By the Book

By Sandy Long

‘The Reptiles and Amphibians
of the Poconos and
Northeastern Pennsylvania’

If you have been fortunate enough to experience John Serrao’s wealth of natural world knowledge first-hand at one of his public presentations, you’ll know just what I’m talking about when I say that his latest book, like his lectures, is a real winner. “The Reptiles and Amphibians of the Poconos and Northeastern Pennsylvania (hereafter referred to as “R & A”), is the first book in what will eventually be a series of nature guides dedicated to the Pocono region. “R & A” presents the 21 reptiles and 21 amphibians known to inhabit “the woods, meadows, wetlands and waters” of northeastern Pennsylvania and the Delaware River Valley of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

A professional naturalist for more than 25 years, Serrao is the author of three other natural history books. What makes this book especially useful is the fact that it includes only those species that share this region we call home. I own several guidebooks dedicated to creatures and plants of the northeast United States, forcing me to plow through many specimens I will never experience here. I’m keenly interested in what’s crawling around my yard, what I encounter on a hike through the forest, what is making that ratchety rasp I hear while weeding my garden. More times than not, Serrao’s book has the answers.

Factual information is an important tool in eliminating misconceptions and reducing fear, important points to ponder as we learn to co-exist with the creatures whose habitat we invade when we build a home, lay a road, even go for a hike. Snakes, for example, are so misunderstood that many are killed out of ignorance and fear. Most of the 14 types of snakes found in our region are not venomous. In fact, only the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake are venomous, though both are considered generally non-aggressive. Still, it is reassuring to have such a guidebook on hand to help put your mind at ease when you uncover that four-foot-long milk snake in your woodpile. According to “R & A,” this snake can vibrate its tail when cornered, so you might confuse it for a rattlesnake when, in reality, its bite is “painless and harmless.” Either way, it’s doing its part to keep the populations of mice, voles, shrews and moles down, so it’s a good snake to have around. Beautiful, too.

The same can be said of the large, full-color photos in the book. Serrao is also a professional photographer, whose work has appeared in hundreds of magazines, books, calendars and Audubon Field Guides. The detailed photos are given more than half of each page for the reader’s close-up examination. The remainder of the space lists identifying features, places of occurrence, habitat preferences, breeding and voice information and other comments of special interest. For example, were you aware that three of our regional frogs—the wood frog, spring peeper and gray tree frog—spend the winter in a frozen state just below the forest’s leaf litter?

You’ll find all sorts of interesting stuff to share with family and friends as you spend time with this accessible guide. It’s a great resource for children, too. I purchased my copy at a Serrao presentation where he showed us live specimens of the creatures depicted in the book. The children present, ranging in age from toddlers to teens, were intensely interested in examining the creatures Serrao had brought along. Holding aloft a handful of small undulating snakes, his fist like a miniature Medusa’s head, even the adults were riveted to the litany of information Serrao offered.

A copy of “R & A” will go a long way toward increasing your knowledge of the creatures whose habitat we share. It’s like having John Serrao in your living room.

“R & A” is available at area bookstores, or through John Serrao, at 2113 Rosemont Drive, Tobyhanna, PA 18466. In addition, the author will lead a weekend-long exploration of four Pocono habitats and the species residing therein on September 7 through 9. Call Lacawac Sanctuary at 570/689-9494 for more information.