The Calusa Herpetological Society Of Southwest Florida

Thursday, July 2, 2026 - 7:00 pm 

Speaker Information: This month's speaker will be longtime member Curt Harbsmeier. The title of her talk is "Here's looking at you kid"...a Tale from Casablanca to the Sahara...Herping in the Sahara.

In his talk, Curt will show a variety of herps from cobras to puff adders to Uromastyx to Spanish pond turtles, as he traveled from Morocco to the Sahara desert. He will show us whey this is a herper's paradise. Curt is an attorney in central Florida with a lifelong passion for wildlife and conservation.  Among other things, he has worked with captive crocodilians and other herps for over 40 years.  He is an Executive Board Member of ZooTampa at Lowry Park and is involved in numerous conservation organizations and activities.  Curt is also the Vice Chairman, Legal Affairs, Steering Committee, of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group. He and Colette Adams are responsible for holding the CrocFest events and won the 2026 Castillo Award for supporting the conservation of crocodilians.

After the meeting, you are invited to join us at a nearby restaurant (announced at the meeting) for more herp discussions and camaraderie over food and drinks. See you there! $5.00 for non-members per meeting or buy a year membership ($25 individual) or ($30 family/business). The address of the Calusa Nature Center is 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905.

WHO'S INVITED? You are! Anyone with an interest in any aspect of herpetology or herpetoculture is welcome to attend, learn, and exchange their experiences with our friendly membership. Come out to meet others who keep, breed or study reptiles and amphibians, and let them share their fascination with you. We average 10 - 20 people attending every meeting.