Amphibian and Reptile Conservation in Ohio
Ohio is home to an impressive diversity of amphibians and reptiles, including 24 salamanders, 14 frogs, 11 turtles, 4 lizards, and 25 snake species. Yet many are in decline, driven by habitat loss and the increasingly fragmented patchwork of natural areas across the state. Conserving them requires a holistic, collaborative approach that tackles complex and overlapping threats. This presentation will highlight two recovery efforts: one for the prairie-dwelling Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake and another for the stream-dwelling Eastern Hellbender salamander. While their habitats, ecologies, and challenges differ greatly, the strategies used to secure their future offer lessons that can guide conservation programs for wildlife and wild places throughout Ohio.
Greg Lipps is the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Coordinator at Ohio State University's Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership and the Conservation Biologist at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. He was an editor and contributing author to both the Amphibians of Ohio (2013) and the Reptiles of Ohio (2021). Born and raised in Cincinnati, Greg is a lifelong resident of Ohio who has conducted herpetological research throughout the state. He currently resides in northwest Ohio, where his front yard of Oak Openings Region native plants was established 20 years ago.
Photo: USDAgov, CC BY-SA 3.0, flickr
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