Registration is now open for the Fall semester of the Master Herpetologist Program ONLINE. Starts Aug 18, 2021

Join us for a dynamic course in Herpetology, featuring a global team of instructors and researchers. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

For more information, see: masterherpetologist.org

This intensive and in-person class provides an introduction to herpetology and equips participants with amphibian and reptile identification skills and general knowledge of frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards, crocodilians, and snakes — their life histories, habitat requirements and biodiversity, with a special focus on herps of the southeastern US.

Course content includes classification and identification of amphibians and reptiles, 'herping' equipment, frog calls, attracting amphibians/reptiles and backyard wildlife habitat, anatomy and physiology, ecology, behavior, breeding migration, and conservation. This course is a deep dive into the world of amphibians and reptiles, intended to create a foundation of herpetological knowledge upon which students can build.

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Passing the comprehensive final exam at the end of the class will certify students as a Master Herpetologist.

This 2-day workshop is a comprehensive training to prepare yourself for working with venomous snakes, or encountering them in the field safely. Using the techniques and protocols laid out by TRC, not a single person (TRC, AF staff or students) has ever been bitten by a venomous serpent.

This training sets the standard for safety, husbandry, and protocol for working with venomous reptiles. Our Level 1 Program is the leading venomous training program in the United States and has been taught to over 100 students. If you are a land manager, environmental consultant, first responder, zoo professional, herpetology enthusiast, photographer, or private citizen looking to learn how to safely handle and relocate venomous reptiles, this course is for you! Topics covered in the course include:

Topics covered in the course include:
Hands on individual training, guided by one of our professional instructors.
Handling methods for non-venomous and venomous snakes.
Learn about the life history, toxinology, and ecology of native venomous reptiles.
Emergency field care for envenomation.
Methods of relocation.

This course consists of 2-days of intense training with expert instructors. The first day of the Level 1 Course involves 8 hours of classroom work, where students learn about venom toxinology, native venomous snakes in their region, snake bite management, captive venomous reptiles, and disease monitoring and management.
On day 2, students take a written test on the information they learned the day before and begin hands on training with venomous reptiles. Students learn about the various type of handling equipment available to safely work with venomous reptiles, how to spot venomous reptiles in the wild, and handle multiple species and sizes of venomous snakes. Routinely, students will work with Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon c. piscivorus), Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus), Copperheads (Agkistrodon c. contortrix), and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus).

This course is applicable for novices and individuals with entry level experience, or may be taken by advanced individuals as a refresher on information learned.