Hello Everyone! In the future, #UGASREL's account will no longer be active 🫤. We've enjoyed interacting with all of you over the years🩷. There are many ways to connect with us on social media. Follow us on #Instagram, #Facebook, and #LinkedIn. Our handle is @UGASREL.

Drs Payton Phillips & @MekalaSund discuss how #community #ecology of invasive and resident #ticks drives infection dynamics. #Amblyomma #americanum #Rhipicephalus #microplus #Haemaphysalis #longicornis @UGASREL @ugavetmed @UGA_IDIS @universityofga https://t.co/xVY2dfYXtM

This Labor Day, we want to take the time to thank all of the hard workers whose dedication and strength continue to drive progress and leave a lasting impact on our communities. We deeply value all of the hard work that you do. #UGASREL #LaborDay #EmployeeAppreciation

Did you know that mosquitoes urinate while they feed on blood? This helps them avoid getting too full and allows them to get more nutrients from their meal. #washyourhands #takeashower #mosquito #nature #entomology

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly's life cycle can be observed on the Passionflower Vine. The adult butterfly lays eggs, which develop, change colors, and pupate into a new adult butterfly. #nature #pollinators #entomology

#SREL partnered with the SRNS #Media Group to update and create new videos highlighting various #wildlife projects being completed on the Savannah River Site. These videos will tell the story of various threatened and endangered animals on site. Look for them soon.📽️

🐍 It’s #snake baby season! How do we know this snake was born this year? A tell-tale sign is an umbilical scar. Black racers lay eggs, and the umbilical scar is an opening through which the nutrient-rich yolk is absorbed during development. Over time, this scar will fade away.

Outreach team members set traps made from trash cans to see what they could catch. They expected to find crayfish but were excited to catch a greater siren! Greater sirens (Siren lacertina) feed on aquatic invertebrates, such as crayfish and insect larvae. #amphibian #wetland

⛳ Snakes sometimes mistake #golf balls for #eggs, risking their lives if they eat them. Rat #snakes help control disease-carrying rodents, so it's a small price to let them have an occasional egg. Thankfully, we were able to save this snake. #herpetology #chickens

Conservation Matters! Though thriving in #Florida, these snakes are considered state-imperiled (S2) in #Georgia and South Carolina due to their limited range. #SRS #SavannahRiverSite #SavannahRiver #fantasticFriday #SouthCarolina

This juvenile (neonate) Florida Green Watersnake (Nerodia floridana) was recently spotted in the field. 🌿🐍 #Weekend #FantasticFriday #HerpsofInst #snakes #UGASREL #snakelover

Owls are not the only animal recently observed molting at SREL. Check out this garden spider, Argiope aurantia, shedding its exoskeleton. #nature #spider #optoutside #themoreyourknow #UGA

🪶Molting is when a bird replaces some or all of its feathers. This intricate process demands a significant amount of energy and could take up to eight weeks to finish. #screechowl #owl #bedhead #funny

It looks like Cedar woke up with a bad case of bedhead! 😂 During the late summer, Eastern Screech #Owls (Megascops asio) molt most of their head feathers all at once. This can make them look silly until their new feathers grow back in! #birds #wildlife #Lunchtime #LunchBreak

🐸Leopard frogs are native to North America, and are characterized by their slim bodies, long legs, and pointed snouts. Their size ranges from 2 to 4 inches in length. Each species displays a unique pattern of dark spots on their backs, varying in size, shape, and color. #SREL

🐢 Found this Yellowbellied slider turtle in the road today! These turtles are commonly seen sunbathing near ponds and lakes, particularly prevalent in the Eastern region of the United States. #UGASREL #ecology #conservation #research #education #outreach #yellowbellyturtle

💡Thistle, a prickly plant with beautiful flowers, has over 200 species and historical significance. It attracts pollinators, provides food for wildlife, and has medicinal properties. #UGASREL #ecology #conservation #research #education #outreach

🪲Bess beetles are a family of beetles that are mostly found in the tropics, with a few species found in North America. Bess beetles play an important part in decomposing wood and reintroducing nutrients into ecosystems. Under the adult Bess beetle is its immature larval form!

🐀The hispid cotton #rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a moderately large rodent with a scaly, sparsely haired tail that is shorter than the combined head and body. #UGASREL #ecology #conservation #research #education #outreach #animals

Congratulations to Tom Luhring, former research technician at SREL and graduate student at #UGA, for being awarded the prestigious CAREER Award from #NSF!