Opportunistic Herpetology in the Classroom

Another really neat thing about autumn in Oklahoma is that we have an abundance of herpetological activity. Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians; that is what I specialize in. The cooler, more moist conditions trigger animals to move in preparation for winter. They are feeding and migrating; some salamanders and toads are even breeding this time of year. This week we have observed several reptiles and amphibians including: American Toad (Bufo americanus), Green Tree Frog (Hyla cineria), Common Snapping Turtle (Celidra srpentina), Ornate Box Turtle (Terapene ornata), Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), and Water Snakes (Nerodia) eggs.

Many of these animals can be easily observed in the classroom with some basic training and safety precautions. Animals can often then be released back at the point of capture. There are certain permits that are required to hold these animals in captivity. If you would like more information on Oklahoma Herpetology you may contact me. I will try to post some more tidbits in ZooBlog along the way- time permitting.