This small turtle is one of only two species of turtles native to Oregon. Both species are listed as “sensitive-critical” and are threatened or endangered in parts of their habitat. We are lucky in Southern Oregon to have a decent population of western pond turtles. Both the painted turtle and the western pond turtle… Read More
Reptile
Eastern Box Turtle
Box turtles are most famous for their brightly patterned hinged shell, which allows them to retract almost completely into their bony armor to hide from danger. Their shells also regenerate at an incredible rate, surprisingly able to heal from harsh wounds. Another fun fact about box turtles is that they can be toxic if consumed.… Read More
Chinese Water Dragon
The Chinese water dragon reaches lengths of up to 3 feet, although 70 percent of their body is comprised of their very long tail. They use their tale for balance and leverage when jumping and climbing. Water dragons are arboreal and if threatened they will drop from a tree into the water to make their… Read More
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
Bearded Dragon
Pogonas, or more commonly referred to as bearded dragons or beardies, are only found naturally in Australia. However, since the 1990s this animal has gained such popularity in the exotic pet trade that you can find them in almost every pet store in America. Due to their docile, gentle behavior and pleasant disposition, this animal… Read More
Eastern Blue-Tongued Skink
Early in the morning, blue-tongues emerge to bask in sunny areas before foraging for food during the warmer parts of the day. Like all lizards, blue-tongues do not produce their own body heat, and rely on the warmth of their surroundings to raise their body temperature. When threatened, blue-tongues turn toward the threat, open their… Read More
Sulcata Tortoise
Desert Tortoise
Tortoises cannot swim like turtles can, in fact they would sink and drown if they attempted to enter the water. They are terrestrial creatures. Their shell is made of thick keratin and the tortoise’s body is attached to the inside of the shell. Their shells grow similar to a tree with concentric rings. The dark… Read More
Ball Python
There are 26 species of pythons; the ball python is one of those species. Pythons are constrictors, which means they wrap their bodies around their prey and squeeze them until they suffocate. Ball pythons are one of the smallest of all pythons, and they only grow to about three or four feet long. Known as… Read More
Sinaloan Milk Snake
Milk snakes are a red, black, and beige striped snake; they are often mistaken for Coral Snakes which are highly venomous. The rhyme below is a good reminder of what to steer clear of and how to easily tell the difference between the two (milk snake, left; coral snake, right). If the red is touching… Read More
Black Pine Snake
The black pine snake is a threatened species due to loss of habitat. Their primary habitat is open longleaf pine forests which are highly threatened due to timbering, agriculture, and suppression of natural fire cycles. It is down to 5% of its former range and the pine snake has declined with it. Black pines are… Read More
