2025 VHS Events


June

2025 VHS Toby's Point and
Land's End WMA Herpetological Survey


When: Saturday, June 7th from 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Location: Land’s End WMA

Join the Virginia Herpetological Society for a day of herping at Toby's Point and Land's End Wildlife Management Area Park on Saturday, June 7th from 9 am - 3 pm. Toby's Point is a 235-acre parcel of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Land's End WMA is a 462 acre wildlife management area. Both of which are located in King George County, Virginia. There are a few potential new herp records to be found like Red Cornsnakes, Eastern Milksnakes, Three-lined Salamanders, and Eastern Musk Turtles. Copperheads have been found in the preserves, so be weary where you put your hands. Participants should also bring snacks, water, and lunch. Sturdy footwear should be worn. Please also be prepared for a woodland environment, mosquitoes, and ticks.

Restroom facilities will not be available, but there are gas stations roughly 10 minutes from either property.

Registration Required: Registration link

A confirmation email will be sent to you a week before the survey. We will provide updated details of the event in the confirmation email. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions can be sent to: Matt Neff

Documented Herps of King George County, VA


2025 HerpBlitz


When: Saturday June 14th (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) and Sunday June 15th (9:00 a.m. - noon)

Location: Crooked Creek WMA in Carroll County

Registration Required: Registration link

Documented Herps of Carroll County, VA


May

Spring Survey


Date: Sunday, May 18 & Monday, May 19

Time: Need start and end times

Location: Staunton River State Park, 1170 Staunton Trail, Scottsburg, VA 24589

Registration Required: Registration link

Documented Herps of Halifax County, VA


Spring Meeting

First joint meeting of the Virginia and North Carolina Herpetological Societies


Date: Saturday, May 17

Time: 8:30 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.

Location: Averett University, Blount Chapel located in the building Frith Hall, Danville, VA

Meeting Location: Blount Chapel located in Frith Hall - Google Map

Parking Location: 200-278 Woodland Drive - Google Map

Registration Required: Registration link

Time Event
9:00 a.m. Business Meeting (each society)
10:30 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks - Dr. Arianna Kuhn, VHS President, Virginia Museum of Natural History Anthony Leiro, NCHS Vice President, Duke University (retired) Jason Gibson, conference local host, Averett University
10:45 a.m. The flexible frog: what spadefoots can teach us about evolution. - Karl Hill, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
11:00 a.m. The Race to Save Appalachia’s Giant Salamander, the Eastern Hellbender - William A. Hopkins, Dept of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech
11:15 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Trailhead signs, a successful approach providing relevant information and promoting conservation action - John Sealy, University of North Carolina Greensboro (retired)
11:45 a.m. Population genetics and ecology of urban Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) - Dr. Tianqi Huang, Rutgers University-New Brunswick; Field Museum of Natural History
Noon Lunch
1:15 p.m. An Exploration of Regional Alligator Diet and Contaminants of Emerging Concern. - Miriam Boucher, Clemson University
1:30 p.m. The molecular basis and evolution of aposematism in poison-dart frogs - Dr. Roberto Márquez, Virginia Tech University
1:45 p.m. Break and Poster Session
Investigating Potential Threats to Endemic Neuse River Waterdog (Necturus lewisi) Populations - Megan Serr; Juno Pilson; Grace Upton; Diana Campos-Carreon; Jazmin Zugasti
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Trailhead signs, a successful approach providing relevant information and promoting conservation action. - John Sealy; Jeff Hall; Jonathan Buie
Learning and socialization in corn snakes, Pantherophis guttatus - Cliff Zeyl; Liam Andersen
UV & Temperature Regulation by Tree Lizards along an Ecological Gradient - Andreanna Schultz
What about the turtles - Tanya Finch
2:45 p.m. Freshwater Turtles as Sentinels: Monitoring Heavy Metal Contamination in Wake County, North Carolina, USAToxicology - Ana Sapp, North Carolina State University
3:00 p.m. Beyond Thermoregulation: UV & Temperature Regulation by Tree Lizards along an Ecological Gradient - Andreanna Schultz, Christopher Newport University
3:30 p.m. Live Auction
4:45 p.m. Closing Remarks - Dr. Arianna Kuhn, VHS President, Virginia Museum of Natural History Anthony Leiro, NCHS Vice President, Duke University (retired)

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

5:30 PM, Social Location: TBD
potential meetup locations:


Ballad Brewing
600 Craghead St, Danville, V A


2 Witches Winery & Brewing
(has food truck!)
209 Trade St, Danville, VA

(315 Lynn St.)


April

Virtual Program: The Life of a Box Turtle

Date: Thursday, April 24th 7 to 8 PM

Time: 7:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m.

Link: Virtual Program: The Life of a Box Turtle


March

Reptile and Amphibian Weekend (RAAW)

Date: Saturday March 22 & Sunday March 23

Time: 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.

Location: The Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601


Naturally Speaking: Dr. Arianna Kuhn
Salamander secrets: The True “Hidden Gems” of Virginia

Date: Thursday, March 20

Time: 6:00 p.m.– 7:30 p.m.

Location: The Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601


Evening STEM Event
VHS Table Display

Date: Thursday, March 6

Time: 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Location: Reynolds Community College, Richmond VA


World Wildlife Day
VHS Table Display

Date: Saturday, March 1

Time: 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Location: Maymont Park, Richmond VA

Additional Information: Maymont Foundation


February

Meet Virginia’s Salamanders
with Leeanna Pletcher

Date: Thursday, February 27

Time: 7:00 p.m.– 8 p.m. EST

Location: Virtual

Click here for additional information



Box Turtle Reporting

Spadefoot Reporting