As 2016 comes to a close I would like to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Herps of Arkansas Project. Thanks to your participation the project as of 11/22/16 has 1,172 observations recorded. There are currently 105 of the 121 species recognized as occurring in the state of Arkansas represented in the project as well as 26 species currently tracked by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. For 2017 I would like to invite everyone to participate in our first Herps of Arkansas Project Big Year contest. The contest will begin at 00:01 on January 1st 2017 and will run until 00:01 on January 1st 2018. There will be some great prizes for the winners. Rules are simple, you must be a member of the Herps of Arkansas Project on Inaturalist, your observation must meet all requirements already in place to be added to the project, specimens must be observed in 2017, and your observation must be verified as research grade to be counted. I look forward to seeing what everyone finds in 2017 and good luck to those who decide to compete. -Thomas

First Prize (Most Species): “The Amphibians and Reptiles of Arkansas” Signed copy by Stanley E. Trauth, Henry W. Robison, Michael V. Plummer, and Renn Tumlison.

Second Place: “Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition” Signed copy.

Third Place: Herps of Arkansas Project “Big Year” tumbler cup.