On February 27 - 28, 2004 the Southeast Region of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) held a Working Group Meeting at the Blue Heron Learning Center in Ridgeland, SC. Attendees came from throughout the southeastern states, including Virgina, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. On leap day folowing the meeting, many attendees used their extra time to visit the Webb Wildlife Center in Hampton County.

Official minutes of the meeting will be published later on the PARC website. My report will focus upon some of the fun activities associated with the gathering.

The weather in Ridgeland was wonderfully warm
compared to that which I left at home.

The first day of the meeting, Friday, was devoted to education outreach. Habitat management guidelines for herps are to be published soon for the southeast region. Many decisions relating to distribution of the guidelines needed to be made. Even this initial working meeting was very well attended.

Following this afternoon meeting, we adjourned for a social gathering at Jasper's Porch Restaurant located adjacent to the leaning center.

Saturday consisted of a full day of presentations and facilitated discussions of important issues in herp conservation.

In the evening, we enjoyed a low country shrimp boil dinner and social, again at Jasper's Porch. Later, Jeff Holmes, an avid herp conservationist who also is a fine musician, provided us with an impromptu serenade.

Sunday morning, about 25 of us joined Steve Bennett and Wade Kalinowsky for a herping visit to the SC Department of Natural Resources' Webb Wildlife Management Center located in pine flatwood country in Hampton County. At the Center, we joined Jayme Waldron who is currently conducting field studies on Eastern Diamondback and Canebrake Rattlesnakes. Jayme used telemetry to lead us to a Diamondback and a Canebrake. Unfortunately for us, both snakes were safely out of our sight.

Like all herpers, we could not resist searching around for ourselves. While checking under tin, we made our first find: a black-phase Eastern Hognose Snake.
Later an Eastern Garter Snake was prowling about. We could hear several species of frogs singing, but I do not think any of us was able to make a capture.

In an area of managed understory burn, we found an Eastern Box Turtle
that had been damaged by the fire, but survived.

Bruce Means lead us an a strange sylvan ritual known as worm stomping.
Apparently it works in Florida, but not in SC.

Air temperatures increased in the afternoon. We split into smaller groups and continued to look for herps. Reassembling to swap herping tales, I learned that I missed out on finding two Canebrake Rattlers and two Cornsnakes. All I had to brag about was finding masses of Southern Leopard Frog eggs.

I had a long drive home ahead of me, so I took my leave and left the others to continue the hunt. It was a great way to start the season.

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