WEEK 3: Feb 13 - 19
Herpetology -- February 19, 2025
This Week's Topic
Herpetology - Unit 15 in your textbook. Complete the optional quiz HERE
Our Expert on Stage
Ryan Blankenship, Senior Wildlife Biologist
Read Ryan's BIO
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
*Make sure that you have recorded last week's attendance in VMS.
(If you missed class, contact your pod guides to schedule a make-up.)
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 02
Date: February 12, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Geology with Heather Fell
Look over Unit 15 in your textbook. Complete the optional quiz HERE
Watch the assigned videos with reflection questions
Texas Spiny Lizard (3:12)
Venomous Snakes of Texas (2:09)
The Lizard's Tale: Meet the Anole (6:23)
Frog Chorus (7:10)
Check out the herps that have been observed in Collin County HERE.
Optional Activities
The Amphibian Crisis (12:08)
The Adaptations of the Texas Rat Snake (5:09)
Texas Water Turtles (7:27)
Bring to Class
REMEMBER: Meet in Laughlin Hall in the main museum building
Reminders
Logging Hours
*Make sure that you have recorded last week's attendance in VMS
(If you missed class, contact your pod guides to schedule a make-up.)
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 02
Date: February 12, 2025
Hours: 3.0
Description: Geology with Heather Fell
TRY TO LOG YOUR HOURS BEFORE THE WEEKEND
If you participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: Cornell: Great Backyard Bird Count: TMN Field Research Hours
Date: February __, 2025 (Log each day that you participate separately)
Hours: log actual hours, including the time it takes to record your data
Description: List your location and describe what you did (ex: Frisco Commons Park; walked the prairie restoration area and wooded trails)
If you attended the webinar: "All About the Great Backyard Bird Count"
here's how to enter it in VMS:
Opportunity: AT: Other Pre-approved Training
Date: February 12, 2025 (or February 6, 2025)
Hours: 1.0
Description: webinar: All About the Great Backyard Bird Count
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
Advanced Training (AT) Opportunities
Saturday & Sunday, February 22 & 23: 1:00-3:00pm - FrogWatch Training Session at the Heard (2-day event), 4 hour AT, see event details on the calendar and sign up ($4 fee)
See Chapter Calendar for other approved VHAT opportunities
Other Herpetology Resources
TexasSnakeID.com - Mark Pyle's website
Snakes of the Blackland Prairie - website created by Don Walker, class of 2024
National Snakebite Support - Facebook group
Dallas-Ft. Worth Herpetological Society - website
Herps of Texas: Frogs and Toads of Texas (TPWD) - photos and calls
What Kind of Snake is This? - Facebook group
Texas Invasive Species Institute - website
Texas Snakes: A Field Guide - James Dixon, et al (2020)
Texas Amphibians: A Field Guide - Bob L. Tipton, et al (2012)
Texas Lizards: A Field Guide - Troy and Toby Hibbitts (2015)
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
Meet at the Heard Museum
Laughlin Hall
This is the main Museum building, and not the SRC.
Week THREE: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Class meets IN PERSON
WEEK THREE CLASS UPDATE
If Heather ever asks you a question, the answer should always be "volcano". 🙂
Notes about Last Week's To-Do List:
Field Trips - Four of you still need to sign up.
Snacks - Thank you for filling in the SUG. It looks like weeks 2-6 are in good shape, but there are lots of slots left later on. Fourteen of you still need to sign up for 2 classes.
Week Three: Feb 13 - Feb 19
Pre-Work:
The Herpetology class is always a favorite. To be ready, check out your pre-work prior to class.
Location Change:
Remember that we will meet in Laughlin Hall next week. Park in the museum parking lot and enter through the small door facing the parking lot.
GBBC:
If you have at least 15 minutes to spare this weekend, consider the Great Backyard Bird Count. It counts as VH!
VMS:
Log your class hours, plus any AT or VH you have accrued. Remember that you have tons of resources to help you. Check out the VMS Information page of the class website. Please log your hours before the weekend so we can check them for errors before the VHAT team starts their approval process on Sunday.
Absences:
If you know that you will be absent, let your pod Guides know. They will get you connected with our make-up coordinator, Rhonda Sanchez.
Until next week,
Nancy