Memorial Park Turtles // Rockport, Texas

For anyone with a love and appreciation for turtles, it's fair to assume that this would be a favorite place to visit.  These are the turtles of Memorial Park in Rockport, Texas...and they are the reason I visit this park several times throughout the week while vacationing there.  A large number of Red-Eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera guadalupensis) all call this pond home.

American Alligators // Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

In my previous visits to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, which have all happened to be during the summer months, I have only had the privilege of spotting one Alligator (Alligator mississipiensis).  With the sun out and temps in the upper 70's, it was perfect basking weather and we spotted an abundance of them doing just that.  The highlight, for me, was getting to see a couple of little baby gators.  It was my first time seeing a baby in the wild, so it was such a treat getting to see them at the beginning of the trail :)

Amphibian Conservation Filmmaking // An Interview With Katie Garrett

Katie Garrett.  Photo by Brandon Greaves.

Katie Garrett is a London-based filmmaker with a background in Zoology.  She began making promotional and educational films for a living in 2012, but her interest in frogs and the tropics led her to join the Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center (HARCC).  She hopes to help save frogs by showcasing the animals and the work HARCC is doing in Cusuco National Park, Honduras.  Watch the video below for for an introduction to the project, and then keep reading to learn more about Katie's experiences in the field.

Reptile Scouts // An Interview With Sophie Argetsinger and Alyse Knorr

 While doing a bit of browsing on Etsy for reptile related goodies, I came across something truly exciting.  The Reptile Scouts Official Member Starter Pack.  I had no idea such a thing existed, but the image showed an illustration booklet, a sew on patch, and illustrated stickers.  I clicked on it, read the description, added it to my cart, and proceeded to check out.  After completing my purchase, and finding the website link, I made my way over to the blog.

Gummy Snake Cupcakes

If you were to ask 8 year old me what my favorite candies were, this is what I'd tell you: "Pink Starbursts, Dum Dum Pops, Jolly Ranchers, Pop Rocks, Gummy Bears, and Gummy Worms." These were the ones I ate, and I had no interest in trying anything else.  Sweets tended to give me a headache, so I didn't even eat THESE very often.  Oh, and I absolutely hated chocolate.  Yeah, I was one of THOSE kids.