February 2016 Meeting

Tue, February 2, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Blue Spruce County Park
Speaker: Ed Patterson, , Director, Indiana County Parks and Trails

Description

Ed Patterson, Director of Indiana County Parks & Trails, will present Salamanders of Indiana County at our February meeting. Indiana County is home to seventeen species of salamanders, many that often remain well hidden from view. In this program we will learn about some of the most colorful and interesting creatures that can be found right in our own "neck of the woods." Several of the county's salamanders are regarded as Species of Special Concern in Pennsylvania due to their specific habitat requirements.

The program will also highlight the life and times of the late R.W. Wehrle, one of Indiana County's premier naturalists. Mr. Wehrle was a successful businessman and highly regarded naturalist of his era. Wehrle's Salamanders were first discovered in Indiana County in 1911 by R.W. Wehrle and named in his honor, one of only many interesting highlights of his well-lived life.

The program will conclude with a discussion of the Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey and offer information on how county residents can participate in this on-going citizen-scientist project. Mr. Patterson also serves as the southwest regional coordinator for the Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey.