Imagine the center of a metropolitan area with pockets and ribbons of forests, grasslands, and wetlands with habitat for species such as spotted salamander and wood frogs. If you live in Washington, DC then perhaps it is not hard to imagine. That is what DDOE's wildlife biologists and volunteers are finding as they collect baseline data during their herpetological surveys. The "herp" surveys use a variety of techniques to assess populations, including egg mass surveys, dip netting surveys, frog call surveys, treefrog tube surveys, and basking turtle surveys. The information gained about the status and trend of several species of greatest conservation need is critical to determining conservation actions to restore the populations fo these species. This project also stimulates public interest in the slimy creatures that many people fear by allowing volunteers to participate in the surveys, explaining their place in ecosystems and the potential for wildlife to thrive in the urban setting. If you are intersted in volunteering for "herp" surveys in 2008, please contact Mary Pfaffko at 202-535-1739 or mary.pfaffko@dc.gov.