Sarah Cross Owen

As the first herpetologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Sarah successfully inaugurated the state’s Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation chapter. In addition to conducting several research projects to better understand the reptile and amphibian populations of the state, she helped pass laws to protect venomous species from exploitation and prevent over-harvesting of freshwater turtles. She is also the co-author of “The Frogs and Toads of North Carolina,” a long-awaited field identification guide that showcases the colors, shapes, sizes and sounds of these diverse amphibian populations. Sarah is a graduate of the University of the South and the University of Georgia, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees studying wildlife and herpetology.