Oklahoma Biological Survey

Oklahoma Biological Survey Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Oklahoma Biological Survey, 111 Chesapeake Street, Norman, OK.

Youth STEM Summer Camp for rising 8th and 9th graders held at the OU Biological Station, June 15 - June 19, 2026. Please...
05/29/2026

Youth STEM Summer Camp for rising 8th and 9th graders held at the OU Biological Station, June 15 - June 19, 2026. Please see flier for details. Deadlines are quickly approaching and scholarships are available.

Tune in for the scoop on Rich Mountain SalamandersšŸŽ§Two Oklahoma Biological Survey scientists were recently featured alon...
05/29/2026

Tune in for the scoop on Rich Mountain SalamandersšŸŽ§

Two Oklahoma Biological Survey scientists were recently featured alongside colleagues from ODWC and the US Forest Service in a KGOU radio story about the Rich Mountain Salamanders of the Ouachita National Forest.

Rich Mountain Salamanders can only be found in the Ouachita mountains, and Oklahoma represents the western extent of their range (as well as many other salamander species). Therefore, population sizes are far lower (and more vulnerable) than in other parts of their range. What's more, these amphibian species are bioindicators-- their anatomy makes them extremely sensitive to environmental changes in temperature, moisture, and water quality. So, the presence and size of Oklahoma salamander populations can tell us a lot about the health of their ecosystems.

To listen to the full story, visit the link below:

https://www.kgou.org/science-technology-and-environment/2026-05-28/what-a-small-forest-animal-can-tell-us-about-oklahomas-environment

05/27/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend?

Check out the FREE 2026 Arcadia Lake BioBlitz this Friday (5/29) and Saturday (5/30) in Edmond!

A BioBlitz is a rapid ecological assessment of an area at a given time. The idea is simpleā€”catalog as much biodiversity as you can in the park over a 24-hour period. To structure this task, thereā€™s a full slate of hikes and educational sessions led by experts. From birds to lichen, thereā€™s something for everyone!
Activities will go into the evening hours on Friday with a moth night, bat activity, and night sky viewing led by the OKC Astronomy Club. Thereā€™s even an option to stay overnight and camp at the park for $8.

Check out more details, including the full schedule, and register to attend at the link below:

https://edmondok.civicrec.com/OK/edmond-ok-parks-recreation/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTE2OTA0MDg=

We're proud to announce the publication of "A Naturalist's Guide to Oklahoma" by Dr. Priscilla Crawford, coordinator of ...
05/26/2026

We're proud to announce the publication of "A Naturalist's Guide to Oklahoma" by Dr. Priscilla Crawford, coordinator of the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory!

From the Gulf Coastal Plain home to alligators and palmettos in the southeastern corner of the state to high plains and mesas dotted with ponderosa pine and big horn sheep in the panhandle, Oklahoma teems with biodiversity and surprisingly variable topography. More than 2,000 species of plants and 800 vertebrate animals, including 450 different birds, fill the stateā€™s distinct ecoregions. In A Naturalistā€™s Guide to Oklahoma, the first comprehensive exploration of these ecoregions, professional biologist Priscilla Crawford celebrates the natural diversity found across the state and in residentsā€™ own backyards.

Learn more, order your copy, and check out Dr. Crawford's book tour schedule at the link below:

https://www.ou.edu/biosurvey/book

šŸ¢Happy World Turtle Day!šŸ¢There are 18 turtle species native to Oklahoma, and to celebrate the occasion, we asked three h...
05/23/2026

šŸ¢Happy World Turtle Day!šŸ¢

There are 18 turtle species native to Oklahoma, and to celebrate the occasion, we asked three herpetologists from around the OK Biological Survey and the Sam Noble Museum to tell us their favorites:

Hannah Eichelberger, the Herpetology Collection Manager is a fan of the Yellow Mud Turtle, a small, semi-aquatic turtle that inhabits ephemeral and semi-permanent wetlands throughout the Great Plains, with Oklahoma representing the eastern extent of the species' range. Compared to other North American turtles, yellow mud turtles have one of the shortest annual activity periods-- just 140 days from April to mid-July! The rest of the year is spent terrestrially either estivating during hot, dry conditions or overwintering during colder months. Yellow Mud Turtles are known for emitting a strong musk, which they release as a defense mechanism when threatened.

Owen Edwards, OBS heritage biologist and a herpetologist by training, voted for the Ornate Box Turtle, one of only two terrestrial turtle species in Oklahoma. When threatened, these turtles can completely close their head and legs in their shell. Another neat fact is that female Ornate Box Turtles will have gold or brown eyes and males will have red eyes. Owen's favorite part about them is their unique and vibrant shell pattern- it's hard to beat!

Lastly, Dr. Cam Siler, herpetologist and director of the OBS, said his favorite Oklahoma species is the Western Chicken Turtle. This medium sized aquatic turtle has a dark shell and a yellow underbelly. These turtles can be difficult to study because they come together to mate for a relatively short amount of time, as temperatures warm, and are then thought to disperse across their range.

What's your favorite Oklahoma turtle species?

Looking for something fun this weekend?Join the Oklahoma Biological Survey at Lake Thunderbird State Park for a park-wid...
05/20/2026

Looking for something fun this weekend?

Join the Oklahoma Biological Survey at Lake Thunderbird State Park for a park-wide BioBlitz on Saturday, May 23rd!

Congratulations!šŸŽ‰šŸøYesterday, Dr. Cam Siler, director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey and a team of collaborators were ...
05/19/2026

Congratulations!šŸŽ‰šŸø

Yesterday, Dr. Cam Siler, director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey and a team of collaborators were awarded a $20,000 seed grant from a multi-departmental initiative to elevate place-based environmental research at OUā€™s field stations.
Their funded proposal is titled: "Genomics of Population Resilience: Linking Place-Based Environmental Monitoring and Disease Ecology in Oklahoma Treefrog."

The green tree frog is atypical among Oklahoma amphibians in that its range is rapidly expanding. At the same time, the species demonstrates lower pathogen loads and susceptibility to disease than co-occurring amphibians. Cam's team combines historical and contemporary species surveys, weather/climate data, and disease ecology methods to study population health and resilience amidst environmental change.

Cam's interdisciplinary team brings together collaborators from the OK Biological Survey, Sam Noble Museum, Oklahoma Mesonet, OU School of Biological Sciences and OU Health Sciences Center.

Keep up the great work!

Today is Endangered Species Day!Did you know the Oklahoma Biological Survey plays a critical role in keeping track of ou...
05/15/2026

Today is Endangered Species Day!

Did you know the Oklahoma Biological Survey plays a critical role in keeping track of our state's endangered species? The Oklahoma Natural Heritage Program at the OBS is responsible for maintaining an inventory of the state's rare and endangered species, species of special concern, and significant ecological communities. Heritage biologists conduct field inventories of rare species and communities to gather current information about the state's biodiversity. We provide this information for environmental planning, resource management, protection of significant natural areas, endangered species review, and biological research and education.

Congratulations grads!šŸŽ‰Abigail Triemstra is graduating this weekend with her Master of Science in Biology! During her ma...
05/14/2026

Congratulations grads!šŸŽ‰

Abigail Triemstra is graduating this weekend with her Master of Science in Biology! During her masterā€™s program at the Oklahoma Biological Survey, she researched passerine birds at the Tar Creek Superfund Site, a former mining area in northeast Oklahoma. Her work focused on the birdsā€™ exposure to heavy metals such as lead, zinc, and cadmium. She also examined the influence of species, migratory strategy, and capture location on metal concentrations in blood and feathers. This research culminated in her excellent thesis, "Factors Affecting Heavy Metal Exposure in Passerine Birds at the Tar Creek Superfund Site".

Recently, Abigail has been working with the USDA Wildlife Service conducting wildlife management at Oā€™Hare International Airport, and she plans to continue that work after graduation.

Well done, Abigail! Congratulations!šŸŽ‰

Congratulations grads!šŸŽ‰This weekend is Spring Commencement at OU, and we are wishing Oklahoma Biological Survey students...
05/12/2026

Congratulations grads!šŸŽ‰

This weekend is Spring Commencement at OU, and we are wishing Oklahoma Biological Survey students well on their way to new things, starting with Illiyana Ferguson!

Illiyana is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Anthropology. She contributed to the Crawford lab at the Oklahoma Biological Survey by conducting field work and research on milkweed and Monarch butterfly development. Illiyana also worked as the Heritage Inventory Data Analyst to compile reports for Oklahoma's endangered species, a role which she will continue as a masters student in Plant Biology, working in the Souza Lab at OU this Fall.

You can catch up with Illiyana over the summer at her Art Walk booth in Norman where she sells crafts and illustrations, many of which feature native Oklahoma plants and animals.

Congratulations Illiyana!šŸŽ‰

Happy Motherā€™s Day from the Oklahoma Biological Survey!There's a lot of wildlife in Oklahoma making preparations right n...
05/10/2026

Happy Motherā€™s Day from the Oklahoma Biological Survey!

There's a lot of wildlife in Oklahoma making preparations right now to become new parents. Canada Geese tend to be fairly common and easy to spot in urban areas. Over the last few weeks, they've been pairing off and building their nests. Pretty, soon you'll start to see the parents leading around a troop of goslings if you haven't already!

Address

111 Chesapeake Street
Norman, OK
73019

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14053251985

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