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What are vernal pools?



They are important habitats for many different animals

Vernal pools and why they are so important


As the landscape shifts from winter’s stillness to spring’s first stirrings, the woods begin revealing small surprises. One of the earliest—and easiest to miss—is a fleeting kind of wetland that appears only for a short time each year. These quiet pockets of water play an outsized role in the forest’s spring awakening.

As spring slowly approaches, you may begin to see small wetlands form in areas that are typically dry throughout most of the year—these are vernal pools. Sometimes called ephemeral because it may hold water for only a portion of each year, a vernal pool forms in forested areas as snow melts and spring rain begins; it usually dries up once warmer summer months arrive. 


Vernal pools are important habitats for many different animals, including a variety of frogs and salamanders, fingernail clams, and fairy shrimp. Many insects also use vernal pools as their breeding grounds, a wise choice to give their young a better chance of survival since vernal pools are not suitable habitats for fish, which are the main predators of invertebrates.

Vernal pools can be found in many places, including some of the Midwestern states, the Mid-Atlantic region, and in the Northeast. In New York State, the greatest concentration is in the Hudson Valley. Depending on your region, March and April are generally the best months to view vernal pools.

A quick note for readers

Vernal pools are delicate places, supporting eggs, larvae, and early-season wildlife that can be easily disturbed. A little care goes a long way in protecting these habitats:

  • Stay on established trails when possible
  • Avoid stepping directly into pools—eggs and larvae are often just below the surface
  • Visit at dusk on warm, rainy spring nights to hear or see amphibian movement
  • Observe from the edges so the next family who visits gets to enjoy the same spring magic
Exploring vernal pools is one of spring’s quiet joys, and with a little care, these small habitats can continue supporting the wildlife that depends on them year after year.

To learn more about vernal pools, read the latest Conservationist for Kids (PDF) in the February/March issue of Conservationist.



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