State Asks Keys Residents For Help Collecting Reptile Data
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KEY WEST (AP) — Wildlife officials are asking residents and visitors in the Florida Keys to report their sightings of native reptiles and amphibians.
Biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say they need help evaluating the status of the Florida Keys mole skink, Key ringneck snake, rim rock crowned snake, brown snake, ribbon snake, red rat snake and the striped mud turtle.
Photos of the animals along with the locations and dates of each animal sighting can be submitted online at www.MyFWC.com/Get-involved under the "Citizen Science" heading. State scientists also will evaluate photos of unknown reptile and amphibian species.
Biologist Kevin Enge says researchers are conducting field surveys for the same species, but he suspects most of the data will come from people who see these animals in their yards.
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