Department of Parks
Natural Bridge Hosts Herpetology Weekend

FRANKFORT, Ky. –Learn about some of nature's most misunderstood creatures at the annual Natural Bridge Herpetology Weekend, scheduled for the weekend of April 21 and 22.  Biologists will lead field trips into the Red River Gorge to search for the creepy critters in their native habitat.  Evening presentations will help explain what makes these animals so cool, and what you can do to help them survive.

     On Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., enjoy a live turtle program with the Kentucky Reptile Zoo's Byram Feltner, followed by US Forest Service biologist Tom Biebighauser explaining the importance of ephemeral wetlands.  If you really know your herps you might win a prize in the "So You Think You Know Kentucky Herps?" trivia contest that evening. 

    On Saturday morning, join in as Biebighauser actually builds a wetland and provides instruction on how they can be constructed on your own property or school grounds.  At 1 p.m. at the nearby Kentucky Reptile Zoo, Jim Harrison will extract venom from live snakes and you'll learn how important that venom is to medical research throughout the world. Also that afternoon, researchers Marc Gumbert and Dan Dourson will track copperheads through the woods and demonstrate how radio telemetry is helping biologists understand snake movement patterns. 

     Field trips into the Red River Gorge National Geologic Area will begin at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Finally, the event will cap off at 7:30 p.m. with biologist James Kiser and Glen Schulte of the Cincinnati Zoo Academy presenting informational programs.  

     The registration fee is $5 per adult and $2 per child.  For lodging information please call 1-800-325-1710.  Registration begins at 7 p.m. on the 21st at Natural Bridge's Hemlock Lodge.  All evening programs begin at 7 p.m. in the park's Activities Center. 

     Instruction and materials provided by Natural Bridge State Park, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, the Arches of the Cumberland Chapter of the Kentucky Society of Natural History, and the United States Forest Service. 

   For more information on other Herp Weekend programs contact Zeb Weese at jason.weese@ky.gov or by phone at 1-606-663-2214.

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov