FYI

-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- 
From: "Dave Wilson" <> 
To: <> 
Subject: Herp Training Friday 
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:06:48 +0000 


Herp training March 31 

To prepare for the sixth annual Great Worcester Herp Search, the Coastal 
Bays Program and Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences will be holding a 
reptile and amphibian identification training session at Salisbury 
University in Henson Hall Room 263, Friday, March 31 at 9 a.m. 
The session will feature live turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders 
and 
explain ways to identify them in the wild. The training is free to the 
public and will be held to prepare for the Great Worcester Herp Search May 
13 when volunteers will scour Worcester County with guides to document what’ 
s left of Worcester’s reptile and amphibian populations. 
The training is for ages 12 years and up; however, interested parties of 
any age can meet at room 263 at 1 p.m. for the afternoon field search. 
Volunteers may participate in the May 13 search regardless of whether they 
attend the training session and regardless of age. Those who attended 
previous year’s trainings are asked to forego the March 31 morning session 
due to space constraints. 
Last year 145 reptiles and amphibians representing 23 species were the 
result of the search held in northern Worcester County. Unusual finds 
included a kingsnake, broad-headed skink, and red-bellied watersnake. 
In Worcester, there are approximately 19 species of snakes, 15 species 
of 
frogs and toads, eight species of salamanders, 13 species of turtles, and 
four species of lizards. Worcester County and the coastal bays watershed 
have more reptile species than any other county in Maryland. 
Sponsored by Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences, Salisbury Zoo, 
Assateague Coastal Trust, Salisbury University, the Maryland Department of 
Natural Resources, and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, the Herp Search 
will provide data to help scientists better understand population trends in 
this important group of vertebrates. 
For the training, DNR Wildlife and Heritage biologist Scott Smith will 
review native amphibians from 9-10 a.m. followed by Salisbury University’s 
Dr. Bill Grogan who will describe reptiles from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. After 
lunch, groups will depart to outdoor sites for field training. The training 
will end at 4 p.m. Hip waders, boots, or throw-away shoes are recommended. 
To view the results of previous year’s searches go to 
www.delmarvalite.org. 
For more information call 410-213-2297. 
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