Kelly:

The ponds at 18944 40th Pl in LFP were (still are?) stream-fed year-round.
The site (according to topos I've looked at) is at about 300'-350' elev.,
fairly hilly (and near what we called as kids Lang's Hill and the Nike Site,
over 500' elev) and the back yard was fairly steep grade hillside. I should
also note that by the time I was digging out the pond with the shovel, it
had been reduced to a stream running atop mud (sediment infill). The
individuals were definitely terrestrial and left a memorable impression; we
all laughed about the medical care we gave the injured one (it was sort of a
diaper that fit around the waist and legs), but it survived and we later
found it near the stream after release.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com


>From: "Kelly McAllister" <mcallisters4 at comcast.net>
>To: "Scott Atkinson"
><scottratkinson at hotmail.com>,<tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Subject: Re: Seattle vertebrates
>Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 17:34:46 -0700
>
>Scott,
>
>The Pacific Giant Salamander occurrence is pretty significant, especially
>in a pond since they are normally in medium to high gradient streams. There
>are very few records from near sea level but, interestingly, those that
>exist are in the area you are talking about (as well as Willapa Bay). Most
>populations are in the foothills and mountains where steeper gradient
>streams are found. Maybe you lived near some small creeks in steep-sided
>ravines? The ones you found were terrestrial forms, I presume?
>
>Kelly McAllister
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Atkinson"
><scottratkinson at hotmail.com>
>To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 12:53 PM
>Subject: [Tweeters] Subject: Re: Seattle vertebrates
>
>
>>Tweeters:
>>
>>Don't know if present-day Shoreline fits the bill of within Seattle, and
>>I'm a bit past the last ten year limit, but here goes. I grew up in Lake
>>Forest Park and had occasion to make special efforts to find reptiles and
>>amphibians, while also fishing a number of the lesser-known creeks across
>>what is now called Shoreline, during the 1970s. For Allyn Weak's list, I
>>found all but W. Rough-skinned Newt (although locally abundant in some
>>lakes not far away) and W. Red-backed Salamander. Ensatina was the most
>>common salamander then, pretty regular in rotting firewood piles (a
>>preferred site) or under various debris in the forest. I remember finding
>>Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile) at several sites in early
>>spring. Once I was digging out the sediment buildup in one of the ponds
>>we had at 18944 40th Place, and ended up accidentally injuring one of two
>>huge (10"-12" long) Pacific Giant Salamanders (Dicamptodon ensatus)
>>apparently accessing the muck via subterranean burrows. We nursed the one
>>back to health before releasing.
>>
>>I found it difficult to find N. Alligator Lizards, but do recall that
>>there were a couple sites near Shoreline CC and St. Luke's School. I
>>never saw W. Fence Swift in the area, only recalling them from the s. end
>>of the Toandos Peninsula near Quilcene. Among the mammalia, the only
>>notable species I recall from Lake Forest Park was a N. Flying Squirrel
>>that the cat brought in one evening; after release it scaled a tree and
>>glided off.
>>
>>Scott Atkinson
>>Lake Stevens
>>mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com
>>
>>
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>>Tweeters at u.washington.edu
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>>
>
>