New Mexico Herpetological Society celebrates turtle conservation with ‘Low ‘n’ Slow’ fundraising event

On June 1, Canteen Brewhouse held a fundraiser for the New Mexico Herpetological Society to raise awareness about the turtles, tortoises and other reptiles and amphibians of New Mexico and the Southwest, according to NMHS coordinator Max Havelka.

Canteen brewhouse brewed a turtle-themed beer called “Low ‘n’ Slow.” A portion of the beer sales will fund NMHS turtle conservation, Havelka said. The turtle-themed beer can depicts a turtle riding a bike and reads “drink beer, save turtles.”

In addition to the themed beer, the event featured live music from The Squash Blossom Boys and booths held by the Herpetological Society with stickers, t-shirts and live Sonoran desert tortoises, including three young tortoises and one older female tortoise.

“The Sonoran Desert Tortoise has slightly more stable populations in Arizona and northern Mexico,” Havelka said. “It's the most common of the desert tortoises in the southwest, but still a species of concern.”

Havelka said that one of the current conservation projects the NMHS is supporting is for the critically endangered Bolson tortois

e, which was recently introduced to Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Havelka said.

NMHS originated at the University of New Mexico in 1963, according to its website.

Current NMHS member Jeff Carlson said NMHS welcomes anyone who loves reptiles and amphibians and who supports research with a similar focus.

“We're there to support young researchers, people that want to get into the study of reptiles and amphibians … to support people working on their masters and PhD programs at UNM or (New Mexico State University), or any university in the state,” Carlson said.

Some NMHS members behind the booth toasted their “Low ‘n Slow,” beer glasses “to turtles.”

Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa

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