Goddard Park Naturalist Program

After a successful season, I will be returning the animals to their homes ( where I originally found them). Most likely Friday of Labor Day weekend, as Saturday and Sunday will consist of cleaning and preparing the tanks for storage.

Come by and say hello/goodbye before the season is over 😁🐸🐟🦗🦀🦐

This summer has been great! I’ve learned a lot and helped the community learn as well. Come say hello and goodbye to the animals as the Naturalist program will be concluding for the year after Labor Day.

Our American Toad loves to camouflage as much as he likes to come out when it rains 🌧🐸

The crafts table is always set up when I’m here !

Some great artists have come by and painted and created all kinds of things 🐠

This Goby was found by our maintenance workers when cleaning up the beach. He was found in a beer bottle that washed up on shore. Pollution drastically affects the environment in negative ways, but small fish like gobies use bottles/cans for protection.

Tropical Tiger Barb’s are the newest edition at Goddard ! Although these aren’t found locally, I included a tropical tank to showcase the diversity between different parts of the world. The bright colors associated with tropical fish reflect their adaptions to their environment (ex.coral) so they blend in better. Just like most fish in Rhode Island are dark to match the substrate and rocks here.

Come say Hello this Saturday and Sunday for ocean themed arts and crafts! I will be there Saturday 10-5:30pm and Sunday 8-6pm.

You’ll find me in the Bathhouse down near the beach, and I’ll be happy to help the kids with their crafts anytime of day 🐠

Goddard Park is also Home to Bullfrogs ! These tadpoles were taken from the pond where, over the span of 3 weeks, we watched them begin the metamorphosis process into adults. A few tadpoles sprouted their legs, with one growing their arms!🐸

The tadpoles were released back into their natural environment to ensure the highest chance of survival. Another tank will host new tadpoles soon.

Our Salt Marsh tank is home to two species of crab. The mud fiddler crab ( native ) and the Asian shore crab ( invasive ). These crabs enjoy burying themselves in the sand 🦀

Our Eastern worm snake shed it’s skin today! A positive sign for a healthy snake 🐍 come check them out !

Our first live exhibit will be available to view this weekend!

We have an Eastern worm snake 🐍

This is a very common species of snake in the East. Nothing endangered or threatened will be kept in captivity, and I will immediately release any fish or other animals that are not doing well in their new environment.