Southeast Kansas has much to offer; this weekend is no exception.
The Kansas Herpetological Society — members have a fancy for reptiles and amphibians — will gather at Schermerhorn Park near Galena on Friday and spend the weekend hunting, counting and cataloging critters in their annual spring field trip.
The event is open to the public and doesn’t cost a red cent.
On the serious side, the event will provide information about populations and give those joining the adventure a chance to learn about creatures that slither and hop and crawl. None will be harmed in the process and, except for those kept for research purposes at accredited institutions, all will be freed after examination.
Herpetology isn’t for everyone, but it might be a door to a career for a young person interested in the outdoors and what lives there. Also, the field trip would be an excellent time for parent-child bonding in an area more diverse than usual weekend fare.
— Bob Johnson
Hop into nature
