Visiting The Savannah River Ecology Lab

In June of 2011, members of the Herp Lab visited the Savannah River Ecology Lab on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. We walked around the facility, learning about some of the turtle projects and about the different species of turtles being kept at the lab. We took an afternoon trip out to check along some drift fences in the woods, finding a variety of skinks and lizards, as well as a scarlet kingsnake. We weren't able to go looking for alligators during the night, so we poked around for cottonmouths and frogs. We spent part of an afternoon helping track a snake in the field using radio telemetry. We turned up a number of toads and an eastern hognose that was quick to demonstrate its ability to play dead. We made a stop by an outdoor alligator enclosure to hang out with Stump, the big resident male gator, and to toss him a snack.

An alligator snapping turtle

Jackie takes a turn

Dr. Dorcas accessorizes

A diamondback terrapin

Stephanie with a scarlet kingsnake

Stump came over to visit

An eastern hognose plays dead

A gopher tortoise stuck around for a bit

Maddie holds an american alligator

A pig-nosed turtle

A close-up

Jackie with an opossum

Radiotracking an elusive snake

Rick holds a flying squirrel

More alligator action

A juvenile side-necked turtle

Young american alligators

A young spiny softshell turtle