Creepy Conservation: Pinesnakes, Gopher Frogs, and Other Good Deeds for Wildlife

Live Lecture with Dr. Steve Reichling, Memphis Zoo’s Conservation and Research Department

Just in time for Halloween, join the Wolf River Conservancy, Memphis Botanic Garden, and Dr. Steve Reichling, Director of Conservation and Research at the Memphis Zoo, for a fascinating look into the wild and often misunderstood creatures that slither and crawl through our local landscapes.

This informative talk will cover the zoo’s conservation efforts, with a focus on regional projects including the elusive Louisiana pinesnake, the secretive Mississippi gopher frog, and a recent survey of snake species in the upland habitats of the Ghost River State Natural Area

From eerie ecosystems to vanishing species, discover how conservation science is helping to protect the wildlife haunting our habitats and enriching our world.

Steve Reichling has worked at the Memphis Zoo for 44 years. He is heavily involved in the captive management of reptiles and amphibians and their conservation in the wild, leading the zoo component of the recovery program for the critically endangered dusky gopher frog. He has been studying the extremely rare Louisiana pine snake since 1984, publishing research that elevated it from subspecies to species, and leading the zoo-based recovery effort. In addition to herpetology, he is intensely interested in tarantulas.

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Dr. Steve Reichling of the was recently featured in The New York Times for his work helping rescue the critically endangered dusky gopher frog. Read here

This event is free and open to the public. All donations benefit The Wolf River Conservancy and the Memphis Botanic Garden.