Vernal pools are seasonal bodies of water that provide critical breeding habitat for amphibians and insects. These pools cycle through wet, flowering, and dry phases, supporting a diverse range of ...

You may walk by these watery oases each spring and never know the hundreds of lives inside—from tadpoles to fairy shrimp. Vernal pools fill with spring rain or melting snow and dry out by late summer.

When the Northwoods begin to thaw, whimsical creatures like fairy shrimp and spotted salamanders quietly come to life in Michigan’s vernal pools. It’s on us to keep it that way. The water is still—a ...

Despite the vital role vernal pools play in woodland ecosystems, these temporary bodies of water and the many organisms that depend on them for survival may not be getting the protection they need.