Reptiles

Padre Island National Seashore has worked for decades to preserve Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. A new viral disease now threatens them.

Sixty seconds is all it takes to be captivated by this reclusive animal’s motherly instincts.

The surprising story about Garter Snakes, one of the most common snakes in the United States. Small and non-venomous, to deter predators they release a musky scent.

Meet Anna Tripp, a Visual Information Specialist at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, who spent summer 2024 as a Biotechnician at Padre Island National Seashore!

In February 2021, an extreme cold front swept the south Texas coast, rendering tens of thousands of endangered sea turtles lethargic and helpless. Working against the clock, a dedicated team of rescuers rushed to save them. A new study indicates long-term impacts.

Barrett’s Farm, in present-day Minute Man National Historical Park, played a significant role in 1775 in the first armed conflict of the American Revolution. Although Barrett’s Farm is known largely for its history, biologists wanted to learn more about the wildlife inhabiting the site. The National Park Service and its partners set out in 2023 to find out what types of amphibians, reptiles, and birds occur at Barrett’s Farm.

Sidewinder snakes are small creatures that face big threats. They play a crucial role in the desert ecosystem of Saguaro National Park in Arizona. Scientists conducted a species inventory to find out how rare this species is in the park, and if actions are needed to protect it.

Thanks to park biologists and partners, visitors can again spot western pond turtles in popular parts of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio of San Francisco where they had vanished. But the turtles still need help growing their numbers. Cue an unlikely conservation hero: Canis lupus familiaris, the domestic dog! This May and June, specially trained dogs are helping biologists find and protect vulnerable turtle nests in the parks.

Parks are a great place to appreciate turtles in their natural habitat. NPS is now studying at-risk land turtles in the Mid-Atlantic to better understand how to help them survive into the future.

Padre Island National Seashore has secured an additional $153,000 in project funding from the National Park Service Natural Resource Fund Source to investigate the impacts of sea level rise on sea turtle nests. The research will allow park scientists and partners to assess coastal impacts from climate change and the effects of nuisance flooding on nesting sea turtles, including the endangered Kemp’s ridley.