Vol. 16 (1996), No. 4

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

VOL. 16 NO.4

APRIL 1996

Blotched Tiger

Salamander, Ambystoma

tigrinum

Photo by James Gerholdt (see Dav Kaufman's article on page 6)

melanostictum

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 April 1996

CONTENTS News, Notes, and Announcements..........................................................

Speaker Review by Michelle Stephan......................................................

Ecoviews: How Do You Define A Wetland? by Whit Gibbons.....................

The Herpin' Lifestyle: A Road Trip to South Dakota by Dav Kaufman..........

Letters to the Editor: Marilyn Brooks Blasus............................................

Minnesota's Revised Endangered & Threatened Species List by John Moriarty What the Hecks a "Hands-On" by Sean Hewitt..........................................

MHS "Hands-On" Event Rules and Guidelines..........................................

Calendar of Events...............................................................................

MHS Business....................................................................................

Classified Ads.....................................................................................

The Minnesota Herpetological Society is a

nonprofit organization associated with tbe:

~ ~ 1

1 4 5 6 11

12 13 14 15 15 16

MRS VOICE MAIL: (612) 624·7065

JaIllL~ Ford Bell ·MII.s{,1I1ll of N:lIl1ral llistory

E-mail: mnherpsoc@aol.com

University of Minnesota

Gloria Anton (612) 420-6158

President: Vice President:

MHS Statement of Purpose: to further the education of the membership and the general public in the care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians; to educate the membership and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians; and to promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

Michael Gaunt (612) 754-8241

Membership Secretary: George Richard (612) 623-7620

MHS SPECIAL COMMITTEES Education Chair:

MHS Board of Directors

Sean Hewitt (612) 935-5845 Adoption Chair:

President

Vice President Membership Secretary Recording Secretary Treasurer

Editor Immediate Past President Member at Large Member at Large Member at Large Member at Large

Gloria Anton Michael Gaunt

George Richard Michelle Stephan Marilyn Blasus John Levell Bill Moss Chase Delles

Glen Jacobsen (612) 757-8268

Editor: John P. Levell (612) 374-5422

Donna Gaunt

Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter is published monthly by the Minnesota Herpetological Society.

Nancy Haig Mark Schmidtke

Manuscripts and advertisements may be submitted in any format, 3 112 inch IBM or Macintosh compatible disks

preferred. The publication deadline for ads is always the weekend of the MHS general meeting. Submissions should be

SNAKEBITE EMERGENCY Hennepin County Regional Poison Center

(612) 347·3141 Minnesota Poison Control System Local: (612) 221-2113 Out of State: (800) 222·1222

sent to: MHS Editor, clo The Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104. © Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society 1996.

Contents may be reproduced provided that all material is reproduced without change and proper credit is given authors and the MRS Newsletter citing; volume, number, and date.

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 1

News, Notes & Announcements Upcoming Meeting Highlights The Vice-President's Report May Program: Guest Speaker:

Venomous Snake Bites Dr. Dan Keyler

I was told when I made the decision to run for Vice-President that it was the one position on the board that nobody would wish upon their worst enemy. After Dav was forced to cancel his program due to unforeseen circumstances I understood exactly why. The nice part about a society this size, however, is that we have a wealth of speakers available, and with a small amount of persuasion, John Levell was kind enough to step in. It should also be noted at this time that John donated his speaker fee back to the society. Thanks John!

Dav will be returning to the Southwest later this summer and is tentatively lined up to give his program on Desert Herps, regardless of whatever technical problems might arise. Hopefully he'll remember this time not to go chasing Chuckwalla's over treacherous terrain.

Because of the recent publicity of venomous snakes in the press, the May speaker comes to us at an appropriate time. Dr. Dan Keyler is with Hennepin County Medical Center in the Department of Toxicology.

He is also involved in the conservation effort for the Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, in Minnesota.

His presentation covers types of venom, effects of bites, and will explain the medical procedures for treatment of venomous bites.

This presentation is not intended to encourage the keeping of venomous species. It is intended to educate each of us on the proper procedures to follow, should a venomous bite occur, either out herping or at home.

In future months you can look forward to topics such as "General Veterinary Care and Health For Herps"

by Dr. Teri Schweiss D.V.M. Other presentations that I am currently working on are "Crocodilian Species," the "Genetics of Snake Breeding," and "Arachnids" as well as a review of proceedings from the 1996 International Herpetological Symposium.

Now that warmer months are here, let's see those critters at the meetings! Everyone is welcome to bring an animal for "Critter of the Month." It's a great opportunity to show off your collection and for other members to find out what is being bred andlor kept. Just two rules apply here: 1. No venomous species are allowed without prior permission from the President of the society. 2. Please keep your critters covered until we get to the "Critter of the Month" portion of the meeting. Keep looking for those herps!

See you in May ...

Michael Gaunt

Date and Time: May 3, 1996 - 7:00 p.m.

Location: Bodaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus (See map on the inside back cover)

Tony Lama Tripped Up A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) investigation into the illegal trade in exotic reptile skins has resulted in the forfeiture of more than one million dollars worth of Caiman Lizard skin boots and boot parts from the Tony Lama Boot Company in EI Paso, Texas.

A grand jury in the Western District of Texas indicted two persons who sold protected Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis) skins to Tony Lama in the early 1990s, using fraudulent export permits, on 15 counts of smuggling and violations of the Lacey Act. The lustrous olive-brown Caiman Lizard skins are prized in the manufacture of cowboy boots, which retail anywhere from $700 to $1000 per pair. The skins of four lizards are used to make one pair of boots; an estimated 13,800 Caiman Lizards were sold to the Tony Lama Boot Company.

The Caiman Lizard inhabits the Amazon Basin region of South America and is protected under Appendix II of CITES. Commercial export of Caiman Lizard is allowed only if the proper export permit is obtained. The FWS investigation into the illegal trade of exotic reptile skins used in the leather boot industry began in 1993 and has uncovered evidence that U.S. CITES permits and Mexican export permits have been fraudulently acquired and illegally used for the worldwide movement of Caiman Lizard skins and products for commercial gain.

Editor's Note: The previous article, author unknown, has been reprinted from the Jan. 96 edition of Traffic USA.

April "Critter of the Month" Dean Bowman

Pancake Tortoises (family group)

Malacochersus tomieri Jake Jacobsen

Hatchling Leopard Tortoise

Geochelone pardaUs

Are You Being Discriminated Against?

It has come to the attention of the MHS Board that several people have had their homeowners insurance policies denied or canceled recently, possibly because they keep reptiles. In an effort to determine if amphibian and reptile keepers are actually being discriminated against, we need your help. First off, we need to hear from anyone who has been denied homeowner's or renter's insurance because of reptiles in their homes as soon as possible.

Secondarily, we need copies of any letters of denial pertaining to such cases so we can attempt to determine what is really happening. We plan on checking to see if it is the independent agents which have refused service (we think it is) or actual insurance company policy. If you know of anyone who has had this happen, call (612) 9254237.

Marilyn Blasus.

MRS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 2

The President's Corner A month late, but I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome all new MHS bo&!,d members.

I'm certainly looking forward to an exciting year.

"We have quite a job ahead of us - the MHS will be hosting the annual Midwest Herpetological Conference in October of 1997 and many arrangements and reservations must be made this year. If you would like to work on the Conference Committee, please contact me or one of the Conference Committee Co-chairs; Bill Moss at (612)488-1383 and Liz Bosman at (612) 4760306.

"Renaissance Festival will be here sooner than we realize. If you would like to be on the planning committee, please contact Chairman Bruce Delles at (612) 647-4479. The next Renaissance Festival Planning Committee will be held on May 12th at noon at the Como Cottage on festival grounds. *'Thanks to MHS member Gerry Snyder for air brushing our new "Photo Opportunity" backdrop to be . used at hands-on functions.

"It has been brought to my attention (via the Internet and Mark Schmidtke) that Anheuser Busch is sponsoring the Taylor, Texas Jaycees Rattlesnake Roundup. The Kansas Herpetological Society (KHS) has produced a lengthy paper regarding their position, fully documented with many references, and the group is calling for a boycott of Anheuser Busch products. My personal feeling is that with a company the size of A.B., a herp society boycott would be a "drop in the can." They do have a history of contributing to conservation programs perhaps they just really don't understand the ramifications of this type of activity (am I being naive?), or realize that many people are concerned about these animals, the manner in which they're collected, and the damage done to the environment. If you would like more infonnation regarding these events look up the KHS' WWW page on the subject, or to respond directly to Anheuser Busch you may E-mail yourconcemstobudmaster@budweiser.com.

A copy of the KHS paper on this subject will be in the MHS Library.

Gloria Anton

April Raffle Donors Twin Cities Reptiles

Tetra Land Turtle/Iguana Food & Mardel Fonnula CIP. Marilyn & Randy Blasus Books Fred Bosman Magazines & Calendar BarhRadanke 2 Rubber Snakes & Turtle Pin Bill Baker "Lizard of Oz" 3 Water Bowls Virginia Shaw Larson 12 Bottles AJphadine "Paint" Ann Porwoll Other Herp Society Newsletters A portion of the proceeds from MHS raffle sales are allocated to the MHS Conservation Fund.

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who purchased tickets.

There's a Crocodile in My Yard Janie and Mark Westall didn't panic when they noticed an American Crocodile using their property on Florida's Sanibel Island last year to travel between the water and its nest in a neighbor's flower garden. A professional naturalist, Westall called Frank Mazzotti, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Florida, for advice on coping with the endangered animal. These days, the crocodile, which has not yet succeeded in hatching baby crocs, is something of an Island mascot.

Mazzotti may have been surprised to hear of the nest's location on an island where crocodile nests have never been seen before last year, but he already knew that crocodiles are popping up all over southern Florida. "For three years, we've set records here," he says. "This is an endangered species success story in progress." Habitat protection has helped the crocodile population grow from 20 breeding females in 1975 (which means a total population of 200 to 300 crocs) to 42 breeding females in 1995 (400 to 500 croes). The animals would be helped further by the restoration of hydrological conditions in Florida Bay to yield more fresh water than the bay now receives.

Editor's Note: The preceding article, author unknown, originally appeared in the News of the Wild section of the AprlMay 1996 edition of National Wildlife.

Having had the good fortune of personally observing the "Lone Crocodile of Sanibel" in Jan. 1996, Ihis editor wishes to express his appreciation of not only the Westall's enlightened attitude regarding reptiles, but of the dedication to preserving wildlife demonstrated by all the residents of SanibelfCaptiva as well. Thanks!

JPL

Ever Seen a Lefty Toad?

Researchers Prove That It's Possible.

If you are going to shake hands with a toad, extend your right one.

The list of animals that exhibit a preference for using either the right or left hand -- or claw, paw or foot -has just been expanded to include the lower vertebrates, a team ofItaiian and Australian biologists reports.

The researchers say common toads show a preference for using their right forelimbs, a surprising finding since biologists had thought "handedness" had evolved only in animals that used hands, feet or paws to manipulate food or other objects routinely. Toads, it seems, make only limited use of their forepaws in everyday life.

With few exceptions, humans show a distinct preference for using either the right or the left hand. An estimated two-thirds of humans are right-handed and the rest are either left-handed or ambidextrous to varying extents, experts say.

Preferential limb use is a prominent aspect of brain lateralization, where one side of the brain dominates in directing tasks on the opposite side of the body.

Hence, the right side of the body is controlled by the left hemisphere of the brain.

MRS Newsletter Voltane 16 Number 4 Page 3

Unlike humans, most animals are evenly divided when it comes to right - or left-handedness, experts note, but there are numerous exceptions, Studies show that certain types of mice and rats exhibit preferentilil handedness, as do several species of primates. And a similar "footedness" has been observed in some birds that use their claws to hold and manipulate objects, or to scratch around for food.

Dr. Victor Denenberg of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, a specialist in brain lateralization in animals, called the researchers' conclusion "a reasonable inference that is consistent with the argument that the brain specialized relatively early in evolution."

Editor's Note: The preceding article, author unknown, originally appeared in the Feb. 6, 1996 edition of the Mpls Starffribune.

Zoo's Hopes for Komodo Babies Dashed Maureen, the Minnesota Zoo's female Komodo Dragon, had been acting strangely.

But despite speculation, an X-ray showed that she won't be a mom this year after all.

The wait is over. There will be no baby Komodo Dragons at the Minnesota Zoo this year. Tests confirmed Wednesday that the zoo's female Komodo, Maureen is not carrying eggs after all.

Zookeepers had noted a change in Maureen's body shape and behavior in January. And the zoo's male Komodo, Doni, had twice been observed mating with her in December. So there was hopeful speculation that the Apple Valley complex would become the second zoo in the United States to produce a clutch of eggs from a Komodo Dragon.

"It looks like she was pulling our legs," laughed senior veterinarian Kris Petrini, looking over the dragon's radiograph. It showed Maureen's spine, ribs and other interior architecture -- but no eggs. An earlier search of her exhibit space, conducted after Maureen had been lured away, came up eggless, as well.

For the past six weeks, Maureen has been alone in the exhibit, digging nest after nest. Because Komodos eat their eggs and offspring, Doni has been confined to the exhibit's holding area. Now that it's certain he won't be a dad this year, he'll rejoin his mate by month's end.

Relatively little is known about Komodos' breeding behavior in captivity.

Maureen is one of three Komodos capable of reproducing in the United States, but zoos rely on information from only one dragon, Sobat, a female from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Since 1992, she has produced 55 offspring from four clutches of eggs, dragons that are now exhibited at 18 U.S. zoos. Because the Minnesota Zoo's dragons represent new bloodlines, they are considered extremely significant to the captivebreeding program.

Although there are no eggs now, it is possible that Maureen had eggs but reabsorbed them earlier in

January, according to Kathy Castle, Tropics Curator.

Another possibility is that one or both animals were not in their breeding cycles.

"We'll have to hope for better luck next year," said Petrini, who speculated that the next opportunity for mating will occur no earlier than November.

After mating, a clutch of up to 30 eggs is laid in an underground nest. If the mother leaves the nest without eating any of the eggs, about a dozen selfsufficient hatchlings generally emerge eight or nine months later. The babies, about 16 inches long, instinctively scramble up trees, out of the reach of their cannibalistic parents. They remain in the trees for the next year, eating smaller lizards and insects.

About the Komodos The Minnesota zoo's Komodo Dragons were added as a permanent exhibit last July. Some facts: » The dragons, named after the Indonesian Island where they originated, are the largest living lizards on earth, averaging 8 feet in length, with a weight of about 200 pounds. They can live up to 50 years. » Minnesota's animals, captured in the wild four years ago, are estimated to be about 7 years old. The female weighs about 50 pounds; the male, 70. » An endangered species, fewer than 5,000 of the animals are estimated to exist in the wild.

Editor's Note: The previous article, complete with 3 color photos and written by Darlene Pfister, has been reprinted from the Metro/State section of the Mar. 7, 1996 edition of the MPLS Starffribune. JPL

A Fistulated What??

The Minnesota Herpetological Society participated in a very cool "Hands-on," an event that is one of my personal favorites. On Sunday, April 14th, at the University of Minnesota Veterinary School Center, we were one of many guests of the annual Open House hosted by the freshman class. There were the usual tours of the labs and . booths like do and cat food companies with samples, rescue and adoption services, etc. There wee a few new ones as well, including the Ostrich association promoting the benefits of ostrich ranching. There were also hotdog, bratwurst, lamburger (yes, lamb) and cotton candy vendors. The atmosphere was almost carnival-like with balloons made from rubber cloves, people squeezing by just to catch a glimpse of our cool companions, AND let's not forget the fistulated cow.

We had over 20 volunteers for this Hands-on alone, too numerous for me to mention. All of you know who you are. I 'thank" everyone who took their personal time to help out. Everyone who volunteered earns points for a "priceless, to-die-for, collectors edition" MHS mug (oooh aaaah).

Check out the Calendar of Events for future "Hands-on" events. If anything is of interest, give your Education Coordinator a call or if you're attending a meeting find myself or any other Bored member (yes bored). We will gladly help. Thanks Sean Hewitt.

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 4

General Meeting Review

By Michelle Stephan This month's speaker was our very own Newsletter Editor, John Levell. Our original speaker, Dav Kaufman, was unable to make it so John graciously fmed in at the last minute. Thanks John!

John's presentation was on the history of herpetologists in North America. He pointed out early in his presentation that determining just who to include was not always an easy task, as many of the people who have studied herps in the past did not always concentrate their studies to only these animals or work exclusively with North American species.

One of the first people John talked about was William Bartram. In the 1760's to 80's, Bartram traveled in the U.S. painting and writing many well detailed descriptions of plants, animals, and herps. Another early herpetologist was John Holbrook who is often called "The Father of American Herpetology." Although he only did two herpetological works, one was the first major title devoted exclusively to North American herps and many reptile and amphibian species are named after him.

Other early herpetologists include Spencer Baird who founded the Smithsonian's U.S. National Museum of Natural History at a very young age. Baird participated in or organized many surveys and collected two box cars full of natural history specimens which were later given to the museum. Robert Kennicott led an adventurous life collecting specimens for other scientists, including Baird.

He also founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences and died at about 30 years of age during an American Arctic expedition. Edward Drinker Cope wrote his first major paper at 19. He was a fossil expert as well as a herpetologist and was a huge rival of paleontologist O.C. Marsh. Such extreme rivals that Cope bet his brain was larger than Marsh's. When Cope died he had it measured.

Marsh did not do the same, however. Samuel Garman got stuck in the fossil wars between Marsh and Cope because he once worked for Cope. While he did not some work on N.A. Herps, he is best known for a major paper on Galapagos Tortoises. Leonard Stejneger was originally an ornithologist at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History. He switched to herps when he was 37. He also originated the Checklist series on North American herps which is still use today, although in modified form.

Thomas Barbour was also a co-author of the Checklist series. He was mainly interested in West Indian herps, particularly Geckos and Anoles and wrote several books about his life.

There were also a few women herpetologists. Mary Dickerson was the curator of herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History and influenced Karl Schmidt.

She wrote the "Frog Book," a title which is still in print.

Helen Gaige worked mostly with Midwestern and Pacific Northwest animals, and edited Copeia for over 20 years.

Doris Cochran took over the herpetology department at the USNM from Stejneger. Cochran's best known work is "Living Amphibians of the World."

Some more commonly known scientists were: Raymond Ditmars who popularized herpetology through his

many books, although his information is sometimes cited as incorrect. He was the Bronx Zoo curator. Marlin Perkins was the frrst herpetologist for the St. Louis Zoo and went on to become the director of the Buffalo Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo and, eventually the zoo in St. Louis. He was one of the frrst to survive the bite of a gaboon viper. Grace Wiley was a unique person that handled venomous reptiles without any fear. Was the curator of the Brookfield Zoo, but after some cobras escaped she went to California. There she ran a roadside attraction, and died after a cobra bit her during an interview. Albert and Anna Wright were both editors of the Handbook series of North American herpetology titles, and co-authored the volumes on snakes and frogs and toads.

Edward Taylor explored the Philippines, Mexico, and Central America and was a spy for the U.S. in Asia during both WW I and WW II. Karl Schmidt was one of the "Chicago Three." His main interest was coral snakes and he was killed by a Boomslang in 1957. Schmidt co-authored "Living Reptiles of the World." Clifford Pope wrote a huge volume On Chinese reptiles as well as popular books on snakes and N.A. turtles. Howard Gloyd was the Director of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. His main interest was in Rattlesnakes, a subject on which he wrote a major monograph.

Laurence Klauber is noted for some of the most statistically significant work ever produced, including his classic two volume set "Rattlesnakes." Carl Kauffeld was the director of the Staten Island Zoo and wrote two books that popularized herpetology. He also coined "Okatee Com." Archie Carr did most of his work on sea turtles.

One of his short stories; "Bitten by a Fer-de-lance and Lived" is very humorous. Ross Allen supplied 90% of the venom used to make antivenin for the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII. We are now getting into the list of living herpetologists. Roger Conant wrote "the" field guide in which his late wife photographed and hand colored all of the illustrations. Bill Haast has been bitten 162 times by at least 20 different species and has survived bites from many extremely venomous snakes. Hobart Smith has written over 2000 publications. Other herpetologists discussed include: Dick Ross, author of "Reproductive Husbandry of Boas and Pythons;" Dick Vog!, author of "The Natural History of Amphibians and Reptiles of Wisconsin;" Carl Ernst, coauthor of "Turtles of the World" and "Turtles of the U.S. and Canada;" and noted authority on monitor lizards Dr. Walter Auffenberg.

John discussed twelve other notable herpetologists, many of whom we know personally as members of our society or have heard of from articles in magazines or newsletters. I am sure everyone enjoyed this presentation.

If anyone wants more information on any particular person mentioned in John's talk, I am sure he would be willing to give it. We may even see some articles in upcoming newsletters on notable people and their work. Thank you John for giving us a great view of Herpetology Past, Present, and Future! 0000000000000000000000000000000

MHS Newslelter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 5

ECOVIEWS

HOW DO YOU DEFINE A WETLAND?

By Whit Gibbons Abraham Lincoln once asked, "If you call a dog's tail a leg, how many legs does the dog have?"

The answer was "four," not five, because "calling a dog's tail a leg doesn't make it one."

Seems like some of today's congressional representatives might argue with President Lincoln and insist the answer is now "five." Their justification would be that they have enough votes to make the answer "five." This seems to be an approach to defining wetlands. Some representatives think that calling a wetland a non-wetland will make it one. All they need to make it so is enough votes.

Redefining how humans measure a wetland does not make a particular habitat any less essential to native plants and animals that depend on it for their existence. Yet a majority of the House of Representatives have voted to disqualify some habitats as wetlands. What kind of arrogance are we seeing here? Humans do not define how habitats function among the world's ecosystems, no matter how many votes they have.

One Pennsylvania congressman stated that "wetlands should be wet" to qualify as a wetland.

This kind of semantics is not only arrogant but also wrong. The fact is, some wetlands are not always wet.

Some wetlands are actually dry more often tban they are wet, because several types of honest-togoodness wetlands go througb extended dry spells.

Yet these temporary wetland habitats are some of the most productive areas in North America. Some animal inbabitants actually depend on tbe wetland habitat drying up to assure that predatory fisb are not present.

Each year in Soutb Carolina I see an example of tbe importance of sucb a wetland -- a small depression tbe size of a basketball court that bolds water less than two weeks in drought years and almost never has water in the summer. But in October, during the frrst big rain of the fall season, the research ecologists I work with catch more than four thousand Marble Salamanders in one day!

Most people in the region bave never even seen a Marble Salamander because, like many amphibians, they live underground most of the year. But when I show someone a handful of the shiny black salamanders witb the bright wbite crossbands, most people take an intrnediate liking to these appealing creatures. Well, if we let our little wetlands that dry up every summer be destroyed, we are signing the death warrant for Marble Salamanders that live in the vicinity, along with a lot of other animals few people see.

Small wetland habitats that periodically dry up, either durin'g droughts or on an annual basis in late summer, are ideal for a variety of aquatic insects and amphibians tbat cannot survive in fish-populated waters. These temporary wetland habitats are extremely important in assuring a rich and healthy biodiversity in some regions.

Summer drying and even long-term drought are not a problem for most wetland species that inhabit temporary wetlands. Animal species that breed in small, temporary wetlands are progranuned to breed at the time of year when rainfall is most likely. This assures an aquatic habitat for egg laying. The temporary nature of these wetlands is not a problem eitber. Some amphibians such as Spadefoot Toads can pass through the tadpole stage in less tban two weeks, before the water recedes. The Greater Siren, a giant aquatic salamander of the Southeast, withstands periods of drought by burrowing into the mud and forming a cocoon-like covering.

Our national loss of temporary wetlands continues at an alarming rate, although we tend to disregard the loss of any single one. But society pays a high cost for these collective losses -- in lost wildlife habitat, increased flood damage, lower biodiversity, and poorer water quality. Our environmental laws need to be strengthened, not weakened. We should offer full protection to all wetland habitats.

Were President Lincoln around today, he might modify his dog's tail comment to apply to those who do not realize the ecological importance of temporary wetlands. Calling a politician a representative of the best interests of the people doesn't always make him one.

Editor's Note: One of the leading ecologists in the U.S., Dr. J. Whitfield Gibbons is professor of ecology at the University of Georgia and is the division head at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, South Carolina. Probably best known for his numerous books including; Their Blood Runs Cold: Adventures with Reptiles路 and Amphibians, The Life History and Ecology of the Slider Turtle and Keeping all the Pieces among others, Dr. Gibbons also writes a weekly syndicated column for the N ew York Times Regional News. The preceding article is one installment of this weekly column and has been provided for publication in the MHS Newsletter through the kindness and consideration of Dr. Gibbons.

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MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 6

The Herpin' Lifestyle;

A Road Trip to The Black Hills of South Dakota.

By Dav Kaufman Along about the middle of May, we received an invitation in tbemail to attend Nancy's cousin's wedding.

As I tore open tbe envelope, my initial response was dread. I imagined myself all dressed up to meet the relatives of my girlfriend, to conform to tbe ritual of "smile, nod, and listen for my name", and to jump further out of my comfort zone than I care to be. But then as read furtber down tbe invitation, I noticed that it was being beld in Custer, South Dakota. Images of formal wedding anxiety turned instantly to wonderful images of Prairie Rattlesnakes, Pale Milk Snakes, and Woodbouse's Toads.

I began to tbink tbat tbis could possibly be one of tbe best weddings I've ever attended.

One of the advantages that South Dakota has (as far as berpetofauna is concerned) over Minnesota is tbat . South Dakota is a proverbial bridge between eastern herps, and western herps. In the western portion of the state, western species such as Horned Lizards, and Lesser Earless Lizards can be found (apparently nowhere in great numbers, bowever). Closer to home in tbe eastern portion of the state, eastern species such as Mudpuppies, and Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes can be found. And then there are the species wbo's range extends from the west to the east over tbe bulk of tbe state such as the Prairie Rattlesnake, tbe Woodhouse's Toad, and the Plains Spadefoot Toad. South Dakota also shares species in common with us here in Minnesota such as the Bullsnake, tbe Western Hog-nosed Snake, and the Plains Garter Snake. Needless to say, South Dakota is very rlcb in tbe diversity of its berpetofauna, and could keep even the most seasoned field herper entertained for more than a few seasons. However, in keeping with the theme of tbis paper I will discuss only the species that were encountered

by Nancy and myself on this particular road trip.

The trip started with more problems than could be counted. Tbe car rental agency didn't bave tbe car that I requested when I made my reservations, and we bad to settle for it smaller car that for some reason or another had to be driven in from another location causing me to wait for well over an bour. Problems with my credit cards started not long after that. But througb all tbat it only cost us about two hours of time, and we were on the road beading west by 3:30 pm. More problems would arise tbroughout the trip that were so incredible that after a wbile, all we could do was laugb. Wben we arrived at tbe Motel a half hour after our reservation time, the manager had informed me tbat a mistake had been made. They had put someone with the same last name as me (different first name) in the room that we had reserved. The only room tbey bad left was a sixty dollar a night cabin. A far cry from tbe $29.95 room that I had reserved! I abruptly suggested that he give us tbe cabin for the original price, and he agreed. The next morning, he came to our door to tell us that our credit card had been declined. I caliedDiscover and found that Hertz had triple cbarged my card for the car rental, and I was over my credit limit.

After a series of long distance calls back home to Hertz, and an hour and a half later, the problem was solved (or so I thought). Every day after that, when I tried to use my card, it came up declined, and I spent another half hour every day trying to figure out why tbe two extra cbarges from Hertz kept coming back on my Discover card.

Besides all this, and getting a car with squeaky brakes and having a flat tire along the way, the trip was pretty goodvery good if all tbe herps we encountered are taken into consideration.

Just as we crossed the bridge tbat took us over the Missouri River, we hit rain. Hard rain, the kind of rain that slows you down to 25 mph. The kind of rain that pulls trucks off to the sboulder, and makes motorcyclists stop under the protection of bridges. The kind of rain that herpers dream about. The first Salamander was seen just before it lost tbe game to destiny under the tires of the car ahead of us. Another was seen, then another, and another. Knowing that we were well beyond the intergrade lOne between the Eastern Tiger Salamander, and the Blotched Tiger Salamander, we pulled off the freeway at the next possible exit. By now tbe rain bad calmed down to a drizzle, and just as we turned the corner onto the frontage road, tbere was one lone Salamander sitting motionless on the road. Nancy and I jumped out simultaneously, and apprehended tbe first Blotcbed Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum melanostic!um, we bad ever caught in the wild. The Blotched subspecies of the Tiger Salamander differs from the Nominate Eastern form by having a pattern than intertwines the yellow and the black in a net-like pattern, whereas the Eastern bas large blotcbes on a black background. In my opinion, a better common name for tbis subspecies would be tbe Reticulated Tiger Salamander.

We berped tbe farm roads of that area for about forty-five minutes rmding only that one salamander, and a bandful of Nortbern Leopard Frogs, Rana pipiens. We found our way back on the bigbway heading west. We arrived in Custer two bours later tban our reservation time at tbe motel, and tbe next day would spark the beginning of our Black Hills adventure, and tbe optimistic promise of the treasures to be found.

If a marketing class in any University around tbe world was asked as a test question to define tbe term "niche market" the correct answer would be rock sbops in Custer, Soutb Dakota. It seemed as if tbey were everyWhere. On every street corner, and around every bend in the road. Antique dealers came next in line. Nancy, a collector of Antiques and rocks wanted to stop at every one. Wbich was more tban fine with me because bebind every building that boused one of these sbops, neatly tucked out of view from the tourists, tbere was a collection of eitber rocks or otber debris that wasn't worth selling scattered tbrougbout tbe back yards. Herp magnets!

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 7 The first reptile of the trip was found in such a setting. An adult Red-sided Garter Snake, Thamllophis sMalis parielalis. He was sunning himself on some large rocks that had been discarded by the rock shop that Nancy was hunting in with my credit cards. But hey, who cares, I was herpin'. I walked up to him thinking that he was about to take a dive, but he never even flinched, he just sat there seemingly oblivious to my presence. I reached out and touched his head. He only flicked his tongue out at me. I sat and admired him for a short period of time, told him he was the laziest snake I had ever met and walked back into the shop. I had caught hundreds of these snakes here at home, and have plenty of slides and video footage of them, so I didn't even bother to pick him up.

Not only that, but if I don't have to get bitten and pooped on, I would rather not. Sometimes I think that picking up a Garter Snake is as senseless as eating a White Castle hamburger. I don't even bother picking them up anymore, the same way I don't bother eating White Castle hamburgers anymore. I just take 'em out of the box and throw them in the toilet. But when it really comes down to it, Garter Snakes are possibly the most beautiful snakes North America has to offer. Much more beautiful than a White Castle hamburger floating in the toilet, anyway.

That first day in the Black Hills was the day of the wedding, so not a lot of herping was Plains Garter Snake, ThamllOphis done that day. We did pass by a road killed Bullsnake, Pituophis catellijer sayi, that was almost six feet long. A man and his son were leaning over the snake so I slammed on the brakes and pulled along side the road and got out to take a look.

The guy instantly told me of his disappointment that the rattles had already been cut off. I tried to explain to him that this was not a rattlesnake by showing him the snake's tail. He sat posed with a cramped look on his face, and then said "Wow, guy musta cut 'em off pretty clean, huh?" I quickly ascertained that talking to this guy was like clapping with one hand. I explained that this was a Bullsnake, that it was non-venomous, and that it was not a threat to humans: I thought I got through to him until he walked back to his car where his wife was waiting and before getting back in, I heard him say to her "rattles are already gone". Not another herp was found that day.

The next day found us at yet another Antique dealer, and after asking permission from the shop owner to go flip through the garbage behind the shop, and getting the expected strange look for my odd request, I was behind the shop with Nancy in the shop again with my

credit cards. One herp was found back there, and it was one that I had hoped to find. The Wandering Garter Snake, Thamllophis elega"s vagralls. This snake is the same size as our native Garter Snakes (which are also native to South Dakota). The best way to describe this heautiful snake is simply this - catch an Eastern Garter Snake, ThamllOphis sirtalis sirtalis, and take a black and white picture of it - Viola! The Wandering Garter Snake.

The next Wandering Garter caught was in Custer State Park. The interesting thing about this specimen was that he was caught swimming around in a cold water brook where we stopped to watch the many Rainbow Trout swimming up and down stream. Watercress grew in abundance along it's bank signaling to us that this was a cold water stream, at least 50째F. And here was this snake swimming around in it like it was no big deal. Slides were taken of both specimens, and they were released.

As we left the stream we heard the high pitched sound of alarm from some unidentified animals. We walked up a hill to find a huge Prairie Dog town that spread across the prairie. Some of them instantly dove underground and others stopped and posed on their hind legs in constant alarm. Nancy tried to approach them, and I had one thought on my mind. B ullsnakes.

After searching the immediate area and not seeing any of my quarry, I returned to Nancy and the fat little balls of hair.

After a while we had radix Photo by James Gerholdt gotten so close to some of them that I actually got them to fill the frame of my camera with only a 35mm lens. But hey, what am I talking about mammals for? On with the herps.

That night we headed out of the Black Hills to the never ending sea of prairie just to the east of the hills.

It was just before dusk as we headed toward the Pine Ridge Ogalala Lakota Reservation. From there we would head north, and then west again back to the motel. Two herps were on our minds. Milk Snakes, and Rattlesnakes. The sun was still high in the western sky, but shadows were long when we came in contact with our first snake of the evening. "Crotalus!" I yelled as I slammed on the brakes and abandoned the car in the middle of the road, much to Nancy's dismay. I ran out to the snake who was loosely coiled on the shoulder only to discover that it had already met another human being that wanted more than to just take it's picture. It's head was flattened against the pavement, and it's rattles had been removed. I looked all around us. There was nothing. To the east and west, the road was vacant of any vehicles. To the north and south, rolling hills of never ending pratrie. This was the first

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 8 roadkill that I had ever experience that had a dark purpose behind it as vile as a scorpion's stinger in the eye of a puppy. I was enraged. I screamed as many colorful metaphors as I could think of so loud tbat my cbest began to burt. It ecboed across the prairie for anyone to bear. I wanted the person wbo did tbis to be damned. I wanted vengeance for this snake. I wanted the kind of thinking tbat made this ritual accepted to finally come to an end.

This snake was deliberately killed just so it's rattles could hang from somebody's rear-view mirror. I felt so utterly helpless. We drove away quietly.

I didn't know it at the time, but this was just the beginning. We drove into the reservation, and were saddened to see the look of this place. Children walking among broken houses, ftIthy and dirty. Cars broken down and decaying in the yards. A stench filled the air. Tick infested dogs running everywhere. I muttered to Nancy, "My god, what has happened to such a once proud people?" She looked back at me and said "We have." We turned on Highway 41 heading north just as the sun announced her final retreat behind the horizon. Just then, , a large snake crossed the road in front of us. Again I went through the routine of slamming on the brakes and abandoning the car in the middle of the road. I grabbed the Bullsnake, and just as I did, I heard the loud, deafening blare of a semi's born. He was corning up behind the car at full throttle, and I didn't think be could tell if I was stopped or not. I ran with the snake in one hand and a cigarette hanging out of my mouth blasting my face with asb as the wind rusbed past me. I got an eyeful of hot ash, and by the time I got to the car I could only see out of one eye. Tbe truck came at full speed ever closer. I jumped in the car, and sat directly on my snake hook which was sticking out through the back seat. The truck came closer. Nancy was screaming at me to get the car off tbe road. Tbe truck carne closer. I fumble with the keys as I was trying to get the snake hook out of my butt.

The Bullsnake wrapped half its body around my arm, and the other half under tbe seat handcuffing my arm to tbe seat. The truck was almost upon us and be wasn't slowing down. He just kept blaring his born. Smoke puffed up in my face. Nancy was screaming, the snake was hissing, and the truck kept corning closer. I got the car started, and pulled off onto tbe shoulder just as the truck passed me.

Nancy glared at me like I've never seen her glare at me before. I held what I could of the snake up to show her. I smiled like a kid who was just caught digging up the flowers in his mother's 'garden. "Look honey, I caugbt a Bullsnake." I said and raised my eyebrows at her.

Sbe just glared at me. "I ab- I think I'll just let it go now.

You, ah- you wanna come with?" She just glared at me.

"Guess not." And then a little more sheepisbly "Afraid of a little adventure?" I said and then thought that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to say that. I jumped out of the car and took my time releasing tbe snake.

As we beaded out of the reservation, we began to notice a flickering ligbt up on the horizon. Storm clouds had moved over head, and it began a most incredible ligbtning storm. As we got closer to the mysterious flickering light my first guess was fire. And in the brief flashes of lightning, we saw great pillows of smoke rising

up from it, confmuing my theory. "I betcha the prairie's on fire up ahead." I said.

"Probably struck by ligbtning." Nancy replied.

"Well, that means two things. One, all the berps are going to dive underground, or two, tbey're all going to crawl onto the road and get clobbered" I said. She didn't respond, she was still pissed at me for the truck incident.

However, if there's one think I love about Nancy is that she doesn't (always) hold a grudge, and by the time we reached the fire, the incident was forgiven, and forgotten.

Just as we tumed on highway 40 heading west, we saw the prairie totally engulfed in fire. Fire trucks and a couple handfuls of people were running around trying to extinguish it. We also saw our second road kill Rattlesnake, this one had just recently been hit. It was small, and still had it's rattles attacbed. We got out of the car to take a look. It was a beautiful little snake, probably just a yearling. I shook my bead in frustration as I brought it over to the ditch, and set it in the grass.

We passed the frretrucks and asked what bad happened and if there was anything we could do to belp. They said no, and that the prairie bad probably been struck by ligbtning which wasn't a very rare occurrence around tbere. We drove on seeing four more road kill Rattlesnakes tbat night. All of them had their rattles removed. It got to the point were we didn't even get out of the car for them, we just drove by slowly staring out of the open window sighing, and muttering "another dead viridis."

As soon as we crossed the imaginary line that took us into Custer County, everything was different, more caim. There was no scent of burning prairie in the air, no more barsh lightning (it never did rain) and no more road kill viridis. No live ones either, however.

Depressed by only having one live snake to show for this trail we drove that evening, we decided just to bead back to the campsite. I mean, seeing six road mangled Rattlesnakes in one nigbt is enougb to make any herper depressed. We drove out of the prairie and into tbe transition zone were poplar, aspen, oaks and other deciduous trees create a bumper between tbe prairie, and the rocky coniferous trees of the Black Hills. In this area is where most of the mammals hang out such as Mule Deer, Jackrabbits, and Foxes. Also, as we were soon to find out, it is one of tbe habitats that one of the ioad species I wanted to find uses. The Woodhouse's Toad, Bufo woodhousii. We encountered our first one when I turned around to check out a funny looking "pebble" in the road. I jumped out and picked him up, and took him to show Nancy, who was already out of tbe car in tbe excitement of actually finding a live herp. The Woodhouse's Toad is generally a little bigger than our native American Toad, Bufo americanus. It has whitish mid dorsal stripe, and has irregular body blotches with as few as one, or several warts in each blotch. It was named for Samuel Washington Woodhouse, surgeon and naturalist of exploration expeditions to the southwest in the mid 19tb century. Formerly called "Rocky Mountain Toad" (Conant and Collins; 1991). We put him in a plastic sboe box, tied a marking ribbon to a near by tree (slides of berps at night just don't seem to turn out, and we bad no intention of keeping him for longer tban that night). After apprehending a second one about a bundred

1996 Sheraton Fiesta I-Iotel WITH A Focus

San Antonio, Texas on THE HERPETOI'AUNA

~

&

OF'

\"!m1....,.,)N"'I[ij...,...ij......

W

and an assortment of olher presentations

EVENTS: ~rbeque

Icebrub:r at the San Antonio Zoo ~nquet

drnner

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

BANQUET SPEAKER:

W. Jtonlkf HeytJi Ph. D.

Willilrn w. Laruar

PARTIAL UST OF SPEAKERS,

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Ph. D.

Nlncy Hlicr

Gordon W. Sdtuett., Ph. D. L let Grls~r Ph. D.

DlYe &. Tncy SlI'~r John TuhjLln

SUZlnne &lo~ph T. Collins Ron Tn:mper Clay M. Garrett John Arnett RkkHudson Orr'fd Grow Muk 84yless Qry W. Fel'Juson, Ph. D. Omd Crews, Ph. D. f-brry Hnlcr, D. V. M. Ronn AJtJ" Ph. D. John 8ehkr Mlchlel ~vtnport: . ]lmes· B. Mu~ D.Sc. Ibyl>irl.y 8i1lIme H"," RyNd: RIdurd A. Ron M. D., M. P. H.

Reglstratlon before May 15th Is $125.00. For reglstratlon or other Infol1Tlatlon, ~V"",,"=--­ David Hulmes: 361 Van Wlnlde Avtnue; Ha\\tl!ome N.). 07506 (201) 427-0768.

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INC

LIST OF .. SPEAKERS AND TOPICS w.

Ro.aald Heyer,

Curator of Division ot Amphibians and

Ph.D.

Reptiles, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC and Chair of IUCN/SSC Declining Amphibian Population Task Force. (Declining Amphibians: A Real Phenomenon?) (Keynote Address)

Johnny Arnett, (Komodo Dragon)

Supervisor of Herpetology,

Cincinnati

Zoo,

OH

William N. Lamar, GreenTracks, Tyler, TX (Banquet Speaker)"

Chris Raxworthy, Ph.D. and Ronald .N'UssbaWJI~ Ph.D., Dept. o!

Zoology, Univ. Michigan, Ann Arbor, (Vicariant Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar: Evidence of Environmental Change) (Conservation Problems of Herpetofauna of Madagascar)

Mark Bayless, Berkeley, CA (Ecology of African Monitor Lizards)

Suzanne and Joseph T.

David Crew-Gs, Ph.D., Department of Zoology. Onlv. Texas at Austin.

(Temperature Dependent Sex Determination: From Basic Research to

Practical Applications)

Ronald Tremper Center for Reptile and Amphibian Boerne, XX (Land of the Namib) I

propagation,

Ronald Goellner, General Curator, St. Louis Zoo, MO (Seventy Years of Exhibiting Herps at the St. Louis Zoo: from Marlin Perkins to the Present) David and Tracy Barker, L.

LI!6

Grl/UIJer~

V.P.I.~

Boerne, TX (Pythons of the World)

Dept. of Biology, La Sierra Univ., California Island Herpetology: Hhy Islands

Ph.D.,

Riverside, CA (Gulf o~ Are Unique Ecosystems)

Behler~ CUrator of Herpetology, New York Zoological Park· (Conservation Status of Endemic Madagascaran Tortoises)

Collins, Museum of Natural History, Univ.

Kansas, Lawrence (Beauty and Diversity of North American Herps)

David Grow, Curator of Herpetology, Oklahoma City Zoo, OK (Twenty Years of IHS or What's Going on Here?)

John TaslljiaD., San Marcos, CA (European Herpers and their Herps) Ronald AltJ.g~ ph.D' r Mississippi State Vniv.

Ecological Diversity of Malagasy Tadpoles)

(Morphological and

Richard Hudson, Asst. Curator of Herpetology, Ft. Worth Zoo, TX (Malagasy Herps) Gary Ferguson;

Fh.D., Dept.

(Title to be Determined)

o:{

Biology,

Texas Christian Unlv.

Harry ~ller, D.V.H., Westgate Pet and Bird Hospital, Austin, Txl (ManJ.festations of Trichomoniasis)

John

Ric.b.ard Strieber, National Herpetological Alliance (The History of

N.H.A.)

Gordon W. Schuett; Ph.D., Univ. of Arizona West,":Phoenix (Interface Between Science and Herpetoculture) Michael Davenport, Dept. of Herpetology, National Zoo, Washington, DC (OVerview of Crocodilian Reproduction During the Past TWenty Years)

Clay M. Garrett, Editor of THE VIVARIUM (Business of Herpetoculture from Past to Present)

Nancy A. Heger, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. Texas at· "Austin (Thermoregulatory Behavior, Activity Patterns and Home Range variation in Free-Living Australian Per~ty Monitors)

Lee Jackson, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL (Mantella Breeding Program a t Shedd Aquari om) Turk Wren, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. Texas at Austin (Possible Adaptive Significance of TDSD: Temperature Effects on Post-Hatching Growth)

Bill Love, Alva, FL (Ecotourism. in Madagascar) Richard Ross, M.D. ~ Director of Institute for' 'Herpetological Research and Associate of ·Santa Barbara Zoo, CA (History of IHS) Dan McCarron, White Mountain Junior High School, Rock Springs, (Herpetoculture in Schools: Past, Present, and Future) Alan Kardon, Asst. Curator of Herpetology,

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MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 9 feet down the road, we headed back to our campsite for the spirits high, we jumped into the car and began road night. cruising our way back to camp which was about seventyWe were discussing over breakfast the next ftve miles away. Incidentally, we took our pictures of the morning the grim sights that the previous night's Woodhouse's Toads, and released them at the marker on adventure had brought us. We both hoped that this night our way out to the Badlands. would be more fruitful. And holy slithering Rattlesnakes The ftrst snake was seen almost immediately. A Batman, was it ever. But before that would happen, we Western Rognose Snake, Heterodon nasicus. The only headed north to the reptile Mecca of South Dakota; thing that separates these Hognoses from our Rognoses is Reptile Gardens. We paid our $8 admission, and headed coloration. These hognoses were much lighter in color into the main room under the trademarked glass dome. I than any that I've seen in Minnesota, and the blotches was instantly disappointed because the herps that I saw in were more well defined. We were happv to see her alive there were basically more or less the same herps I keep or and released her on the side of the road in the direction that have kept in my herp room back home. That negative she was heading. The next four snakes were seen within attitude was quickly reversed when we walked through the the next fifteen minutes. All of them the same species, rest of the park. Especially the snakes of "death row" the Plains Garter Snake, Thamnophis radix.. These snake which housed some of the world's most venomous differ greatly from our native Plains Garters as far as species. We hooked up with curator Don Middaugh, who coloration is concerned. These are beautiful, ours are gave us a "behind the scenes" tour of the park. The ftrst rather drab. All four snakes that were seen had vivid ftrething he did was offer us a pair of adult Nile Monitors orange dorsal lines, a forest green background with black which he insisted checkers, and vivid were "tame as a black tiger stripes Water Monitor." on their labials. I We held the regret now that I animals, then didn't think to take quickly declined his any slides of them. offer. Besides, we Shortly afterwards, still had a couple of another Garter Snake days to spend out was found, this time there, and didn't another Wandering want the hassle of Garter. I simply having two whips stopped the car, and with claws in tow. we simply watched He then showed us as he languidly some of the Cobras crawled across the that weren't yet on road. display and his The next handling techniques. snake came into , view about another And after letting us play with the twenty minutes Cayman Island Rock down the road, and Iguanas (Nancy's was comparable Western Rognose Snake, Heterodon nasicu Photo by A.B. Sheldon dream herp) I asked only to the him the most Copperhead in important question of the day. "Where are all the Pale southern Oklahoma. We saw her as she just started out Milksnakes found?" He simply laughed at me and told me onto the road, and I whipped a U-turn and splashed light that last year only two Milksnakes had come in, and he on her from my headlights. "VIRIDIS!" I jump out of the offered his employees one thousand dollars if they were to car, and Nancy followed with the snake hook. The snake ftnd one and bring it in. I wasn't sure if I believed him or instantly coiled, then snapped her jaws into the air. I stuck the hook in front of her to keep her in position. not. He did tell me that the two that were brought in this The three of us stared at each other for a moment in year were from a small town just south of the Black Rills silence and awe, and the serene thoughts that I had in called Edgemont. We had plans to head out to the Badlands later that day, so we slated a trip to Edgemont Oklahoma came rushing back to me. I shared them with the next evening.

Nancy, and our mouths bloomed into genuine smiles.

"Rave you ever seen such a beautiful animal?" I asked.

This was the flfSt time that either of us had ever "No." She simply replied. seen the BadlandS, and we took a lot of time off from I sat down in the middle of the road about eight herping to sit and enjoy the huge clumps of eroded clay feet in front of the snake. Nancy followed. The snake that makes up the cliffs of the Badlands. The temperature didn't move. "It's good to see you alive my sister" I said, was soaring well into the nineties by day, so most of our herping was done by road cruising at night. We drove and we just sat there letting the prairie wind blow through our hair, coming to the realization that there was no other down to the visitor's center, and I inquired about the herps place on earth that we would rather be at that moment. of the park, then we went next door to the restaurant for a After a while, the snake became restless, and we carefully Buffalo burger (every restaurant in South Dakota has bagged her and placed her in a sweater box. We looked Buffalo burgers). Then as the sun was going down, and

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 10 around for a bush or a tree to hang the tag on and when we couldn't, we wound up tying it to a metal hot-dog skewer that I plunged into the prairie. We sat in the car and sighed. "We caught a live one." I said. Then we drove away, but at the time it felt like we floated away.

The Prairie Rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis viridis, is the nominate form that has nine subspecies following it, ranging from Canada to Mexico across the western United States. It is a blotched Rattlesnake with green hues to both its blotches, and its body color. It is a medium to large snake, measuring up to about four feet.

This is a very abundant rattler in South Dakota, in fact we saw more of these (live and dead) than we saw Garter Snakes. This particular one that we just caught was instantly awarded a one way ticket to the top of the pedestal of my favorite herps encountered in the wild.

Right next to a particular Copperhead.

We drove on back into Custer County seeing only a road kill YellOW-bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor flaviventris, that we didn't spend a lot of time with. Just outside of our campsite, I made another U-turn to check . out a suspicious "rock" that turned out to be a herp we had not yet encountered on our trip. A Great Plains Toad, Bufo cognatus. This toad is a species that we share in common with South Dakota and from my personal experience in the field, it is a species that is somewhat difficult to find unless you have rain or catch them in the breeding season. The reason I say this is simply because of the habitat that they frequent. Wide open plains (hence its name). If you walk out into the prairie with the intent to find one - good luck. This species is one of the most beautiful toads that I have encountered in the wild. It's bleach white base color, and green body blotches make it so. We boxed him up, and tagged the site, and returned to

camp.

The next day there was one thing on our minds Milksnakes. After taking a few slides of the toad and about a half a roll on the Rattler, we released them at their marked areas, taking our time liberating the viridis from our lives. We were so close to the Badlands at that pnint that we hung out there again for the bulk of the day.

Early evening found us starting the sixty mile trek to Edgemont.

We stopped at a truck stop when we got there to get a, yup you guessed it - Buffalo burger, and to look at a map to chart our route for our final evening in South Dakota. Finding a Milksnake at this pnint wouldn't make or break the trip, but it sure would put a layer of frosting on the cake. Darkness fell upon the land and we were nowhere but in our car circling the town. Nothing. We headed south toward Nebraska on higbway 71. Snake! At flfSt I thought it was another viridis, but it was a beautiful Bullsnake. I simply helped him across the road, and on we went. Not long after that, another Western Hognose was seen and helped across the road. Our eyes were scanning the road in front of uS like we were watching a tennis match. The car maintained it's twenty mile an hour pace. Something whitish came into our vision and I slammed on the brakes. We got out and was instantly disgusted at what we found. It was another viridis, but this one had not only it's rattles removed, but it's head and skin as well. How do we know it was a viridis? What other snake out here would someone bother to do this to?

We got down into Nebraska. We pulled over and decided what we were going to do next. There were no signs of any Milksnakes down here anywhere. We decided to head north. It was already eleven p.m., and we were a good one hundred miles from our campsite. We took the easiest route north, and just as I turned onto the road, laying stretched across it was another Rattler. We got out to investigate another road kill when it instantly coiled and began repeatedly striking at anything and everything around it. We weren't about to sit down in front of this one. What was weird about this one is that for as restless as he was, he sat on the hook. We took a couple out slides of him right there on the road, then I walked him well off the road, and released him.

We entered back into Custer County, and found our only Custer County viridis. He was alive, and was rather cool because it had Mickey Mouse shaped blotches down the length of its body. We carried him on the hook to the other side of tbe road, and watched him slither his way into cover. There were no Milksnakes however, and at this point hopes of finding one hit the ground with a sorrowful thud as we turned down tbe road that led us to our campsite. Out of the rearview mirror I was blinded by the high beams of a tailgating car. I didn't want to let him pass and kill every snake on the road up ahead, but at the same time, I didn't want to slam on the brakes when I see a snake and have him hit me. So, I had no choice but to let him pass, and he passed at warp ten and was out of our sight in no time. And that's when we saw it. I slammed on the brakes and yelled "Milksnake!" We both jumped out of the car and ran over to the wiggling serpent in the road. Our prize had been won and then as fast as it had, it was stolen from us by the car that I had let pass. It had hit the snake, and a few minutes later the Pale Milksnake, Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata, died in my hands. That helpless feeling creeped back into me like toxic waste leaking into a virgin forest. Silently, we set the snake on the shoulder of the road, and walked back to the car with our heads bowed. The realization hit us as we drove away that we had just driven around for the past three and half hours and covered about a hundred and twenty-five miles only to find the only Milksnake of the trip hit not two miles away from our campsite. We had seen too much road kill on this trip. So much that when I thought about writing this story about our adventures, I thought about naming it "The Road Kill Lifestyle."

However, througb it all we had one of the greatest herping adventures of the summer and got to see a part of the country that is so beautiful, and so close to us, but yet we hardly ever see - until now. There will definitely be another road trip out there next year.

The next morning we broke camp and were on the road at eight a.m. We drove down the road that the Milksnake was found on, and took many pictures of it and it's habitat so that next year when we're out there, we know the first place we're going to hit. Ten species in all were found on this trip consisting of over thirty specimens. And a thousand pounds of fun was had as well. Next year there is talk about a road trip to Florida in the spring. That trip will fall under the "know three weeks before" category. Arizona in early June is set in stone (another wedding), and there will definitely be another trip back to the Black Hills of South Dakota. 000

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 11

Letters to the Editor Poison Control Numbers Revisited.

I am writing in response to the letter written by John J. Moriarty which appeared in the March 1996 Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter. I wish to comment on the poison control number being listed on the newsletter's inside front cover.

I want to start with a true story of the day I forgot to pick up one of the six pieces of cardboard with ant poison I had put out earlier that day. I was very careful to prevent my two cats from getting into the poison. But I forgot about ONE, it was in a room that the cats do not normally have access to, but we had been in and out of that room later that day. I fIrst knew something was wrong when the cat started throwing up all over the place. Then it hit me like a lightning bolt, that ONE bit of poison I had forgot. I knew just where to get the number to poison control. They asked me a bunch of questions and determined I should take her to my vet or other emergency clinic. The vet gave her some fluids and said she would be o.k., but very lethargic for a day. As I do not have any venomous heeps, nor children, I did not have the number for poison control on my phone. .

As you can see, this was no reason to call 911.

Now, I agree that someone who gets a venomous bite should call 911, and anyone who has hot animals should have the proper numbers by all phones. But I think the society can serve as one more resource for members to have access to useful numbers.

Let me layout a more direct scenario that deals directly with heeps. Your friend comes over to discuss some important items, but you're cleaning your snakes .

. '"

I love you...

Will you marry me?

Your friend offers to hold the snakes, like he has so many other times. But this time your Hognose Snake decides she is hungry, NOW, and he gets bitten! You probably think nothing of this because you have been bitten by her a couple of times before. Little did you know that your friend was going to have an allergic reaction to the bite, now swelling is developing slowly. You decide to call poison contrul, and I know just where you can fInd the number.

Here's another scenario. Your ferret has just fIgured out how tn get into your toad tank and had a nasty fIght with it; the toad lost. But now your ferret is not looking so good. As you would be laughed at if you called 911, you could call poison control.

On the historical perspective, the poison control numbers fmt appeared in the January 1986 issue of the newsletter. It ran until March 1989, and was picked up again in the September 1992 and has been run ever since.

As for the MHS White Pages, it was fIrst run in the 1990.

I do agree that maybe we should come up with a better heading than "Snake Bite Emergency," or maybe add 911 as the fIrst number. But for the little bit of space that it takes up it can be a beneflt to our members, whether they use it for a snake bite or any other emergency.

Lastly, what better place for our members who have kids or hot heeps to get the numbers from, so they can write them by their phones in the fIrst place, than our newsletter.

Sincerely, Marilyn Brooks Blasus

I love you also... But, have you given any thought as to which way you're 'going to raise the children?

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 12

Minnesota's Revised Endangered & Threatened Species List: Amphibians and Reptiles

By John J. Moriarty After five years in the development process, a new Endangered and Threatened Species list has been adopted in Minnesota. Although the new list won't become official until June 1996, there are no additional hearings or hurdles in the way and the revised Jist should be adopted without further delays. This new revision includes 299 changes in total (all taxa combined) to the previous Endangered and Threatened Species list of the State. The revised Jist was developed by individual Review Teams and members of the staff of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR). The Amphibian and Reptile Review Team was made up of Minnesota Herpetological Society members; Carol Hall, Barney Oldfield, and the author of this report.

In the new Endangered and Threatened Species List, there are four changes in status for amphibians and six changes for reptiles. Of these changes, five are deJistings and two are new listings. In addition, there are eight species in which there was no change in status. There is now a total of two amphibians and twelve reptiles on Minnesota's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species List. The new list will include five threatened or endangered amphibian and reptile species (designated by an * in the following Jist) that will be fully protected by Minnesota's Endangered Species legislation. This means that these species may not be possessed without a special permit from the MN DNR. Any collecting of these animals from the wild is also prohibited without permit. The table below shows a combined old and new list with short comments as to the reason for any changes. The following status abbreviations are utilized in the table below: E = Endangered; T = Threatened; SC = Special Concern; and N = No Status.

STATUS CHANGES FOR MINNESOTA AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES SPECIES

OLDSTAWS

NEWSTAWS

COMMENTS REGARDING STAWS CHANGE

Four-toed Salamander

N

SC

SC

E

SC

N

Previously undocumented from the State, only one known locality.

Major population declines, possibly extirpated from State.

Populations stable, possibly increasing.

SC

N

More widespread than previously thought.

N

SC

Range limited, little data on actual status in Minnesota.

Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpent ina Wood Turtle路 Clemmys insculpta

SC

SC

T

T

Blanding's Turtle * Emydoidea blanding;;

T

T

Five-lined Skink

E

SC

Blue Racer

SC

SC

Coluber constrictor Timber Rattlesnake * Crotalus horridus

SC

T

Black Rat Snake

SC

SC

SC

N

SC

SC

SC

N

Populations stable, no collecting threat.

SC

N

Populations stable, no collecting threat.

SC

SC

SC

E

SC

SC

Hemidactylium scutaturn Northern Cricket Frog路

Acris crepitans Bullfrog

Rana catesbeiana Pickerel Frog

Rana paluslr;s Smooth Softshell Turtle

Apalone mutica

Two new population localities documented.

Eumeces fasciatus Decreasing populations, continued collecting pressure.

Elaphe obsoleta Fox Snake

Populations stable, no collecting threat.

Elaphe vulpina Western Hognose Snake Heterodon nasicus Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platirhinos Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer sayi Massasauga * Sistrurus catenatus Lined Snake Tropidoclonion lineatum

Limited range, no recent records in State.

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MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 13

What The Heck Is A "Hands-On?"

By Sean P. Hewitt This article is in response to several people, especially my mother, who have asked me, "What is a Hands-On?" I realize that some new members or some out of state members who receive our newsletter do not know what a "Hands-On" is. This article is for you.

A Hands-On event IS public education . It's public reeducation! It's showing off! It's bragging about YOUR companion or pet! It's educating people about really radical reptiles and amphibians.

As a member of the society you have the privilege to do "Hands-On" events.

Here are some tips: 1) Keeps answers short and specific. The public has about a 3 second attention span.

2) Be polite.

3) Don't guess; there is enough misinformation that the public believes already (i.e. salmonella). Try to find out the answer from someone else or say that "I don't know."

4) Don't joke! The general public would not understand that you are not giving them a straight answer.

Other helpful hints: "Bring several animals, if possible, and rotate them to minimize stress on the animal. Programs can vary in times, but are generally worked in four hour shifts.

"Bring proper displays and supplies for set up and clean up of your animals. Don't rely on other people.

"Don't bring animals that have just fed or are in a shed. Wait about 3 days after feeding and don't bring an animal who is shedding, or worse, entering a shed (opaque) as it can be really harmful to handle your pet during this critical period.

"Do not feed any animal on display. You may want to forgo educating the public on how it eats for the well being of the animal.

"Try to learn as much as you can about your animals. You'll be asked tons of questions, but most people only listen to brief answers. You'll learn to "wing it" after a while. Be prepared to offer information if someone is reluctant to approach you.

"Come up with a "lure" to get people to touch the animal or ask a question. With hesitant children, I will ask them if it (the lizards' 'skin) feels like sandpaper or tree bark.

I will offer one more hint; and that is you, the volunteer, must have patience. Why? Because you be will asked a bazillion questions, some over and over and over.

Here is a sample of the most popular questions: 3.) Can I pet it?

2.) What is it?

1.) Is it poisonous?

Answer questions non-specifically unless asked for more detail. There are the easy questions like "What is it?" "What is it's name?" "Where does it live?" "Where is it from?" "How big will it get?" Everyone should be able answer these questions. After answering more difficult questions such as albinism and simple genetics you normally receive the deer-in-the-headlights look.

You will receive some, for the lack of better word, stupid questions like "Lizard, right?" Now, I give them the deer-in-the-headlights look.

Some other question you may be asked are: "What does it eat?" Answer rodents or what the natural diet is in the wild (not all people like to hear that they eat "Thumper"). Also the public doesn't understand the terms pinkie, fuzzy, chubby, etc.

"Is it POiS01WUS?" A "no" is fine. If you have an attitude tbat day "I don't know, I baven't bitten it" is always fun. The correct term is venomous. Anotber answer would be "no, otherwise I would not be holding it!!"

"Can I hold it?" No. It's against the rules. This seems a little rough but it stops tbem. Also anotber approacb is to say "no, I must control the bead end of tbe animal, but you can touch it if you want."

"Does it bite?" Yes, all animals bite. This will sometimes stop the hands are reaching towards its head.

You can follow with a comment that reptiles and amphibians usually bite as a feeding response or as a fear response. Tben explain wby you trust your animal not to bite.

"Where can I buy it?" You can say wbere you purcbased your animal, but also list other local stores.

Don't promote one certain store. Or, tell them to look in tbe Yellow pages.

"Does this animal hove salmonella?" First roll your eyes (make sure tbe person doesn't see you) tben explain about salmonella, if you get stuck tbere is tbe Cal Zoo Salmonella Fact Sheet hand out.

"Is this your animal or who's animal is this?"

Explain that these are your personal animals that you bring out to sbare witb the public.

"Mmmm Barbecued." This is a statement not a question it's a statement, but it is one that really bugs me.

I baven't found tbe witty come back yet.

"Cool, can anything here kill me?" Think to yourself, "I wish it could," then calmly explain that this is not a side show.

"What will you rk> with it when it gets large?"

Being tbe responsible pet owner that you are; explain that you will keep it until it dies.

There are the more difficult questions like "What is its predator?" -- "What's its status in the wild, is it endangered?" -- "What disease's is it susceptible to?"

These thought provoking questions are the ones 1 like.

Tbese kinds of questions can really keep you on toes, so be sure to do some research.

The Minnesota Herpetological Society's HandsOn Rules and Guidelines on the following page are to protect yourself, the society, the public and your right to keep reptiles. Most importantly, tbey help insure tbe health and safety of your pet. These rules and guidelines should be read and signed by everyone at every event, but cbildren under 14 need an adults signature.

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MRS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 14

MHS "HANDS-ON" EVENT RULES AND GUIDELINES I) FIRST AND FOREMOST! NEVER, EVER, EVER, let the public get near or touch the head of ANY animal! Always maintain complete control over the head and watch for reaching hands. The public will not take no for an answer.

2) Always maintain complete control over your animal. NEVER, EVER, let the public pick up or hold any animal. Even if they say, "I've got one at home." ANYONE can be bitten at any time. Don't risk it. Never lose possession of the animal.

3) Bring animals that are controllable and docile; ones that the public can touch without it lashing out or striking. Know your animals signs of stress. Put animals away that are or become '1umpy" or "restless."

4) Do not bring any potentially dangerous or venomous animals.

5) Do not bring sick animals! Be courteous of the other members who have healthy animals.

6) Always transport your animals in a tightly closed covered cage, bag, or container. Never take your animals out to display when not in the 'hands-on' area. Remove animals from containers while away from the public's view to check the animal, the container, and the animal's disposition before displaying them.

7) You must be an active member of MHS to participate in a MHS sponsored education program.

8) If you have any questions, ASK. There will always be plenty of people at the hands on that can answer your questions.

You can defer MHS or other related questions to the Education Coordinator or a member of the Board.

9) Keep the focus on the public. Talking to other members of the Society should be kept to a minimum while people are present.

10) Keep the display area professional looking and clean. Clean up any spills, throwaway any waste, hide containers and other belongings from the publics view.

II) We would like to present a uniform image from the workers, so please wear one of the following: (in order of preference) a) MHS T-shirt b) Reptile or Amphibian T-Shirt c) Plain T-Shirt with a MHS Pin 12) Do not bring friends/children that are not able to work; we need the space to have active displays.

13) Do not display the animals in any way that is unprofessional, shows incorrect procedures, or creates confusion for other members or the public (i.e. Iguana on the head or snake around the neck).

14) If someone is interested in keeping Reptiles & Amphibians, PUSH them into buying a book on the animal before making any other purchases.

15) Education programs are not the time to be looking for perspective buyers for the baby "whatever" you have at home. Let the people learn about the animals today and shop another day.

16) Remember, we are out to educate the public about how great and important herps really are; try to represent MHS and Reptiles & Amphibians in a positive manner. Education programs are a privilege.

17) In the event of a member being bitten, remain calm. Slowly move away from the public, so as not to draw attention.

Then, immediately put the animal away for the rest of the day. Quietly ask for help if needed. pon't bring this animal to another 'hands-on.'

18) In the event that a person other than a member is bitten, remain calm. Get the Education Chair or a Board Member to talk to the person and fill out incident report. Don't bring this animal to another 'hands-on'. Apologize for your mistake and hope we don't get sued.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

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BloomIng Ion Velerlnary

'Vl!~ -~~ Hospital, P.A.

Dutch

English Spot

Jim's Rabbit Shack Where Spots Are Tops

TEL: 884-3228 â&#x20AC;˘ FAX: 884-7357

I.A. Sweeney DVM

W.H. Sweeney DVM

Monticello, MN 55362

Hospital Hours M-T-W-T 8,00 AM TO 9:00 PM FRIDAY 8:00 AM TO 6:00 PM SATURDAY 8:00 AM TO 1:00 PM

(612) 295¡2618

Please Ask For Dr. Weber

JIM DALUGE 6700 Jaber Ave. N.E. Polish

8830 Lyndale Avenue South.

Bloomington, MN 550120

MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 15

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

CALENDAR OF EVENTS May 3, 1996 MHS General Meeting. Guest Speaker: Dr. DAN KEYLER Program: VENOMOUS SNAKEBITES. Borlaug Hall, U of M, St. Paul Campus. 7pm.

May 17-19, 1996 MHS ANNUAL MIDWEST PET FAIR "HANDS ON" EVENT. St. Paul Civic Center.

For times and info Contact: Sean Hewitt (612) 935-5845 June 7, 1996 MHS General Meeting. Guest Speaker: JOHN MELTZER; Program: WESTERN HOGNOSE SNAKES. Borlaug Hall, U of M, St. Paul Campus. 7pm.

June 27-29, 1996 20th Annual International Herpetological Symposium. Sheraton Fiesta Hotel, San Antonio, TX. Registration fee: $125.00 (does not include hotel room fees). For more info Contact: David Hulmes, 361 VanWinkle Ave., Hawthorne, NJ 07506, (201) 427-0768. Hotel reservations Call: (800) 535-1980.

July 13-14, 1996 International Reptile Breeder's Convention. San Diego Concourse Plaza HaIl, San Diego, CA. For more info Contact: Ray Busby (800) 497-3550.

July 24-29, 1996 39th Annual Meeting of the SSAR. University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. For more info Contact: Cathy M. Dwigans, Academic & Professional Programs/Continuing Education, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045 (913) 864-3284, fax (913) 864-5074

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

MHS Business April Board Meeting Highlights

By Michelle Stephan, Recording Secretary (Submitted by R.C.B.) The monthly meeting of the MHS Board of Directors was conducted on April 13 at the home of Gloria Anton. A quorum was present. The board took the following action: Our liability insurance is due and will be renewed at the same rate as last year.

The 1996 Budget needs to be passed out to the board for approval.

The 1995 Audit has been completed.

The Frog and Toad Survey was discussed and several changes have occurred and more will be taking place since the project began.

The Hands-on photo backdrop was discussed; it is not yet ready, but should be completed before the Pet Fair.

The Constitution and Board member candidate age limits were discussed. Any change would violate our By Laws. At this time, it is considered a dead issue.

Adoption Committee issues were discussed.

Neodesha cages are to be priced to see if they should be purchased for showing the animals at the General Meeting. A motion was made and passed to require a $25 placemerit fee for anyone who wants us to take their Iguana and to inform them that euthanasia may be necessary.

Presented and accepted were: Treasurer's Report, Board Meeting Minutes, and Membership Report.

March 1996 Treasurer's Report Prepared by Marilyn Brooks Blasus Beginning Check Book Balance

2,984.36

Income: Membership Raffle Sales Donations Fines Other Total Income:

315.00 99.50 325.74 95.77 20.50 856.51

Expense: Newsletter Misc. PrintIPostage Program Library Books Supplies Refreshments Other Total Expense: 620.31 Net IncomelLoss: Ending Check Book Balance: Funds Allocated to Unpaid Expenses: Funds Available: Conservation Fund Balance:

280.90 162.84 30.00 146.57

236.20 3,220.56 3,220.56 90.73

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MHS Newsletter Volume 16 Number 4 Page 16

Classified Ads 1.0.0 = male, 0.1.0 = female, 0.0.1 = unsexed c.b. =captive bred, o.b.o. =or best offer

For Sale Hatchling Leopard Tortoises $150 ea. Call Jake (612) 757-8268 0.0.1 Alligator Snapping Turtle, approx. 8" carapace length $100. 0.0.1 Spiny Softshell, 4" length $15. Call Craig (612) 934-7239 Adult Long Term Captive Monitors. 1.1.1 Varanus dumerW, 1.0 V. jobiensis, 0.0.1 V. nilotieus ornatus.

Also 2 adult tegus. Some cages, mice, rats and rabbits.

Please call for more details, all trades considered. Dan (612) 772-9315.

2.1 Dumeril's Boas, Aerantophis dumerili, c.b. babies 10/95. Feeding well on small mice. $250 ea. Desert Kingsnakes c.b. 8/95 $25 ea. Call Connie or John (612) 374-5422 Mice and Rats. Call Little Critters (612) 421-0097 Rabbits - Fryer size, current listed market price.

Discounts for orders of 6 or more. Rat size $1.50 ea. or 6 for $7.50. Adults $2 ea when available. All sizes currently available. Call Jim Daluge (612) 295-2818.

Wanted ALL THE SHED SNAKE SKINS IN THE WORLD, Always, to use at hands-on programs to give to kids. Bob Duerr (612) 541-0362.

C.B. 94-96 (or older if good tempered) Fox Snake, Elaphe vulpina, Black Ratsnake, E. obsoleta, or E. or W. Hognose, Heterodon platirhinos or H. nasieus. Please call Michelle and Chris (612) 578-9003.

10-15 gal. fish aquarium, with under-gravel filter, hood/1ight, etc. Check your basement or garage for that fish stuff you can't use for most of your herps. Call Becky evenings at (612) 699-8031.

Herp related news clippings, original articles, artwork, cartoons, etc. for publication in the MHS Newsletter.

Authors and artists will receive compensation in the form of volunteer hrs, good towards one "priceless" MHS coffee mug. Send submissions to: MN Herp. Soc.! Editor, c/o Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church SI. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455路0104. Editor's E-mail address: zoobooks@mn.uswest.net My female Rough-scaled Sand Boa is ready to breed this year. Looking for a male as a breeding loan. Call Chase; (612) 374-5422.

Any Day Geckos (Phelsuma). Call Dean R. Montour (612) 257-2462.

Male albino Burmese Python for breeding loan. Call: Dan (612) 772-9315.

Looking for current & back issues of herp related magazines, symposia, journals & newsletters from around the world: U.S., England, Europe, Australia, Mrica. etc.

Call Joel (814) 724-8351, PA.

Miscellaneous BREEDING INVENTORY SURVEY: Everyone keeping live reptiles and amphibians is asked to contribute to this annual report. Please submit the following info current Jan. 1st of each year: (1) Inventory of collection,list numbers and sex, (2) list of all species bred during the previous year, (3) any longevity records, (4) please print clearly; your name, address and telephone number as you want them listed, (5) please do respond. Send info to: Frank Slavens, P.O. Box 30744, Seattle, WA 98103.

Fax: (206) 546-2912.

SEA TUR1LE SURVIVAL LEAGUE, announces its' line of eco-promoting sea turtle merchandise, for a free catalog write: Sea Turtle Survival League, P.O. Box 2866, Gainesville, FL 32602-2866 or call (800) 6787853.

Will fmd or provide "homes" for any and all unwanted venomous snakes and crocodilians. For more info contact: The Exotic Dead Comer (612) 545-5127.

MHS Rodent Sales Mice: pinkies $6.00 dozen fuzzies . $6.00 dozen adults $9.00 dozen Rats: pups adults

$10.00 dozen $12.00 six $24.00 dozen

For pickup at monthly meetings only. Orders must be placed at least one week in advance of date of meeting at which frozen rodents are to be delivered. Place orders with Terry Scheiber (612) 440-7482.

All proceeds from MRS rodent and merchandise sales go toward the operating costs of the society such as; speaker fees, library purchases, charitable donations, etc. The MRS Is a completely volunteer run, non-profit organization.

Advertising Rates and Instructions

Amphibian & Reptile Information

Classified Ads: Are run free of charge to paid members.

Non-member rates are ten cents per word, per month. Ads may run three (3) consecutive months, after which time they may be re-submitted.

Business Cards: Institutional members may run one standard sized business card free of charge. Non-member rate for standard sized business cards is $5.00 per month.

Display and Expanded Size Ad Rates: Ad Size Month 3+ Months 6+ Months 1/4 Page $10.00 $7.50 $5.00 $20.00 $15.00 $10.00 1/2 Page Page $40.00 $25.00 $15.00 (All ad prices listed above are on a per month basis) Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the; MHS Editor, Ben Museum of Natural History, 10 Church SI. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Minnesota Herpetological Society.

MHS Ad Policy: The MHS assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY regarding the legality or health of any animal, or the quality or legahty of any product or service advertised in the MHS Newsletter. Any ad may be rejected at the discretion of the Newsletter Editor. Due to space limitations Unpaid and Complimentary advertisements are subject to occasional

Specific questions concerrting amphibians and reptiles are best answered by contacting the following individuals at the numbers provided. Please remember to be reasonable about the time of day and how frequently you call.

Amphibians & Reptiles in Minnesota John Moriarty (612) 482-8109 Greg Kvanbeck (612) 533-7723

Large Boas & Pythons

Other Snakes

Karl Hermann (612) 730路6265 Glen Jacobsen (612) 757-8263

John Meltzer (612) 263-7880 Jeff leClere (612) 488-6388

Terrestrial Turtles

Aquatic Turtles

John Moriarty (612) 482-8109 Glen Jacobsen (612) 757-8263

Gary Ash (612) 753-0218 John Levell (612) 374-5422

Lizards

Crocodilians

Nancy Haig (612) 434-8684 Bill Moss (612) 488-1383

Jeff Lang (701) 772-0027

Amphibians Greg Kvanbeck (612) 533-7723 John Meltzer (612) 263-7880

omission.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNE$OTA- ST. PAUL CAMPUS

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Non-Profit Rate U. S. Postage

PAID

HERPETOLOGICAL

Mpls.MN Pennit No. 2275

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

ADDRESS CORREGnON REQUESTED

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