Sharks! for Second Saturday

From the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge website:

During the Cretaceous period, 145 million years ago, what is now Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was part of a huge, warm, shallow sea that covered much of North America. Giant turtles, huge sharp-toothed fish and sharks, and 50-foot seagoing reptiles ruled Texas’ watery world. Built-up layers of dead Cretaceous animal and plant life would later become the region’s limestone and petroleum deposits. 

Fast forward 145 million years...

Kim Snipes, Austin College Biologist, will speak on Sharks!  for the Second Saturday program, at 10 am on Saturday, June 14.  Snipes joined the Biology Dept. at Austin College in 1993.  Her professional training is in ornithology and physiology.  Her love affair with sharks and rays began when she was five and watched The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.  She shares her appreciation and knowledge about these incredibly misunderstood animals at every opportunity.  Sharks and rays are some of the most endangered yet least protected species on our planet -- most populations have declined by 80% in the last thirty years.  The free program will be held in the Visitor Center meeting room, and is open to the public.  No reservations necessary.

Kim Snipes, Photo courtesy of Austin College

For early birds, Dr. Wayne Meyer will lead a birding walk that morning at 8 am, weather permitting; participants will meet at the Visitor Center at the Refuge.  There is no charge for the event, and participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, camera, field guides and to dress for trail-walking. The Friends of Hagerman have binoculars to loan, also.

Hagerman NWR is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, Texas and provides an 11,000 acre plus habitat for wildlife.