Shells, Scutes & Scales - Husbandry Care of Native Reptile Species at Frost Science

An engaging presentation on the fascinating world of native reptile species with Helen Bradley, Senior Terrestrial Biologist at the Frost Science Museum. With a rich background that includes years of experience at ZSL London Zoo and Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, Helen brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and passion for reptiles and birds alike.

Her talk, “Shells, Scutes & Scales: Husbandry Care of Native Reptile Species at Frost Science,” dives into some of the lesser-known facts about reptiles, from their unique sensory abilities to their impressive strength and movement. Helen will also share insights on reptile care and habitats, and she’ll bring along some snake skins for an even more hands-on experience.

About the Speaker

Helen Bradley
Born and raised in the UK, I spent 12 years with a publishing company in various roles before deciding that a desk job was not what I wanted, so I began volunteering at ZSL London Zoo where I spent 5 years as a Qualified Bird Keeper before my husband's job moved us to Miami in 2015. Two months after arriving here I joined the Pelican Harbor team as a volunteer, a position I held for 6.5 years before joining the Frost Science team in 2022 as their Herpetologist. Two years later and I am now the Senior Terrestrial Biologist - still caring for the reptiles but also overseeing the birds.

An informative and inspiring presentation with Yaritza Acosta, Rehabilitation Manager at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station. In this engaging session, Yaritza provides a fascinating overview of the 2024 data, offering insights into the challenges faced by local wildlife and the crucial work being done to protect them.

She discusses key trends observed over the past year, including the most common reasons for wildlife admissions, injury patterns, and the species most frequently brought in for care. Yaritza provides us a deeper understanding of how the center operates, from intake to rehabilitation, and the vital role it plays in wildlife conservation.

About the Speaker

Yaritza Acosta graduated from Lees-McRae College in 2012 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Wildlife Rehabilitation. During her time at Lees-McRae, she honed her rehab skills at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute, where she completed a year-long internship and later mentored incoming students. She also trained with non-releasable ambassador animals and volunteered at The Wolf Sanctum, working with abused wolves and wolfdogs.

In 2012, Yaritza moved to Miami and began volunteering at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station. She quickly joined the team and now leads the team as Rehabilitation Manager. Dedicated to expanding her knowledge and advancing her career, she is currently pursuing continuing education and preparing for veterinary school.

The Tequesta indians occupied the southeastern region of Florida from approximately 500 BCE (the late Archaic/Glades I period) through Spanish colonization and to the time when Spain turned Florida over to Britain (1763 AD). Watch Alan Noe for a prehistoric look into South Florida with a focus on the Tequesta and the previous village site at the location of our new facility along the south bank of the Little River. Excavation methodology will be explained as well as showcasing some archaeological finds and interpretive reconstructions from the dig so far!

About The Speaker
Alan Noe was born and raised in Miami and has been a Florida archaeologist for over 13 years. He graduated from the University of Miami in 2015 with a BA in Anthropology. He has worked extensively in Miami and South Florida for the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy. Alan is an Iraq veteran and married with a 2-year-old son, living in North Miami.

Dive into the biology and conservation of sea turtles and the important work of the Miami-Dade County Sea Turtle Conservation Program! We'll explore the species and lifecycle of sea turtles that call Miami Beach home, highlighting their importance to marine ecosystems. Our discussion focuses on the challenges sea turtles face, including human impacts, and how our program addresses these issues through protective measures and conservation efforts. We'll also showcase the daily work of STCP biologists, who monitor nesting sites, gather crucial data on sea turtle populations, and engage the community in stewardship and education initiatives.

The Miami-Dade County Sea Turtle Conservation Program (STCP) was established in 1980 following the discovery of disoriented hatchlings along A1A in Miami Beach. Before this initiative, sea turtle nesting in the county was undocumented. With the implementation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Parks Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission collaborated to establish the Sea Turtle Conservation Program, aimed at protecting all species of sea turtles that inhabit Miami-Dade beaches. Federal and state laws provide legal protections and permit our program to monitor sea turtle nests and respond to strandings, ensuring the well-being and survival of these protected species.

All sea turtle activities in Miami-Dade County are conducted by authorized personnel under FWC MTP-25-150 

Dive into sharks Dr. Catherine Macdonald, Director of the Shark Research and Conservation program at University of Miami.

Photo by Albert Kok

Join environmental historian and History Professor at the College of Coastal Georgia, Chris Wilhelm, as he recounts one of Florida's most important and unknown environmental stories: The Fight for Florida's Waters.

Cover photo by Barry Haynes

The Everglades is home to over 300 species of birds, 39 of which are federally listed as threatened, endangered, or are candidates for a listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Join author Mindy Dickman as she gives a brief overview of past and present conservation stories of these species, followed by a discussion about the needs of birds that live in and migrate to Florida.

Speaker: Begoñe Cazalis, Director of Communications at The Everglades Foundation

The Everglades is a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that provides us with numerous benefits and resources. But the once free-flowing River of Grass has been drained and compartmentalized to give way to farming and urban development. These alterations continue to impact our environment and threaten our sustainability.

Photo from Everglades National Park Service

Join PHSS as we dive into Florida's 5 venomous snake species,wrapping up with an overview of the art of venom milking (extracting venom from snakes for the purpose of creating anti-venom or for medical research) with special guest Dr. Ray “Cobraman” Hunter.

Speakers: Troy Mckalla, Wildlife Education and Intake Associate at PHSS, and Dr. Ray “Cobraman” Hunter, Herpetologist and Venom Production Expert

Photo by John

Join wildlife biologist Mike Lloret as he shows you the challenges crocs face today and what is being done to continue to improve their habitat for future generations to come.

Photo by Tomas Castelazo

Speaker: Dennis J. Giardina, Everglades Region Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), member of both the U.S. National Park Service and FWC Panther Capture Teams. Learn more about the techniques used to capture wild Florida panthers in the Everglades Ecoregion to monitor the health of the last remaining population of Pumas east of the Mississippi River.

Photo from the US Army Corp

“The Siren and the Springs” takes audiences into the world of Florida’s incredible artesian springs systems. Over 1,000 springs gush forth their crystal-clear contents, creating magical landscapes and biodiverse habitats unique to the world. The largest concentration of artesian springs can be found here.

Natural history filmmaker Richard Kern explores the hydrogeology of our aquifers and springs, diving in…quite literally…to the source of our drinking water. Lush eelgrass beds, diving birds, turtles and of course, the universally loved Florida manatee are all important pieces of the ecological puzzle of Florida’s freshwater springs.

Once distributed broadly throughout Florida and western North America, the Burrowing Owl has found itself declining in numbers throughout its historic range. Paul Kragh is the Director of Burrowing Owl Conservation for Project Perch Inc., a not-for-profit group of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Florida's Burrowing Owls.

Learn how Project Perch helps to protect these tiny subterranean owls by

• Finding and educating “caretakers” for owls

• Counting the owls annually during the breeding season

• Working with landowners to provide artificial burrows and nest boxes

Photo by Albert Kok

All sea turtle activities in Miami-Dade County are conducted by authorized personnel under FWC MTP-25-150 

Photo by Chris Muenzer

Photo from NOAA

Christopher Boykin, prior Executive Director at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, leads this talk about the little known Diamondback Terrapin.

Cape Florida Banding Station | Songbird Migration Highlights with Michelle Davis, co-founder of the Cape Florida Banding Station.

The Mysterious Manta Rays of Florida with Jessica Pate, founder and lead scientist of the Florida Manta Project.

Photo by Bartek Cieslak

Pelican Rehabilitation Basics with Yaritza Acosta, PHSS Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager, via Heroes 4 Wildlife.

Photo by Earl Scale

We are so grateful for your support to the thousands of diverse patients we treat every year at the Seabird Station. We want to empower you with the knowledge and skills to understand these beautiful creatures better and assist in their identification and capture to help get them into our care for rehabilitation and release with monthly workshops.

Join us and learn more about the importance of radiology in wildlife rehabilitation. Dr. Renata Schneider, DVM at PHSS, will be leading this webinar via Zoom.

Learn more about:

The purpose of digital radiographs in wildlife medicine

The importance of this tool

Case examples of birds, mammals, and reptiles

This workshop will also be an excellent opportunity to meet volunteers, interns, and PHSS staff virtually.

Photo by Thierry Tastiel