Spring has sprung which means it’s the perfect time to search for snakes. Snakes are generally secretive animals that are beneficial predators of rodents and other animals humans consider pests. Eastern Nebraska is home to many interesting snake species with different life histories and techniques to survive. In this class you will learn about the diversity of snakes that can be found in our eastern woodlands and tallgrass prairie habitats and learn about the practice of herping (searching for reptiles and amphibians). You will also learn about and gain experience with the iNaturalist app.

The Snake Saunter class will start with an introduction to our local snakes in the Schramm Education Center Classroom. After about half an hour, we’ll head outside on a leisurely walk to enjoy herping on a spring morning. We will check coverboards and search for snakes along the forest-edge and prairie habitats and document any snakes we find using the iNaturalist app. The data we collect will contribute to the Biodiversity in State Parks initiative, which aims to document the plant and animal species living in our state parks.

There is no cost to participate in this class, but please register in advance: https://arcg.is/r84Hz1. All ages are welcome, but this class is recommended for ages 8+. This class is supported by the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund. Contact Jennifer Ruyle, Outdoor Education Specialist, with questions: Jennifer.ruyle@nebraska.gov or 402-332-5022.