Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?

Thanks!
Ed

Ed,
....You might look into the Sea Turtle projects either here in coastal Georgia or down in Florida. The project here is the Caretta Project and they collect eggs as soon as they are hatched and incubate them. Volunteering is a week at a time and volunteers have to pay for food and lodging and transportation to Sapelo Island where they stay in older cabins. I think the volunteer program down in my home stomping grounds at Canaveral National Seashore in FL does not charge the volunteers but you would have to stay in a motel and eat in restaurants. At Canaveral Nationa Seashore they leave the eggs in the nests and put wire protective screens over them and mark them. Less hands on than the Caretta Project but Canaveral Seashore has at least 50 times as many nests so you would get to see lots more animals each night. Laying season ends soon and first nests from may are probably already hatching. OTOH something out in the western states might be nicer for an eastern guy like you.
Jeff

>>Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Ed

Oops, meant to say they collect aggs as soon as they are laid.
>>Ed,
>>....You might look into the Sea Turtle projects either here in coastal Georgia or down in Florida. The project here is the Caretta Project and they collect eggs as soon as they are hatched and incubate them. Volunteering is a week at a time and volunteers have to pay for food and lodging and transportation to Sapelo Island where they stay in older cabins. I think the volunteer program down in my home stomping grounds at Canaveral National Seashore in FL does not charge the volunteers but you would have to stay in a motel and eat in restaurants. At Canaveral Nationa Seashore they leave the eggs in the nests and put wire protective screens over them and mark them. Less hands on than the Caretta Project but Canaveral Seashore has at least 50 times as many nests so you would get to see lots more animals each night. Laying season ends soon and first nests from may are probably already hatching. OTOH something out in the western states might be nicer for an eastern guy like you.
>>Jeff
>>
>>>>Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>Ed

Jeff,

Thanks for the info, this is exactly the type of thing I'd be interested in. (On a couple of occasions I have seen sea turtles laying eggs down near West Palm, that was quite an experience.)
Staying near Titusville might be better, since I have friends
in the Melbourne area. But you're right, I would also heavily
consider something out west, since I've only been out there once (in 1980.)

Thanks again!
Ed

>>Ed,
>>....You might look into the Sea Turtle projects either here in coastal Georgia or down in Florida. The project here is the Caretta Project and they collect eggs as soon as they are hatched and incubate them. Volunteering is a week at a time and volunteers have to pay for food and lodging and transportation to Sapelo Island where they stay in older cabins. I think the volunteer program down in my home stomping grounds at Canaveral National Seashore in FL does not charge the volunteers but you would have to stay in a motel and eat in restaurants. At Canaveral Nationa Seashore they leave the eggs in the nests and put wire protective screens over them and mark them. Less hands on than the Caretta Project but Canaveral Seashore has at least 50 times as many nests so you would get to see lots more animals each night. Laying season ends soon and first nests from may are probably already hatching. OTOH something out in the western states might be nicer for an eastern guy like you.
>>Jeff
>>

What a great idea for a service trip! I just got back from a people-service trip but an animal-service trip would be even more fun. I don't personally know of any great opportunities for working with reptiles, but have you tried contacting national groups such as the Sierra Club or the World Wildlife Fund? Since they work with biologists, they probably know what a lot of them are up to---and who could use some help.

>>Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Ed
-----
Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

Renee,

Thanks for the suggestions. (Not sure about the Sierra Club, from what I've heard they are a PETA clone.) I'm going to do some websurfing today since it's about 100 degrees and humid outside,
try to get a list of possible trips.

Thanks, and keep your BLOOD pressure down while anxiously awaiting your new snake.

Ed

>>What a great idea for a service trip! I just got back from a people-service trip but an animal-service trip would be even more fun. I don't personally know of any great opportunities for working with reptiles, but have you tried contacting national groups such as the Sierra Club or the World Wildlife Fund? Since they work with biologists, they probably know what a lot of them are up to---and who could use some help.
>>
>>>>Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>Ed
>>-----
>>Renee
>>1.0 BRB (Loki)
>>2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
>>0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
>>1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

>>Renee,
>>
>>Thanks for the suggestions. (Not sure about the Sierra Club, from what I've heard they are a PETA clone.) I'm going to do some websurfing today since it's about 100 degrees and humid outside,
>>try to get a list of possible trips.
>>
>>Thanks, and keep your BLOOD pressure down while anxiously awaiting your new snake.
>>
>>Ed
>>
>>>>What a great idea for a service trip! I just got back from a people-service trip but an animal-service trip would be even more fun. I don't personally know of any great opportunities for working with reptiles, but have you tried contacting national groups such as the Sierra Club or the World Wildlife Fund? Since they work with biologists, they probably know what a lot of them are up to---and who could use some help.
>>>>
>>>>>>Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>>Ed
>>>>-----
>>>>Renee
>>>>1.0 BRB (Loki)
>>>>2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
>>>>0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
>>>>1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)
-----
Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

Ed,
...A couple years ago there was a big field study on Eastern Indigos at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. The land their adjoins Canaveral National Seashore. I was exchanging emails with a lady working on the project but have not heard from her in several years. You might see if the study is ongoing and if they need volunteers. When I was younger I saw l Indigos in that area even some just behind the sand dunes along the beach.
Jeff

>>Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Ed

Jeff,

Thanks, that's another great idea. I found the website and the contact person, I'll find out some more information.

Thanks again!
Ed

>>Ed,
>>...A couple years ago there was a big field study on Eastern Indigos at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. The land their adjoins Canaveral National Seashore. I was exchanging emails with a lady working on the project but have not heard from her in several years. You might see if the study is ongoing and if they need volunteers. When I was younger I saw l Indigos in that area even some just behind the sand dunes along the beach.
>>Jeff
>>
>>>>Sorry for the non-snake off-topic post, but I just wanted to solicit suggestions from this friendly forum. I spent so much money on my credit card over the last year, that I've earned a free airline ticket to anywhere in continental US. What I would like to do is take a trip where I can do some animal related volunteer work (ie, helping w/ research, caring for rescued animals, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions, advice and/or experience with something like this?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>Ed