Big Night 2013

Last night was our 3rd year to go on Big Night in Small Town, ME.  

 The weather conditions apparently fit:  in the 40's and enough rain to make the streets wet. The email was sent out at 12:40, but I didn't see it until after 5.  That's when I scrambled around to contact our friends (one family that I met at my first Big Night went to our church, and she invited me...needless to say, she is one of my favorite people!) to give them the heads-up.  Unfortunately, we never really know when Big Night is, because the conditions have to be 'just right'...

So after wrangling our family together, we dashed out the door to grab a quick bite at McDonalds and meet our friend there.  After a 'fast eat' we drove to the LEA...only to see no-one there.  UGH!  Through a quick email, I learned that I misread the email (sorry again Serena!) and plenty time to wait...

After a while, people started showing up and filling up the small LEA room.  We received our instructions and then...we were off!

I was skeptical because I didn't think that it had rained enough, but apparently, the LEA staff knows what they are doing!

So many Spring Peepers were found, a handful (pun intended?) of Salamanders, a slug (that B nearly stepped on in front of the LEA leader...), and a 4-toed salamander (told that they were rare but several have a ton in their home area).  A very fruitful night!

I helped cross 3 peepers (2 found by Cary and B--who ADORED the frogs!).  2 peepers apparently thought I was too sweet to let go, though, and one almost unwillingly came home with me because he jumped onto me and I couldn't find him...thankfully he jumped on my galoshes and not inside!

I also found a salamander on his way onto the road, so with the help of Nancy, I got him across.  Cary and B were too far ahead because I was hoping to get B to carry him over, but that's okay.  We'll have the chance to do it again!

On the way home, there were several peepers on the road, hopefully Cary avoided.  However, he slammed his foot on the brakes (not literally!) when he found this guy:

I got out of the car and told him that he was lucky that I knew what I was doing (ha!) and picked him up and carried him across the road to safety.  Though he had a great chance of making it across himself, it was not worth trying...he's so purdy!

The hardest part of last night was that my dad was not here to participate...however, he'll be here soon, and the weather looks perfect AGAIN, so we might be going out to save more peepers, frogs, and salamanders!!!