O’Neall Ecological Reserve

The O’Neall Ecological Reserve was donated to the Department of Biological Sciences by Robin O’Neall. This 100 acre site, located along the Portneuf River between McCammon and Inkom, contains riparian areas along the river and upland areas on lava benches. Riparian areas include several permanent ponds that are used as nesting sites by a variety of bird species. This site has been used by faculty, graduate students, and classes for studies of magpie behavior, amphibians, vegetation, and insects.

An aerial image of the O’Neall Reserve is below. The parallel lines on the left (west) side of the image are Interstate 15. The Union Pacific railroad tracks are the next linear feature to the right, curving east of due north in the upper half of the image. The Portneuf River is the dark line immediately to the right (east) of the railroad tracks. Some of the old oxbows that were cut off by the railroad are visible to the left of the railroad tracks in the lower half of the image.

Aerial image of O'Neall Reserve

Species Found at the O’Neall Ecological Reserve

Amphibians and reptiles found at the reserve.

Sagebrush Lizard

Common Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Scientific Name

Northern leopard frog..............................Rana pipiens
Boreal chorus frog...................................Pseudacris maculata
Tiger salamander.....................................Ambystoma tigrinum
Western Terrestrial Garter snake.............Thamnophis elegans
Common Garter snake............................Thamnophis sirtalis.
Gopher snake.........................................Pituophus catenifer
Sagebrush lizard......................................Sceloporus graciosus
Western skink.........................................Eumeces skiltonianus

At least 15 species of odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are found at the reserve.

Pacific Forktail Damselflies

Common Name Scientific Name

Variable darner..............................Aeshna interrupta
Common green darner...................Anax junius
Western pondhawk........................Erythemis collocata
Dot-tailed whiteface......................Leucorrhinia intacta
Eight-spotted skimmer...................Libellula forensis
Common Whitetail........................L. lydia
Twelve-spotted skimmer................L. pulchella
Four-spotted skimmer...................L. quadrimaculata
Variegated meadowhawk...............Sympetrum corruptum
Plains clubtail................................Gomphus externus
Pale snaketail................................Enallagma boreale
Boreal bluet...................................E. carunculatum
Tule bluet............................................Ischnura cervula
Pacific forktail.....................................I. perparva
Western forktail...................................Lestes dryas
Emerald spreadwing............................Lestes elatus

For more information about these and other amphibians/reptiles and dragonflies/damselflies of Idaho (including pictures and a visual key),
visit the Digital Atlas of Idaho webpage.