Vol. 9 (1989), No. 7

VOLUME IX

NUMBER 7

JULY EVVSLETTER

AUGUST MEETING

DATE: Friday, August 4, 1989 TIME: 7:00 PM

PLACE: 335 Borlaug Hall St. Paul Campus Un lversi ty of Minnesota

PROGRAM: The Herpetofauna of Aruba SPEAKER: Jim Gerho ldt For some time Jim Gerholdt has been 1nvolved with the Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unjcoJor) Species Survival Plan Program. As an ex-officlO member of the Propagation Group he raised over $1300 from var10us sources (1ncluding MHS) as well as matching funds from the Minnessota Zoo to be used for project expenses. Earlier this year Jim travelled to Aruba to assist 1n the study be1ng conducted. In his presentat10n, Jim w1l1 expla1n the purpose and plan of the Aruba Island Rattlesnake Project. He will also discuss his experiences as well as the other species encountered on the trip.

CRITTER OF THE MONTH: "Island Herps" - No herp is an 1sland unto itself) however, 1f your herp came from an island, visited one once, or ought to be exiled to one, bring it to the next meeting!

uPCOrvllNG PROGRAMS: The following programs are be1ng p1anned. More informat10n w111 be available ln future newsletters.

- Lizard husbandry Allen Anderson Wayne Hill - Large collections or venomous spec1es Bill and Kathy Love - Breeding and Genetics of Com Snake~

BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET S.E. • , MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455-0104 ,

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

At the July meeting) John Meltzer gave an interesting and very informative presentation on the care and maintenance of large collect1ons. John currently cares ror over 200 an1mals as well as works a full-time job. He has developed an efficient schedule for cleaning and feeding his animals. He has sub-div1ded his collection by group, which includes Sand Boas, Western Hognose Snakes, Milk Snakes, and others. Each group 1s fed and cleaned on the1r apPointed night.

Cage maintenance ;s made simple by using stackab1e cages that were sized to fit a full-size sheet of newspaper. The newspaper also a11 ows John to check on the health of hl s animals because the stool and parasites are easily seen. John does mucrl of his own health care which includes a routine quarentine and de-worming of all new animals. He emphasized t.he need to develop a good working relationship with a veterinarian. John feeds all of his animals by maintaining a large colony of rats and mice. He spends at least one night each week tak1ng cat~e of his snake food!

Following the program there was a gOOd d1scuss1on session. No doubt) John would be glad to answer questions of members who need help with their animals.

The purpose of the M1nnesota Herpetolog1cal Soc1ety is: to further the educat10n of the membersh1p and the general public in care and captive propagation of reptiles and amph1bians; to educate. the membership and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians; and to promote the stUdy and conservation of reptnes and amphibians.

MHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER NEWSLETTER EDITOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-A T-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

John ~1or;arty Aaron Hampton Kate Anderson Gloria Anton Jo Anne Wethere 1I-Moriarty Fred Bosman Scott Cords Bruce Ha1g Cl1ff Lindberg Ann Porwoll

(612) (715) (612) (612) (612) (6 12) (612)

647-1334 425-7565 222-3500 420-2603 647-1334 476-0306 757-9759 (612) 789-4637 (612) 572-8834 (6 12) 489-7853

(ÂŁ\Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society. The contents of this newsletter may be reproduced for inclus10n in the newsletters of other herpetolog1cal SOCieties provided that the material is reproduced without change and proper credits are given to the MHS Newsletter- citing volume number and date.

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JULY BOARD MEETING

The July board meeting was rlE:1d on July 15 at the horne of John Moriarty and Jo Anne Wetherell-Mor1arty. The meeting was called to order at 7:36. In attendance were Gloria Anton) Scott Cords) Bruce Delles, Bruce Haig) Nancy Haig, Aaron Hampton) Cliff L1ndberg) John Moriarty, Ann Porwoll, and Jo Anne Wetherell-Moriarty.

The m1nutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Attendance at the general meet1ng was 80. The Treasurer's report was presented and approved. "John reported on the progress made on the plans for the I g90 Midwest Herp Symposium. The Bell Museum w111 prov1de a meeting room at no charge. Since the Radisson University is already booked, another hotel wl1l have to be found, possibly the Days Inn in that area. A committee meeting will be needed in August. A flyer is needed to be handed out at the 1989 symposium in St. Louis. Aaron reviewed the tentative line-up of speakers for the coming months.

Old Business: The photo contest has a cha1rman. Jim Adams volunteeered. There was a brief discussion about consolidating the categorles. The picnic was discussed. No one has volunteered to help Liz. August 20 was set as the date. The work on the cages for the State Fa1r 1s almost complete. Bruce and Nancy agreed to paint them. More volunteers are needed to attend to the exh1bit during the fair. Conservation Days at the Minnesota Zoo was discussed. It was felt that this was not worth the time since the public did not seem interested in any of the exhibits. Only a few members particlpated. MHS should not take part next year. The adoption committee is still in need of alternates. John had sent a letter to Minnesota and Como Zoos thanking them for 7 years of cooperation with referrals for adoption animals. A letter of reply from the M1rmesota Zoo indicated that they plan to cont1nue working with MHS. There was not yet a response from Como Zoo. New Business: John presented an idea for a thank you gift to the legislators who had sponsored the bill to do away with the rattlesnake bounty. Barney Oldfield has agreed to provide prints of h1s rattlesnake photo. MHS could cover the cost of matting, framing and engraving of a plaque.

Nancy Haig could get this done at work with her discount. The board agreed to do this. John discussed the possibllity of implement1ng a volunteer reward pol1cy. Several ideas were discussed. One to be lmplemented will be providing refreshments for vO'lunteer act1vities. A motion was made and passed to purchase several cages for use by the display committee.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:35.

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COMMITTEE REPORTS PICNIC COMMITTEE - Liz Bosman needs someone to help with organizing the picnic. Contact Liz. PHOTOGRAPY CONTEST - Jim Adams volunteered to cha1r this committee. Categories for entries will be reviewed and announced in the near future.

SOCIETY HISTORIAN - Someone is still needed to organ1ze the society's scrapbook and gather information on past and present MHS activit1es. Contact John Mor1arty.

AOOPTION COMMITTEE - Several alternates are needed. Contact Fred Bosman.

STATE FAIR COMMITTEE - Scott Cords has done an excellent job of redesigning the cage set-up.

Cages should be more safer for the both the animals and the people working with them. A few volunteers will be needed to install the cages and help wit.h clean-up and preparation for the exhibit. Contact Kate Anderson.

REFRESHMENTS

Please volunteer to brfng refreshments to a meeting. Refreshments need not be homemade.

Store-bought items are welcome. Get together with a friend or two to do one meet1ng. Your help 1s needed or there will be no refreshments. Contact Brenda Bell at 429-1205 or see her at a meeting.

INOUIRING MHS MINDS WANT TO KNOW

by C. Jackson, Roving Reporter

A report sent to this newsletter by an anonymous source described a startl1ng 11zard-like behavior observed in two MHS members at the July meeting. This couple) who keep numerous lizards as pets, were reportedly doing strange "tongue flicks" at each other and wiping thetr faces. To quote the anonymous source, .. Is tllis a summer ritual or some strange mating behavior we should be watchiog for? ". As a fo llow-up this reporter visited the coup le (who we wi 11 call Bob and Millie) at home. Bob and Mi llie were observed perching on the arms of furniture. Any insects that flew past them were quickly snatched from the air and carried away to some unknown fate. Both 1ike to sunbathe on a warm rock. Other members, who recently vfsited, reported that Bob and M111ie are developing unusually long nails and have been quite "snappy" late ly.

Th1s reporter also interviewed Dr. Ken Deylor noted clinician of the University of Minnesota Hospital, to whom t.he case had been referred by the local animal control officer. Dr. Deylor said that this is the strangest case he has encountered in his career and he feels that it may be an affliction related to the keeping of herps. He requests that MH5 members watch for this behavior in their fellow members and notify him of any new cases. Dr. Deylor plans to document the ailment in hopes of winning the Nobel Prize in Veterinary and/or Human Medicine. With the prlze money he hopes to retire tb Central America and continue the elusive search for Honduran Mllksnakes. p

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ANNUAL MHS PICNIC DATE: Sunday) August 20, 1989 TIME: 11 :00 AM to 5:00 PM PLACE: Plymoutrl Uons Park

Grills wlll be set up; br1ng your own barbeque foods. Br1ng a dessert or salad to share. r1HS will supply corn on the cob and munchies. Activltles will lnclude volleyball and the ever popular turtle races. Playground equipment is aval1able for the youngsters. H1king and biking tralls and a city beach are within a few blocks.

DIRECTIONS: Take Highway 55 west to Co. Rd. 6. Turn left on Juneau (2nd left after going over Hwy. 494). The park is at the intersection of ,Juneau and 14th. Or from Hwy. 494 turn south on Fernwood ( 1st road after 494). Turn west on Co. Rd 6 then same as above.

See Map.

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HI NTS fOR SAFE HERP KEEPI NG

by Kate Anderson

Because of' a recent highly publicized account of a python biting its owner, I offer my notes from a paper presented at the IHS in Phoenix, AZ in June: "A Safe Practical Facility for- Breeding Large Pythons" by Ernie Wagner, The Dean of Captive BrerJ Reptiles) Seattle) WA.

!. Area must be secure, witt"! no h1ding places t'or the animals.

2. Cages must not be stackecJ above eye level.

3. Wiring sllould be inside conduit and the l1ght protected.

4. Water d1shes are best enclosed to prevent t iDPing.

5, Large pythons require space. Ern1e's cages are 18" x 2' x8', 6. Heat tape runs rull-Iength on the cage floor, although it might be better to run it along on end.

7. The cages are of plywood bonded to linoleum and si l1coned in the corners to provide easy cleaning,

8. All thermostats, rheostats, etc. are behind the cages and out of the way of the animals.

9. A wooden box on casters 1s aval1able for hold1ng an animal during cage cleaning or for moving an' animal from one cage to another, 10. Only one animal per cage.

11. Never feed and clean at the same time as it only confuses the snake.

12. A snake st.ick made from a metal garden rake can come In handy.

13. Carry a hunt1ng knife on your belt for prying open a snake's mouth if bitten.

(Note: You can always replace a snake.)

14. Shields can be made of clear plexiglass for securlng the snake in one areas of the cage. It st"lould be clear to allow you to see the snake and vice versa.

15. If all else failS, and you gener'ally work alone with your collect1on have a trusty guard dog for protectlon. Ernie's is a Basset Hound.

J

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,JUNIOR HERPETOlOGI ST

John Stevenson is a herpetologist studying turtles in Big Lake, Minnesota, "So What", you might say. John is 8 years old and has been study1ng repttles for several years already. John used to be interested in snakes too, but now he's concentrating mainly on turtles (smart kid!). Lately he's been leaming about Bland1ng's Turtles in the area between Black's and M1tchell's Lakes in Sherburne County. He catches them, keeps them for about two weeks, and then returns them.

John is a true conservat10n1st. He erected a turtle crossing s1gn to wam people not to dr1Ve over them. Just wait a few years and John Stevenson will be addressing.MHS on his latest herpetologlcal research. ( Excerpted from a newspaper article provided by John Meltzer)

HERPING HERE AND THERE

The newsletter of the M1ch1gan Society of Herpetologists (June) repr1nteda recent newspaper article ca11ed "Snakes on Sale" from the Detroit Free Press. A reporter d1d a story on the ease at which hot snakes can be obtained by the general public. He and a Ph.D. Biology student from the University of M1chigan placed a phone order with a Florida herp dealer. The reporter fnterviewed several employees of the herp dealer, Dr. Findlay Russell, an expert on venomous reptiles, and Steve Graham, Director of Detroit Zoo. All 1n all it painted a very bad p1cture of herp keepers. Included in the same newsletter was a list of recommendat1ons for keeping of hot snakes.

League of Florida Herpetological Societies (June) had an article, "Cag1ng Considerations for Lizards and Snakes" by Winston C. Card, Herpetologist at the Central Florida Zoo. The July issue of the same newsletter contained "Selecting Healthy Specimens", also by Winston C. Card. Both articles are well worth reading, especially for the beginning herpetologist. This newsletter has a regular column called "Some I1ke It Hot". The May column was on "Venomous Reptile Etiquette" and has some excellent recommendations.

The Forked Tongue (May)) newsletter of the Greater Dayton Herp Society) included "The Responsibi1.ity of the Herpetologist to the Public and Reptiles" by Jim Harrison of the f1iami Valley Serpentarium. This 1s a good article about thinking before you buy a herp, your responsibi llty in caring for reptiles and for pub lic safety.

The newsletter of the Iowa Herp Socfety (June) has several interesting articles. "Genus Heterodon -- Unique and Personable" by Allen Anderson is about Hognose snakes. It describes the 1nteresting behavior of these snakes as well as the procedure for switching them from eating toads to eating mice. "Veterinary Medicine and the Herpetologist" by John Dl11berger is a repr1nt of a 1979 arti91e but as the editor says, .. its message is timeless and bears repeating ". This article has some sound advice about working w1th veterinarians.

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PHOTO CONTEST COMING SOON

Have you taken your camera out of hibernation yet? July is Just about over but you still have a few months to t.ak.e those prize-winning herp photos. Don't wait unti I the last. minute, Trle categories are being reviewed but no doubt we will have "herps and peop Je" and "herps in a natural setting", Don't forget the "People's Choice" award. Watch for detal1s in future newsletters,

1989 PRINT RECIPIENTS Each year the wi nning illustration from the illustration contest is made into a print. These prints are presented to MHS members wllo have joined at the contributing or sustaining level.

At. the July meeting pl~lnts were presented to trle people listed below_ Kate Anderson Fred Bosvay Bruce De 11 es David Hoppe Jim 11ead Ann Porwoll 路.James Rea and Fam i 1\1 Ted Scl13ve and Farnliv

Glorla Anton Vincent J. Congro James Ellis Delvin "Jones John and Rutr'! ~1eltzer Paul Spencer Ct',ri s Thorson

Dave Weir,er

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Fred and Uz Bosman Seo tt and Chery 1Cords Bruce and Nancy Haig

Tom

~1cKinley

Morgan Nederh1ser and Famlly Barney Oldfield and Family Terry and Becky Scheiber Jorln Mori arty and Jo Anne Wethere 1l-~'10r1arty

CLASSifiED ADS MHS DELI: Order' frozen rats and rat pups no later than 7:00 PM the f'1onday before the meeting.

Call Bruce at 593-0298 to place an order. L1mlt: 3 dozen pups or 6 adult rats.

Fresh frozen rats - $ 2. 00 each Fresh frozen rat pups - $5.00 per dozen FOR SALE: c.b. Columbian Rainbow Boas $50. ea.; c.h. Amel. Corns $30. ea.; c.h. Okeetee Corns $20. ea.; c.h. Western Hognose $ 25. ea.; c.h. Leopard Geckos $20. ea. Other boids available later in year. Contact John Meltzer at (612) 263-7880.

FOR SALE/TRADE: 2.2 Mexican Black Kingsnakes, c.h. 6/S9 $1 OO/pr; 3.3 Sonoran Desert K1ngsnakes, c.h. 6/89 $55.1pr; 1.1 Ca11forn1a K1ngsnakes, albino and hetero, 175.1pr; 0.0.1 Rough Green Snake, $15. Aaron Hampton, 1135 S. Fork Dr.) River Fa 11s, WI 54022, (715) 425-7565. TC de l1very.

FOR SALE: 2.0 1 year-old Corn Snakes $25. ea.; 0.1 3 year-old Corn Snake $45. ; 1.2 Darwin Mice $10. ea.; 1 15" x IS" x 3' wood and plexlg1ass cage; 0.1 6" 路Gold Marine Toad. Call Dav1d at (612) 444-9775.

FOR SALE: 1.0 5' Northern Pine Snake, great pet $150.; 0.0.1 Pinecone Skink $350.; 1.1 Peruvian Red-footed Tortooises) extra red heads and legs) $250/pr; 1.1 captive raised adult Blotched Kingsnakes $ 175.1pr. Must se 11! Moving out of state! Call Fran at (612) 222-6508.

FOR SALE: Isla San Esteban Iguanas, Puerto R1can Boas, Boa Constrictors, Eastern Indigos, Cal Kings, and albino Ratsnakes. Can deliver to La Crosse area. SASE for list. Ed Stone, P.O. Box 17961, Milwaukee, WI 53217, (414) 466-8165, After August (608) 6434558.

FOR SALE: 10' tanned Burmese Python Skin, great pet, clean, cheap to feed, $100. Call John Moriarty at (612) 647-1334.

FOR SALE: c.b. Boa Const. $120 ea., $200.lpr; Rabbits $1.50/1b.; Rats ~ Large adult 50/$60. pinkies 50/$23.; Mice - hoppers 50/$23., pinkies 50/$20. Call Jeff Ronne at (612) 431-6813.

WANTED: Adult Boa Const. Trades or cash paid. Jeff Ronne) see ad above.

WANTED: Adult female Hermann's tortoise. Long-term captive preferred. Call John Moriarty at (612) 647-1334.

INSTRUCTIONS: Ads are run as a free service to members. Paid ads from non-members are not accepted. Ads for venomous speCies, illegal species, or Sick animals will not be run. MHS takes no responsibility for legality or health of any animal advertised here. Size of ads 1s limited to 4 typed lines or 1 standard size busines;3 card. Deadline for all newsletter items is the 15th of the month. Send all newsletter items to : ATTN: Newsletter Editor, Minnesota Herpetological Society, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. SE, M1nneapol is, MN' 55455-0104

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

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