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The Pacific Northwest has an amazing array of amphibians due to the high precipitation received. These fascinating animals can be bio-indicators of environmental health, including if there are invaders present: on the micro or macro scale. Can you tell a Northern Salamander from a Long-toed Salamander? Which features leave a wetland vulnerable to invasion from a giant from the east coast?

Join Jasmine Baker, Project Dragonfly graduate student, to learn more about these mucus-membrane skinned animals that are still found throughout the greater Seattle area, how Woodland Park Zoo is working with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to monitor their populations and how you can support amphibians in your neighborhood.

Jasmine Baker, M. Ed, is a veteran middle school science teacher, who volunteers with Woodland Park Zoo's Amphibian Monitoring Project. Currently, Jasmine is completing her second Master's degree with Project Dragonfly through Miami University. She is passionate about connecting people to the small, less popular aspects of the natural world and revealing their amazing role in the ecosystem. Slimy, strange and small biological wonders are some of the most fascinating in her eyes. This class is a proactive response to her dive into the history and ecology of the Union Bay Natural Area, which revealed how intensely the invasive American Bullfrog had depressed native amphibians. Her goal is to educate the public on local species, threats, and actions they can take to support amphibian biodiversity. In addition to her coursework, she enjoys documenting insect observations on iNaturalist, hiking, and exploring Washington with her husband and dog.

Cost: $25
Financial aid slots available