eDNA Update – winter 2022 What was swimming at Squibnocket Pond Preserve?

On December 27, 2021, Jesse Ausubel along with Jake Lavalette, Chris Alley, Giuliana, Natalie, and Craig Barton, collected water samples to analyze for eDNA from Lily Pond, Witch Pond, the big Squibnocket Pond, Black Brook, and the Atlantic Ocean. Ausubel reports back that Lily Pond had a freshwater fish, dog, mallard, and goose, and bullfrog/ green frog detections. Witch Pond had a species of freshwater fish and eel (which can live in salt or fresh), rat, mouse, raccoon, and lots of Great Blue Heron and other birds. There were many herring-like menhaden and some red throated loon at Squibnocket. Black Brook had a lot of eel and rat. Not surprisingly, there were fish in the Ocean, including cod and conger eel. A bit of salmon was detected, but the source may be wastewate or it could be a stray salmon from the Gulf of Maine. There was also harbor or gray seal.