If you’re interested in all manner of animals scaly, squiggly and squirmy, head for the Shore on Saturday for  the seventh Great Worcester Herp Search – an outing where volunteers scour the landscape for reptiles and amphibians.

The search starts at 9 a.m. at the coastal ecology laboratory next to the Assateague Island Visitors Center on MD 611, just a few miles south of Ocean City.

A training session will feature live turtles, frogs, snakes and salamanders, and experts  will explain ways to identify them.

Last year, 138 reptiles and  amphibians, including 19 species of snakes, 15 species of frogs and turtles, along with two dozen kinds of turtles, lizards and salamanders, were found at four sites in northern Worcester County near Maryland’s coastal bays.

The annual hunt, expected to draw about 100 participants this year, helps scientists understand population trends. No animals are harmed or removed from their environment during the outing.

The search is sponsored by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Delmarva Low Impact Tourism, the  Salisbury Zoo, the state Department of Natural Resources and Salisbury University.

The event isn’t recommended for children under 9, and those under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers should bring lunch and drinks. Afternoon sessions are planned for 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Go here for more information, or call 410-213-2297.