An upcoming lecture welcomes a biologist who will discuss the significance of snakes in the Florida Keys.
The Friends of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park will present the ninth lecture of the 35th annual lecture series, “A Delicate Balance of Nature,” at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, on Monday, Oct. 26. U.S. Geological Survey Biologist Matthew Metcalf will discuss the cultural significance of snakes, clear up myths, and detail the importance they have in the ecosystem.
He will also help with identification of the more common snakes and highlight current conservation issues affecting these animals with a focus on the federally threatened Eastern Indigo Snake and the invasive Burmese Python.
Discover more about snakes at the visitor center and aquarium building inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The park is located at 102601 Overseas Highway, oceanside. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the pre-lecture reception provided by the Friends of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and the lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. Bring your own cushion for added seating comfort. Temperatures in the auditorium vary and a sweater or light jacket may be desired. Please help us to accommodate those who are chemically sensitive by not wearing fragrances and other scented products.
To attend via Zoom, visit the Friends of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Facebook page or PennekampParkFriends.org.
The auditorium is wheelchair accessible. For more information or to request additional accommodation, contact Elena Muratori, park services specialist at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, at 305-676-3786 in advance of the event.
For more information on Florida’s State Parks, visit FloridaStateParks.org.
