Members of the Davis Herpetology Lab attended a release event for head-started Rio Grande Cooters (Pseudemys gorzugi). Three juvenile individuals, hatched and raised at the ABQ BioPark were released back into the Black River. I was able to attend the event alongside current M.S. student, Spencer Duffendack, and a past DHL undergraduate student, Joshua Gonzalez, who is currently the Director of Development/Promotion at KENW. Following the release, we held a networking lunch, where partner agencies from across the region were able to get together to discuss the species, shared interests, and conservation priorities. Further, Spencer was able to present some of his preliminary research on the effects of salinity on the blood chemistry of the Rio Grande Cooter.

It’s was a fun event and nice to see so many interested individuals and agencies supporting the conservation and recovery of this imperiled species!