excellent habitat for snakes, turtles, frogs, newts, toads and salamanders. Riparian habitats, rocky outcrops, seeps, historic structures, vernal pools, mulch piles and two fishless ponds are among the best environments.

In March of 2004, we found out that we have Marbled salamander here, a county record for Loudoun. Thanks to Loudoun county high school students and Mike Hayslett of the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, they found 11 larvae. Mike says this find represents a county record for Loudoun (i.e., the first formally documented site of this species in the county) and a surprising find, being located along the Blue Ridge scarp versus the eastern end of the county, where more are expected. Another unexpected find was the Jefferson salamander. The discovery of this population represents the third known site for the county.