Learn about reptiles and amphibians April 13

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 4, 2013

Children and adults who are fascinated by reptiles and amphibians will have an opportunity to learn about North Carolina’s cold-blooded creatures on Saturday, April 13, on the Catawba College campus.
The Center for the Environment will host “Reptiles and Amphibians — Up Close and Personal” from 2-5 p.m. Special activities will include an exhibition of native snakes and an opportunity to look for reptiles and amphibians on the Fred Stanback Jr. Ecological Preserve adjacent to the Center building.
Kyra Thurow of the Center’s Green Education Outreach team said that members want to raise young students’ appreciation for reptiles and amphibians, change the negative view many people have about snakes and other reptiles and “talk about how humans have impacted these populations and what we can do to change that.”
Dr. Amanda Chunco, wildlife ecologist and assistant professor of Environmental Studies at Elon University, will speak on Hybridization in Amphibians as a Conservation Issue at 5:30 p.m. in the Center for the Environment facility. Her area of expertise centers on field studies with geographic models to aid the conservation of rare and endangered species.
The event is free, but registration is required. Individuals may register at CenterForTheEnvironment.org or call 704-637-4727.