Conservation partners

The Ohio State University's Stone Laboratory
Stone Lab provides the base of operations for much of Respect The Snake's activities. Many members of Team Snake have been involved in Stone Lab's REU program and taken classes at the lab.
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The Rich King Lab at Northern Illinois University (NIU)
Rich King is the godfather of Lake Erie watersnakes. Dr. King started working with LEWS way back in 1979 and has come back to the islands nearly every summer since.  The King lab at NIU always has graduate students working on some aspect of LEWS biology along with an array of other Great Lakes region herpetological studies.

US Fish & Wildlife Service
The USFWS continues to play an active role in LEWS conservation, sending several of their biologists up to assist with the Nerodio every year. Visit their website for access to important information and documents like the LEWS Federal Recovery Plan.

Ohio Division of Wildlife
The Ohio Division of Wildlife has been a key factor in the speedy recovery of the Lake Erie watersnake. In addition to providing financial support, Division employees have come out to assist in the Nerodio, film several episodes of Wild Ohio, and assist in many of our outreach endeavors over the years.

Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, University of Illinois
Dr. Matt Allender is processing all of our LEWS Snake Fungal Disease (SFD) samples in his lab at the University of Illinois. He is researching potential transmission causes, effects, and treatments for SFD.

​Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center
The Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center is a collaboration between the Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy and the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society.  The nature center facility houses a large display of North American wildlife and hosts educational programs throughout the summer around Lake Erie wildlife - especially the Lake Erie watersnake!

​Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy
The Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy aims to encourage 
conservation and protection of natural and agricultural lands on the Lake Erie Islands for the benefit of future generations.

​Other organizations

The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR)
SSAR is a professional society and product of the outgrowth of the Ohio Herpetological Society and produces The Journal of Herpetology, Herpetological Review, and The Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles.

The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)
A professional society the supports the scientific study of fish, reptiles, and amphibians. They publish the journal Copeia and offer a variety of grants to help support research projects.

The Herpetologists' League (HL)
A professional society that supports the scientific study of reptiles and amphibians. They publish Herpetologica and Herpetological Monographs.

The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH)
This organization was founded by Joe Collins in 1998 and promotes the preservation and conservation of North American reptiles and amphibians through education and good scientific information. This site provides over 275 links to other herpetological websites, has frequent job listings, and a very handy open-access pdf library.

IPFW Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
"The Herp Center" was established in 2000 by Bruce Kingsbury at Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). Their mission is to promote education and conservation of Midwestern herps through research, education, and outreach. The site has excellent species accounts for many herps of the midwest as well as downloadable conservation materials, including a guide on how to build vernal pools.

Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC)
PARC is a national conservation organization dedicated to protecting reptiles and amphibians and their habitats. PARC focuses both on preserving threatened and endangered species, as well as keeping common species common. The organization has regional working groups and encourages participation by anyone (agency employees, students, scientists, hobbyists) interested in helping to conserve these species.

Northern Ohio Association of Herpetologists (NOAH)
NOAH is dedicated to the education of both members and the public in the areas of herpetological ecology and conservation, as well as responsible captive care and breeding. The society has a small grant program that supports local herpetological research and conservation projects. The society has monthly meetings in the Cleveland area.

The Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society
This organization is dedicated to promoting good welfare of reptiles and amphibians through self and public education. The society provides low-cost educational live herp programs available to the public as well as free educational lectures during their monthly meetings (Rowe Woods Nature Center). The society also has a small grant program which supports herpetological conservation projects.

The Michigan Society of Herpetologists
The Michigan Society of Herpetologists is dedicated to public education of Michigan reptiles and amphibians. The society provides a lecture series and group field trips available to members of the society and highly encourages family involvement. They also raise funds to support local conservation projects. The group meets at both the John Ball Zoo just outside of Grand Rapids and the Scott Center located in the mid-Michigan area.

Save The Frogs!
Save The Frogs is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving our amphibian friends.  Save The Frogs is made up of an international team of scientists, educators, policymakers, and naturalists dedicated to protecting the world’s amphibians: frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians.
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