A Northern Spring Salamander is a species of salamander that can be found in Maine. Native amphibians and reptiles will be the subject of Kennebec Land Trust’s 2025 Lyceum Lecture Series. Derek Yorks photo
HALLOWELL — The Kennebec Land Trust’s 2025 Lyceum Lecture Series will focus on Maine’s native amphibians and reptiles, their habitats, and ongoing conservation efforts.
Lectures are set for 6-7:30 p.m. at the Hallowell City Auditorium, 1 Winthrop St.
The Lyceum series, modeled after early New England public lecture programs, provides an opportunity to learn from experts in the field, according to a news release from John Whittaker, the land trust’s membership and communications coordinator. The 2025 series is sponsored by the Maine Association of Conservation Commissions and supported by The Helen and George Ladd Family. All programs are free and open to the public.
• Thursday, March 13: “Wood Turtles in Maine.” Matt Chatfield, Ph.D., will discuss the natural history and conservation of wood turtles, a species of special concern in Maine. His research team has spent nearly a decade studying wood turtle populations, providing new insights into their ecology and behavior. The presentation will highlight the importance of habitat conservation and ongoing efforts to protect this species.
• Thursday, March 20: “Amphibians: Global Declines, Local Conservation.” Greg LeClair, Ph.D. will address the challenges facing amphibians worldwide and in Maine. The talk will cover conservation strategies to protect Maine’s 18 native species from habitat loss, disease and climate change.
• Thursday, March 27: “The Maine Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project.” Derek Yorks, M.Sc. will present findings from the Maine Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project, a long-term citizen science initiative that has gathered data on the distribution of Maine’s 36 species of amphibians and reptiles since 1984.
The land trust will also host a field program — a vernal pool field trip at the Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area in Mount Vernon — in April.
For more information, call 207-377-2848 or visit tklt.org.
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