KHS - Kentucky Herpetological Society

06/15/2026

06/12/2026

We love our summer camp visits!! Camp 2/4 at The Parklands of Floyds Fork was a blast today!! We wrapped up the week with some awesome campers 🐍🐸🦎🐢 We love partnering with The Parklands - check out their page for a full summer of awesome, family friendly activities 💚

06/11/2026

KY H**p Educators had an awesome morning with campers and staff at the Louisville Nature Center !! Thanks for having us 💚 we always enjoy our events with these great folks! 🐢🦎🐸🐍

06/01/2026

KY H**p educators are excited to kick off summer camp season!! We started today with a great afternoon with campers at the Waterfront Botanical Gardens ! 🐢🐍🦎🐸

05/21/2026

The Kentucky H**petological Society had a fun morning at the Parklands donor luncheon at The Galt House! We love working with the Parklands, they host wonderful family friendly events year round. We are looking forward to another fun summer at their day camps! 💚🐍🐢🦎

05/15/2026

🐢 Endangered Species Day — Protecting Kentucky’s Rarest Wildlife
Today we honor the species fighting for survival in Kentucky’s forests, rivers, wetlands, and grasslands — and the people working to protect them.

🌿 Kentucky’s at‑Risk Reptiles & Amphibians
Our state is home to several species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern, including:
Alligator Snapping Turtle — endangered
Eastern Hellbender — endangered
Cumberland Slider — threatened
Northern Map Turtle — special concern
Cave Salamanders & Stream Salamanders — vulnerable to water quality decline
Many frog and toad species — increasingly impacted by habitat fragmentation and disease

These animals are indicators of ecosystem health. When they disappear, it’s a warning that our waterways, forests, and wetlands are in trouble too.

⚠️ What’s Driving the Decline?
Kentucky’s endangered species face multiple overlapping threats:
Habitat loss from development, agriculture, and stream modification
Pollution and runoff that degrade water quality
Dams and channelization altering natural river flow
Illegal collection for the pet trade
Climate change shifting breeding cycles and water levels
Disease, including Chytrid Fungus and Ranavirus

For long‑lived species like the alligator snapper, even small losses can take decades to recover.

💚 How Kentuckians Can Help
Protect and restore rivers, wetlands, and riparian forests
Reduce pesticide and herbicide use that washes into waterways
Never remove turtles, snakes, or salamanders from the wild
Report sightings of rare species to conservation agencies
Support organizations working to protect native wildlife
Share accurate information — conservation starts with education

05/11/2026

CHANGED! DUE TO THE WEATHER FORCAST LISTED IN THE COMMENTS, WE ARE MOVING THIS MEETING TO NEXT WEEKEND 5/23/26.

Meeting May 16, 2026 - (NOW: 5/23/26)
Time: 12:00pm
H**p Trip!

Location: Clark State Forest
GPS: Clark SF Horse Trails
(38.5802606, -85.8128236)

This h**p trip is taking place at The Clark State Forest. Established in 1903, it’s the first state forest in Indiana.

We will be hiking up to Shaw Lake (approximately 1 mile) and h**ping through there!

Video below for reference on parking location.
Turn off US-31 onto Brownstown Rd which is right after the main gate, follow that back for about 1.5 mile, the parking will be on the right.
Entry is free.
H**p rules in comments.

05/05/2026

National Teacher Day — Thank You, Educators!
Today we celebrate the people who make curiosity contagious — the educators who turn fear into fascination and questions into conservation.

🦎 Why Educators Matter to KHS
Every myth corrected, every student inspired, every parent who learns that snakes aren’t slimy — that’s education in action.
Our volunteers help build understanding that protects wildlife long after the lesson ends.

They’re the reason someone learns that:
Frogs are indicators of clean water.
Turtles are living barometers of habitat health.
Snakes keep rodent populations balanced.
Lizards and salamanders are part of Kentucky’s natural heritage.

🌿 To Our Educators
Thank you for bringing science, empathy, and wonder to the public.
Thank you for standing in front of classrooms, booths, and habitats to share knowledge that changes minds.
And thank you for helping the next generation see that conservation starts with understanding.

Happy National Teacher Day from the Kentucky H**petological Society!

04/28/2026

🐸Frogs are more than spring’s soundtrack — they’re vital engineers of Kentucky’s ecosystems. From the Cope’s Gray Treefrog calling from backyard trees to the Cricket Frog darting along pond edges, these amphibians help keep our wetlands, forests, and waterways healthy.

🌿 Why Frogs Matter
Natural pest control: Frogs consume thousands of insects, including mosquitoes and crop pests.

Ecosystem indicators: Their sensitive skin absorbs water and chemicals directly, making them early warning systems for pollution and habitat decline.

Food web anchors: Tadpoles recycle nutrients in ponds, and adult frogs feed birds, snakes, turtles, and mammals.

Biodiversity builders: Each species — from Spring Peepers to Bullfrogs, American Toads, and Fowler’s Toads — fills a unique ecological niche.

⚠️ Threats They Face
Kentucky’s frogs are under pressure from:

Habitat loss — draining wetlands, filling vernal pools, and clearing forest edges.

Pollution and runoff — pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers contaminate breeding sites and poison amphibians directly.

Disease — chytrid fungus and ranavirus spread quickly in disturbed habitats.

Road mortality — early spring migrations often cross busy roads during warm rains.

Climate change — shifting rainfall patterns alter breeding cycles and pool formation.

💧 How You Can Help
-Protect and restore vernal pools and wetlands.
-Reduce or eliminate yard chemicals — frogs absorb toxins through their skin.
-Keep native vegetation around ponds and streams.
-Drive carefully on warm, rainy nights in spring.
-Support local conservation groups and citizen science projects monitoring amphibians.
-Teach others that frogs aren’t pests — they’re partners in keeping Kentucky wild.

04/25/2026

KHS had a great time this morning along Floyd's Fork! We saw a few h**ps and did some good along the way, picking up litter. We encourage everyone to enjoy our wild spaces and respect wildlife of all sizes 💚🐍🐢🦎🐸