Vol. 1 (1981), No. 7

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MINNESOTA

HERPETO~OGICAL

SOCIETY.

NEWSLETTER NUMBER 7

VOLUME I DECEMBER MEETING Friday, Dec. 4, 1981 8:00 PM Room 225, Smith Hall University of Minnesota

The Dec. meeting will be presented by Siah St. Clair, Naturalist Coordinator at . the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley. The program will be on photographic' 'tecnniques with reptiles and amphibians. If you've wondered why your shots never come out the way you planned them, this is your chance to learn how to do it right. The program will be illustrated with both "right" and "wrong" slides.

MHS continues to grow. We now have a total of 67 members! 47 attended the Nov. meeting • . A decision was made by the membership at the Nov. meeting to change the time and day for meetings in 1982. The new day will be the first Thursday of the month, and the time 7:00. This will begin with the January meeting.

In case you missad them at the last meeting, the "Critters" were a nice assortment of Rat Snakes. They'were: Corn Snake (both normal and albino) Great Plains Rat Snake Yellow Rat Snake (adult and juvenile) Grey Ray Snake (adult and juvenile) Ladder Rat Snake (Elaphe scalaria) These were brought by Bruce and Connie Delles and Del Jones. Thanks from MHS!

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, The Nov. meeting was pure dynamitel As advertised, it was one not to miss. Theprogram was illustrated with a wide variety of live Cobras and other Elapids.

Handling techniques were demonstrated with several of the specimens, along with safety, precautions. A really neat idea was the combination transport/hide boX used to transport animals to and from the meeting. The construction was 3/4" pine, with slide doors made from 1/8" plastic covered hard board of the type used in bathrooms. It was amazing to watch a large Cobra disappear"into one of these boxes with little or no coaxing. A sketch is shown below .

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY DIRECTORY OFFICERS Oelvin Jones

Terry Odegaard

President

938-8555

V1ce-Pres1dent

544-6406

Connie Delles

Secretary-Treasurer

938路1679

Jim Gerholdt

I

Newsletter Editor

507-652-2996

John Dee

Member-At-Large

699-8859

8ruce Oellen

Member-at-lug_

931-16 79

Klr 1 Herman"

IIembeo,.."t-Large

215-6784

WANTED: Books and Journals in the field of Herpetology.' Help build your MHS library!

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An alarming trend has come to light recently regarding large constrictors.

There are many, many of these currentlj being held in private collections.

This in itself is no problem. What is a problem is the apparent carelessness with which these snakes are treated and handled. The Nov. Newsletter had an article and picture of a Florida man who had become entangled and subsequently disenchanted with his 14' Reticulated Python. He was lucky! Herp Review 11(4), 1980 ran an article relating how a Kentucky man was killed by his Retic. This snake was approximately 13' long. The Minneapolis Tribune on Monday, Nov. 10, 1980, carried an article about a 7 month old girl in Dallas who was killed by an 8' Retic that had escaped from its cage. The purpose here is not to imply that Retics are more dangerous than other large constrictors. Any large constrictor is potentially dangerous! The feeding response of an otherwise II tame II snake can turn it into a real nasty animal instantly. If you keep large constrictors, be aware of the potential danger and be careful. It's a good idea to have a helper when you are working lithe big ones". If you must work alone, install a full length mirror in your work area. This way, if you get wrapped up in your work, you can see the head or tail if they're behind you. Another problem with these accidents is the righteous wrath they bring down on all of us. I'm sure the Kentucky man felt "it can't happen to me". But it did! Be aware and be careful!

BREEDING NOTES Breeding~

from Dec. AAZPA Newsletter

National Zoological Park 28 Rainbow Boa ... 6 Rufous-beaked Snake' 1 Giant Day Gecko Kansas City Zoological Park 4 Tokay Gecko Busch Gardens, Tampa 9 American Alligator San'Diego Zoo 3 Leopard Gecko 2 Desert Rosy Boa 7 Sinaloan Milk Snake Dallas Zoo 1 Coahuilan Box Turtle 8 Urutu 4 Trans=Pecos Rat Snake 5 Lower California Speckled Rattlesnake 8 Pueblan Kingsnake 3 Jalisco Kingsnake 6 Thayer's Kingsnake 3 Sinaloan Kingsnake 4 Arizona Mountain Kingsnake 4 California Mountain Kingsnake 9 Bismark Ringed Python Philadelphia Zoological Garden 1 False Water Cobra San Antonio Zoological Gardens 3 Honduran Milk Snake 3 Gascony Viper 3 Taylor's Cantil

Mem~his

Zoo an~ Aquarium 1 Leop'ard Gecko 13 Madagascan Ground Boa . John Ball.Zoo (Grand Rapids, Michigan) 7 Prairie Rattlesnake Gladys Porter Zoo (Brownsville) 5 Gray Banded Kingsnake

Rio Grande Zoological Park (Albuquerque) 5 Mangrove Snake 53 West African Gaboon Viper' The Columbus Zoo 12 Maculate Gecko 1 South American Tortoise 1 Giant Hill Tortoise 17 Palestine Saw-Scaled Viper 2 Yellow Margined Box Turtle 2 Puff Adder 3 Malayan Pit Viper 1 Red Cheeked Mud Turtle 13 Red Spitting Cobra

All members are reminded of the library policy. If you check out a book and neglect to ~eturn it at the following meeting, you will be fined $1.00 per book.

The IICritter of the Monthll for December will be any and all species of tortoise.

We need more participation if we are to continue this meeting feature! Please pitch in and let Bruce or Connie know what you plan to bring. Suggestions for future meetings are welcome.

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"Is this your first stampede?"

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY DELICATESSEN REMEMBER-After each meeting we will have available our featured take-out items.

FRESH FROZEN MICE-$3.00 per dozen FRESH FROZEN RATS-JUMBO SIZE-$1.50

Remember, if you want ra t s or m,·ce, they are available by reservation only.

Please let Bruce or Connie know your needs.

CLASSIFIEDS

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JUST IMAGINE -

I'LL DO THE REST

DESIGNING 8c CREATING FINE JEWELRY

CALL FOR ApPOINTMENT

10 A.M. TO 7 P.M.

612/920-4049

GARY BAECHER

Leslye Olsen will have samples to show at the Dec. meeting. As i special service, all MHS members will receive a 10% discount on all orders.

LARGEST SELECTION

OF

REPTILES IN MINNESOT"

"NO" FULL LINE OF PET SUPPLIES POI' "LL ANIMAl.S

TWIN CITIES REPTILES PET SHOP

MON. - FRI.

t 0:00

...

• 8:00

EXhibits

Lectures

'58TH AVENUE NORTH

SAT. '0:00 - 8:00 SUN

Educational Programs

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Terry Odegaard's World of Reptiles

HOPKINS. MINNeSOTA 55343

'2:00· 5:00

16121938-0880

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1833 Hampshire Ave. So.

st. Louis Park, MN 55426 Phone: (612) 544·6406 .------.'

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NEWSLETTER DEADLINE .'

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The deadline for submitting ads, etc., is the 15th rif the month.

Please send to me: Jim Gerholdt P.O. Box '86

Webster, MN

55088

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MINNESOTA. HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET MINNEAPOL IS, r·lINNESOTA .55455-0104

Jarnes & Pam Gerholdt

P. O. Box 86 Webster, MN

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5/81

55088

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The Minnesota Herpetological Society is newly formed and looking for new members. As a member you will receive monthly informative newsletters and can attend monthly meetings which are highlighted with guest speakers covering a broad scope of subjects important to all herpers.

So if you'd like to exchange information and ideas with others who share your interest, please send $5.00 annual membership to: Minnesota Herpetolo~ical Society Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church Street S.E. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0104

Name_____________---...;ADy Specific Interest in Herpetology?

Address

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Home Phone No.

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Make all checks payable to: Minnesota

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