Allen County Master Naturalist Program: Amphibians and Reptiles

9/19/2023

People training to become Master Naturalists have varied interests. Some love wildflowers, trees, and aquatic plants. Many love birds, migration, nests, and everything avian. Still others love mammals. Those soft, sometimes cuddly creatures with expressive faces that we can relate to. However, many naturalists and the people they will serve have a fascination with things that crawl, slither, and seem very different from us, the amphibians, and reptiles.

Luckily, Dr. Bruce Kingsbury, professor, and director of the Environmental Resources Center at Purdue University Fort Wayne, is an expert on reptiles and amphibians. It also does not hurt that he is engaging, approachable, and funny. His lecture on reptiles and amphibians for the Allen County Indiana Master Naturalist program was memorable.

His lecture included photographs, live animals in the room, and artifacts. He talked about evolution and the relationship between the vertebrate: fish, amphibians, and reptiles. In the case of amphibians this included the metamorphosis that occurs, for most, when moving toward adulthood. He discussed the adaptation to the environment ectothermic animals need to make. He also talked about eggs and live births and the advantages of each.

The amphibians were important for Allen County Master Naturalists to know about. This is a part of the country that has several wetlands and to avoid predators amphibians need ephemeral pools which are found in wetland areas. Besides, salamanders catch people’s attention. Frogs are fun to identify, especially by the early spring songs. Dr. Kingsbury introduced the students to apps that help identify wildlife and frog songs.

Reptiles also grab people’s attention. Turtles basking on logs make us take our cameras or phones out. It is exciting to encounter the endangered turtles that live in Northeast Indiana. There are also several citizen science projects focused on turtles that Master Naturalists can participate in. This includes trapping, weighing, recording, and releasing the turtles. Dr. Kingsbury discussed the various snakes that live in Indiana. He discussed their contribution to the environment.

Between Dr. Kingsbury’s presentation, the field experiences in the wetlands, and the introduction of apps and field guides the new Master Naturalists were prepared to begin helping the public appreciate the contributions of amphibians and reptiles.