It's Reptile Awareness Day. 😁 @nanakat59.bsky.social @angelaswartz3.bsky.social @worldwildlife.bsky.social @ron-kichurchak.bsky.social If you have a reptile, please post a photo. 🥰 🦎🦎🦎🦎🦎🦎🦎🦎 #Reptiles #Lizards #ReptileAwarenessDay

Well, I wasn't sucked off in the rapture today. Maybe next time.

All salamanders have teeth, but none so menacing as the arboreal salamander of coastal California. Not my photo.

It must be nice to have a pillow built into your head.

I found several large eastern dobsonfly larvae. This made my day.

I found another garter in shed during a site visit.

A garter in shed I found during a rattlesnake survey.

I'm dipping my toes in photography. It's a steep learning curve to say the least. This girl is from a timber rattlesnake survey I did last week.

Bipalium adventitium, a type of land planarian I found under a board. It's not native to the US, but I don't think anyone has studied it enough to determine if it's invasive. It stalks and eats invasive earthworms by stabbing them with its everted pharynx.

You have one week left to leave a comment with the Federal Register regarding trump's proposed changes to the definition of "take" under the ESA. Currently, destroying a species' habitat is regarded as harming said species. Under the new definition, destroying habitat will no longer qualify as take.

The most docile painted turtle I've ever encountered.

Last year I saw multiple spotted salamander egg masses in my wetland, but this is the first adult I've seen on my property.

So, now trump wants to get rid of habitat protections under the ESA. Without these protections, the ESA is pretty much useless. This ESA protection has been upheld by the Supreme Court in the past. The public comment period is open. apnews.com/article/trum...

My cat decided I didn't really need this nail.

Brain drain

The coming decade might see major cuts to US Government #funding for biomedicine. This Perspective highlights how your biosciences #PhD gives you the problem-solving skills to navigate this maelstrom, especially if you maintain flexibility, optimism &enthusiasm for uncharted paths🧪 ▶️ plos.io/3XEKPjt

I have absolutely felt this relief.

This little northern peeper is my first herp of the season. I always hear these guys but rarely see them.