Vol. 21 (2001), No. 8

Board of Directors President Bill Moss

651.488.1383

mngatorguy@qwesl.net Vice President Tony Gamble

763.424.2803 tgamble@mediaone.net

Recording Secretary Julie Beauvais beav001@lc.umn.edu

612.321.0958

Bell Museum ofNaturnl History, 10 Church Street South

Eas~

Minneapolis Minnesota 55455-0104

The Minnesota Herpetological S e t y o C 1 Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

http://m\~v.onrampinc.net/mhs/

MRS egroup email: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mnherpsoc

Membership Secretary Nancy Haig

763.434.8684 nanchiag@citilink.com

Treasurer Marilyn Blasus

952.925.4237

marHynbb@qwest.net Newsletter Editor Heather Matson geckoloco@qwest.net

612.554.8446

Members at Large Jodi L. Aherns 612.588.9329 Nancy Hakomaki 651.631.1380 mngatorgal@qwest.net Heather Ingbretson 763.572.0487 Meli~a Nordos 612.812.6146 Crow248@msn.com Keith Tucker 612.321.0958 Tucke022@tc.umn.edu

Committees Adoption Sarah Richard

812.781.9544 RealSarah@aoLcom

Education Jan Larson

507.263.4391 jan.skunkholJow@juno.com

Northern Minnesota Jeff Korbel

218.586.2566

LIbrary Beth Girard

763.691.1650 bgirard@worldnet.att.net

Herp Assistance Amphibians Greg Kvanbek John Meltzer John Moriarty

651.388.0305 763.283.7860 651.482.8109

Chameleons Vern & Laurie Grassel

612.428.8109

Crocodilians Jeff Lang Bill Moss

701.772.0227 651.488.1383

Lizards Nancy Haig Heather Matson

763.434.8684 612.554.8448

Large Boas, Pythons TIna Cisewski

612.858.2865

Other Snakes Jeff leclere John Meltzer

651.486.6368 763.263.7880

Aquatic Turtles Gary Ash John Levell

763.753.0218 507.467.3076

Terrestial Turtles Fred Bosman John Levell

763.476.0306 507.467.3076

August 2001

Volume 21 Number 8

The Purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological SOCiety is to: • Further the education of the membership and the general Public in care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians; • Educate the members and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians; • Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

The Minnesota Herpetological Society is a non·profit, tax-exempt organization.

Membership is open to all individuals with an interest in amphibians and reptiles. The Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter is published monthly to provide its members with information concerning the society's activities and a media for exchanging information, opinions and resources.

General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the SI. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota, on the first Friday of each month (unless there is a holiday conflict). The meeting starts at 7:00pm and lasts about three hours. Please check the MHS Voice mail for changes in schedules or cancellations.

Submissions to the Newsletter Ads or Notices must be submitted no later than the night of the General Meeting to be included in the next issue. Longer articles will be printed as time and space allows. All business cards are run for $5/month.

Items may be sent to: The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor Bell museum of Natural History 10 Church SI. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55455.0104

Snake Bite Emergency Hennepin Regional Poison Center

800.764.7661

Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society 2001. Contents may be reproduced for non-profit use provided that aJl material is reproduced without change and proper credit is given author and the MHS Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.

~'ilinnesota

Herpetological Society Newsletter

August 2001

Volume 21 Number 8

News, Notes & Announcements

St. Paul Rescue These animals will be coming up for adoption in September.

They will be placed at the meeting. Please do not call about adopting them prior to the September meeting. In order to adopt you must be a current member, be at the meeting (on time as we will start the process early), and have the ability to pick the animals up Saturday morning at my house in NE Minneapolis. They will not be brought to the meeting. The numbers behind the animals correspond to the picture numbers on Bill's web site.

The animals may be viewed prior to the meeting on line at Bill's site (see previous email) or in person by volunteering at least 1 hour of cage cleaning, by appointment, by calling Sarah at 612-781-9544 or email me at ReaISarah@aol.com. I usually check my email from 6-7am so if you are going to volunteer please call.

The link to the webs hots album for the animal photos is: http://community.webshots.com/album/18193983VmsVXVrdQE

Help a Hapless Herp 12 Animals were adopted at the August meeting: 4 Iguanas (including Lizzy & Otis) 1 Corn Snake 1 Ball Python 1 California King 1 Bearded Dragon 1 Boa 1 Burmese 1 Bull Snake 1 Reeves Turtle Still Available: 5 Iguanas 2 Alligators 2 Burmese Python 1 Nile Monitor St Paul Rescue Animals: 5 Leopard Geckos 1 Whited Striped Gecko 1 Marmoratus Gecko 1 Golden Gecko 1 Chinese Water Dragon 3 Fat tailed Geckos 1 Tokay Gecko 1 Tegu - juvenile 3 Bearded Dragons 2 Blue Tongue Skinks 1 Panther Chameleon

1 Sulcata Tortoise - juvenile 1 Malayan Box Turtle 1 Red foot Tortoise 2 Russian Tortoises 1 Grey Banded King Snake 3 Corn Snakes 2 Malayan Blood Pythons Remember to come to the September meeting and get your questions answered, then fill out an adoption form or two.

A special thanx to Sarah and Bill for the effort put in to this rescue and placement for these animals.

Critter of the Month Sara Knez Chile Toad Buto limen sis Dion Grethen Eastern Hognose He/erodon platirhinos Joy Norquist Emperor Scorpion Glen Jacobson Waxy Monkey Frogs Phyllemedusa savagii Tayha Anderson Smooth Green Snake Opeodrys uerralis

May 5th, 2001 Board Meeting Review

by Julie Beauvais, Recording Secretary The May 5th board meeting was held at the St. Paul Student Center. There was a quorum present. The first order of business was to vote Heather Ingbretson in as a member at large.

The minutes from April were read and amended. They were moved and accepted as amended. Marilyn reported that the raffle raised $164.50 for the Global Gecko Association.

So far $1308.00 had been collected from the White Snake sale. 48 T-shirts were sold last night. We also approved an additional amount of $100.00 to cover the cost of printing the White Pages.

The treasurer's report was moved and accepted. Nancy Haig presented an active membership report. The membership report was moved and accepted. Tony listed off the next few speakers.

A grant request was tabled because they were not in a hurry to get the money. We discussed that our membership brochure needed to be updated and reprinted. The board approved $150.00 to get the brochures reprinted. We also discussed how to boost attendance at the annual picniC . but tabled it because it was too late to do anything this year.

Heather Ingbretson said that she would take care of coffee and refreshments.

Discussion of our 25th anniversary started but Bill said that it was too early to start planning. We also need someone for the sales table.

There was also a short m-eeting after the general meeting in June. The Treasurer's report was presented and accepted. Nancy Hakomaki had a budget for Renfest, which was approved by the board.

MHS Library News Beth Girard 3

HE

Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter

Victoria's SecretPart II A Trip to the Animal Emergency Room So, off we were to the Animal Emergency room at 8:00 in the evening with Victoria, our sick Leopard Gecko.

She was nestled in a temporary plastic cage inside a cooler with a heat pack and a deck of cards in case the wait was long. If we had only known how long it would bel We brought along a healthy gecko for comparison figuring wherever we went, they may not know much about Geckos.

When we got to the Veterinarian Clinic, we found a waiting room with two other couples and their sick animals. The Veterinarian Technician took Victoria to keep her in a warm place. Then we sat and waited for two hours.

August 2001

Volume 21 Number 8

By Heather Ingbretson

that they included a boa constrictor among these animals. The boa apparently had gotten pneumonia and had since fully recovered.

We walked into the room and set the cooler on the floor. The Veterinarian already had Victoria's tiny cage up on the surgery table and was pulling her out. She lifted her up and looked At about 9:30, they called us into an her over. After a few moments, she set her back down in her cage and examination room to wait there.

We pulled out the cards and after about turned to us to figure out a game plan. another 45 minutes, a young doctor in his mid 30's came in and introduced "Well," she said, "she looks a bit thin, like you mentioned, and she might himself. He said that they didn't have anyone on duty that knew much be a bit dehydrated. I'd like to soak about geckos, so he encouraged us to her in a warm water bath to see if go to another Clinic in the Cities that that will give her some more energy. I had a Veterinarian that knows Geckos know that most reptiles will absorb and was still open with no waiting line. a certain amount of water through their skin and it certainly can't hurt.

The Veterinarian apologized profuse- Then we can run that fecal while she's in the bath. Did you say you had a ly for our long wait and we wearily headed out the door with cooler in tow. fecal with you?"

At around 11: 15pm, we arrived at the other clinic. It struck us immediately that it was a much cleaner, much newer looking clinic. It had a waiting room that was much bigger and much brighter.

"Yes," I replied, "I have it right here." I got out the fecal sample in our little ziplock bag and handed it over to her.

She took it in her hands and looked closely at it and kind of poked at it through the bag for a moment.

I also got a good impression of the Veterinarian immediately. She greeted us very shortly after we came in and invited us back to look over the gecko with her. She was probably in her late 30's to early 40's and she seemed much more professional and knowlWe also had plenty of time to look edgeable about geckos. She immediaround on the walls of the waiting room. ately recognized that Victoria seemed There were newspaper clippings of a thin and mentioned that she had Leopard Geckos of her own at home. dog that swallowed a 4 inch knife. A copy of the X-ray showed the knife still The room she brought us into was a in the dog. The dog survived only because it had swallowed the knife han- very large room. It had two stainless steel surgery islands in the middle of dle-first. It was pretty amazing. the room. There were countertops On another wall in their entryway all along two walls with deep sinks was a collage of "patient" reports? and stainless steel draining racks along stories of animals that came in sick another wall. and recovered. We were impressed

She looked up at us after a moment looking a bit disappointed, "I'm sorry, but this fecal is already dry. It won't really work as a fecal sample. They have to be moist. I know it's hard to get a gecko fecal sample because they are so small and they dry up fast, but if you ever have to bring in another gecko fecal sample, you can always put in a few drops of water to keep it moist."

While we sat, we found an opportunity to talk to the other couples in the waiting room. There was an older couple with their poodle that had eaten something it shouldn't have. There was also a young couple with a kitten that was reacting badly to a shot.

4

I'm sure I didn't have any intelligent reply, but I was a bit disappointed conSidering we had waited all week to get a fecal sample and now realized it was no good. With our geckos being on Calcium Carbonate, it made it even more difficult to get a moist sampie since the substrate itself had such a drying effect. In any case, I

Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter

August 2001

Volume 21 Number 8

had other questions for her that might what she was doing. She is a doctor normal gecko that help us figure out Victoria's Secret of after all, right? It was probably best to you have, you will be able to see the why she was ill. let the doctor do her thing quickly. same pattern on its belly, but much fainter."

"Well, can you look at her stomach But I still winced like someone had and tell me what that black discol- just run their fingernails down a chalk- Sure enough, I looked at the normal oration is?" I inquired. board. I shook the feeling away and one and the exact same pattern of tried to concentrate on what she was blotching was evident on her stomach, "Sure," she said, "Let's take a look at saying. too. It was very faint, and you had her." She took Victoria out again and to know what you were looking for. It flipped her over onto her stomach. "Are you talking about this darkness made sense.

Victoria didn't like that much at all. She here?" she asked, pointing to her midthrashed her head around and made dle abdomen where there was a dark- "Another thing that we could do is to sounds that I've never heard coming blotch. take an X-Ray. If there were any sort of from an adult gecko. Victoria even bit impaction, it would show in the X-Ray. the doctor on her on the finger. "Wow, "Yes, that's what I was noticing."

With the symptoms you're describing of not eating and not producing any she's certainly got some energy left in her anywayl" the doctor exclaimed.

"That's probably just her internal fecals, there's a good chance that it organs starting to show through. could be impaction. In either case, a I winced in pain for poor Victoria. It There's nothing abnormal about this. warm bath can't hurt her." was all I could do to not grab Victoria When they lose enough body fat, you away from the Veterinarian and protec- can see through the skin on their belly. We agreed to the X-Ray and returned tively cradle her in my own hands. I Normally, there is a layer of fat here to the waiting room to wait for the couldn't bear to see Victoria in such that makes it difficult to see any of the results. We were optimistic about pain. Yet, I figured the doctor knew organs, but I'll bet if you look at that the Veterinarian's knowledge and expertise. .We were confiden.t that she would be able to help her.

A half an hour later the Veterinarian came out to give us an update.

"I have some good news" she started, "Victoria produced a fecal for us while we were giving her the bath, so we were able to perform a fecal test.

The results showed one flagellate, but this is somewhat common for Leopard Geckos. In fact, some people would not treat a Leopard Gecko with flagellates.

In any case, we're not going to treat her for flagellates at this time, because we found something interesting in the X-Ray. Why don't you come and take a look at it?"

We followed her down the hallway and into another room that appeared to be more of an exam room. It had a countertop island in the middle of the room with more of a wood-grain appearance. It also had a small counter in the corner of the room with an X-Ray light above it.

She walked over to the corner of 5

Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter

August 2001

the exam room and put the X-ray up on was on her way to recovery. I was light to show us what she saw. kind of looking forward to seeing exactly how you give a Gecko a shot.

"Here you go. This is Victoria," she began, "And it looks fairly normal But I was mostly looking forward to except for this right here." She point- seeing Victoria again and when I heard ed to a round white spot on the X-Ray the Veterinarian walking down the near her lower abdomen. "I'm guess- hallway and I naturally turned to wait ing it's some sort of blockage. It's hard for Victoria to come into the room. I to tell what it is exactly, but we should really wanted to see how she was holdtreat Victoria for impaction." ing up. The Veterinarian walked into the room smiling like a hero and holding "So," I asked, "What do we do for a clipboard like a waitress holds a tray impaction?" in front of her. Victoria was laying right on the clipboard closest to the "Well, one of the first things is to Veterinarian. hydrate her and we've already done some of that. I would recommend soak- The first thing I said was, "Wow, she ing her in warm water at least once or looks so? relaxed." She was laying twice a day. The other thing we there with her hind legs stretched out should do is to administer some behind her the way geckos lay when antibiotics. I've already given her a they are basking under a heat-lamp or shot of that, but she's probably going to when they are sleeping. It is a sign need a shot every day for a few days. If of absolute comfort. I was amazed for you think you can handle giving her the a second that Victoria was in such a shots yourself, it would probably be the state of relaxation. Then I realized that best for her." she was probably just worn out from the whole ordeal and was simply exhaust"That's fine," I said, "I'll do it. I can ed. give shots. I've just never given them to a gecko. Where do you give them to a The Veterinarian walked over to the gecko? In the tail?" table and set down the clipboard with Victoria on it. Victoria didn't even move.

"No, she said, "They're given in the front arm." I'm sure my eyes popped "Wow!" I exclaimed, "She looks REALout of my head at that moment LY relaxed." because I was picturing this frail little gecko whose legs were almost as Then the Veterinarian picked her up thin as the needles and I'm trying to and Victoria's limp body slumped over figure out how you would hold such her fingers. Victoria didn't resist or a tiny limb still while trying to administer fight. In fact, she didn't reactat all. a shot. Much less how you would avoid hitting a vain or a bonel Then I added hesitantly, "It almost looks like she's?dead."

"Of course I will show you how to administer the shots," she said as if in The Veterinarian, now getting a bit reply to the shocked look on my face. nervous said, "Oh, no she's just?" and "I'll go and get her along with some she tapped her on the head to try to supplies and we'll get you all set. I'll be get a reaction from her then she back in a minute." opened up her mouth to look at her gums I suppose. Then, just slightly She left and Brian and I were left in the more nervous the Veterinarian set her room looking at the X-Ray. I was happy on the table again. "She's probably to find out that it was something that just a bit tired from the shot," she tried could most likely be fixed and that she to explain.

6

Volume 21 Number 8

I could tell that she was just trying to reassure us, but she didn't seem too convinced with her own words. I started to get nervous.

Then with the gecko laying on the table the Veterinarian gently poked at Victoria's side. Still no reaction. As a last resort, she pinched Victoria on the tail?probably a last ditch effort to get a reaction from her. No such luck.

The Veterinarian picked up Victoria with her two hands, looked the Gecko straight in the eyes as if peering straight into the fragile creatures soul for one last wisp of hope and said, "Let me go and uh," she paused for a brief moment as if looking for the right word so as not to alarm us. She finished the thought with, "revive my... uh?plan."

And with that, the Veterinarian turned around and left the room with gecko in hand.

I turned to Brian with my jaw firmly planted on the floor. We were both speechless. We didn't know what to say. I turned towards the door where they had entered and exited within a period of about 90 seconds and I looked back at the examining room table with syringes and medicines and charts and papers that the Veterinarian had brought in with her.

Talk about a Freudian slip! Let me go and revive my?uh, plan.

Patient. That's what she meant to say, "Let me go and revive my Patient."

And that's probably exactly what she was trying to do.

For goodness sakes I! You can't REVIVE a gecko. A dog maybe. A cat maybe. But a gecko? I don't think so!

Finally, I turned to Brian and said, "She's dead."

I repeated my thoughts, "Victoria was already dead. That Veterinarian

Minnesota Herpetological Society Monthly Newsletter

August 2001

Volume 21 Number 8

brought a dead gecko into the room."

form an autopsy free of charge if we wanted. I'm sure she was just as curi- We laughed awhile about it. Then I He looked at me and nodded in agree- ous to find out what happened as we continued, "I can just see her now in the other room giving Victoria little ment, not knowing quite what to say. were at this point. puffs of breath and pushing her finger Then I said it a fourth time, "She We accepted and the results were very down on her little gecko abdomen. brought a dead gecko into the room." surprising. The round thing in the XRay was not impaction. It was her liver. I could just see her now with a 9V batI couldn't believe this whole event. How There was no sign of impaction at all. tery and little gecko paddles yelling could a Veterinarian walk into an exam- There were a few granules of "CLEAR" to all the people in the little ining room with a dead pet and not Calcium carbonate, but nothing sub- operating room. Victoria would be know that the patient is dead? And stantial and certainly nothing to worry hooked up to a little gecko heart moniwhat exactly did she think she was about. She mentioned a disease called tor. Her belly would be covered with going to do to revive her patient?pardon "Fatty Liver Disease" that she had little round stickers with wires comme to revive her PLAN. Freudian slip heard about in other reptiles, but that ing out of them. The lines on the or not, I couldn't believe the last has never been documented in gecko monitor would tell what the two minutes.

Leopard Geckos. She gave a few heart rhythms were doing.

Every reasons why fatty liver disease hap- minute or two the Vet would yell "So," I said verbalizing my thoughts, pens in the species that it is found? "CLEAR" at yet another attempt to "What does she think she's going to typically starvation conditions or simi- revive her "PLAN." do now? Victoria's dead. What's she lar. I think I was still in shock a bit. I going to do?give her CPR?" don't remember much more than that. In any case, we were already lookI just remembered "Fatty Liver ing back at the event as something we I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Disease." In any case, she offered could laugh at. We were sad over I knew she had to be dead and I these last pieces of the pu~zle to sooth Victoria's,loss, but I wasn't about to couldn't think of a logical way that the our minds. We were grateful to know just let it slide by.

Veterinarian would be able to revive that there was nothing more that we her. I mean, you can't exactly perform could have done to help her and I was Over the next few weeks I talked to all CPR on a gecko. a bit more grateful to know that it was- sorts of Gecko owners and breeders n't anything I had done wrong. Liver and told them my story and showed After a few minutes the Veterinarian diseases don't just develop in four them my X-Ray. If Victoria was dead, I walked back into the room very slowly weeks and that was how long I had didn't want her early death to be in and somberly. She was empty-handed. owned her. vain. I wanted to let other people I can't say I was all that surprised. know about "Fatty Liver Disease" in I posted to She looked downright embarrassed, We left the clinic with X-Ray in hand?a Leopard Geckos. humiliated and horrified all at the same' nice souvenir of the 4-hour, $130 kingsnake.com and got a surprising time if you can imagine that. evening.

To lift our sprits, we response from a woman on the east stopped at a Grocery store to get ice coast who lost 8 Leopard geckos in "I'm SO sorry," she began, "She was cream treats. the fall of 2000 to Fatty Leopard fine just a few minutes ago. I don't Disease. She had a world renowned know what happened."

On the way home, we broke the somber Reptile Entomologist and silence by laughing it off.

Epidemiologist perform autopsies on I'm sure my face went white and I her Geckos and he pronounced their think I tuned out every1hing she said "Did you see the look on her face when deaths as caused by "Fatty from there on. I think I heard some- she realized Victoria was dead?"

Liver Disease." thing about billing and of course they would have to bill us for the office I've never seen anything so hilarious in Even more interesting was that he did appointment and the X-Ray, but they my entire life. And what was the deal further studies on the samples. It wouldn't charge us for the antibiotic with "Let me go and uh, revive my uh, turns out that when crickets eat moldy shot and I'm sure she said something PLAN" food, they store the mold toxins in else, but I wasn't listening. their bodies at extremely high levels "Revive my PLAN? She probably and the crickets don't get sick. When Finally, I snapped out of it and stopped went in the other room to give the gecko the Leopard Geckos eat these crickstaring at the floor. She offered to per- mouth to mouth I What a riot!" ets, they also ingest the toxins that 7

Minnesota Herpetological Society :Monthly Newsletter

August 2001

the crickets stored up. These toxins get stored in the Gecko liver and eventually lead to something that resembles "Fatty Liver Disease."

Dragons: Giant Lizards of Indonesia"; "Scaly Babies: Reptiles Growing Up"; "The Salamander Room"; "The Snake Scientist"; "Outside and Inside: Alligators" and "Outside and Inside: That is the hypothesis. It has yet to be Snakes" by Sandra Markle. proven. I informed the previous owners of this hypothesis along with a few other These materials represent an emphasis Gecko owners. by the Society to provide benefits to those members involved in the educaIn any case, it certainly gave us all tion process, whether formally, as a some food for thought. (Pardon the classroom teacher, or informally. pun.)

Another benefit is the series of workshops, "Tips and Tools for Teaching So, Victoria did have a deep dark About Reptiles and Amphibians" secret after all. Hopefully, we can all announced in the last issue. In your learn from this and maybe one day August newsletter, you should have we'll understand more about this received a copy of Cold Blooded mysterious disease.

Connections, which contained a registration form for the workshops at Dodge -August, 2001 Nature Center on October 13th, and at Wargo Nature Center on the 27th. Two additional dates have been added to the schedule. On November 10th, a workshop will be held at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The Bell Museum of Natural History will host Beth Girard the fourth on November 17th. Pre-registration is necessary. If you need additional information, contact Beth by If you had the opportunity to stop by the phone at 763-691-1650 or bye-mail at MHS Library at the August meeting, you <bgirard@worldnet.att.net>

MHS Library News

may have noticed a new section ...

Education. In it, you can now find .. .

"Frog Math: Predict, Ponder, Play" ... a Teacher's Guide by the Lawrence Hall of Science; and, "Ranger Rick's NatureScope: Let's Hear It for Herps!" by the National Wildlife Federation.

Several other teacher's guides have been ordered ... they are scheduled to arrive just in time for the new school yearl Visit the library at the next meeting and check them out!

A donation box will be set up at the MHS library for the next few months.

Clean out your closets and dust off those shelvesl Do you have something sitting around that a classroom teacher, scout leader, or program naturalist can use to educate and intrigue young peopie? We are looking for old herp magazines, turtle shells, shed skins, skulls, etc., to use as door prizes at the workshopsl Please be sure to sign the register of donated items when you drop your treasures off! Many thanks!

A large selection of children's books have also been added to the collection.

These books can be utilized by parents Remember, if you won't be using your and educators as well. The new titles copy of Cold Blooded Connections, why not help spread the word and pass it on include ... to a neighborhood teacher!!

"The Reptile Ball" by Jacqueline Ogburn; "Snakes" and "Crocodiles & Alligators" by Seymour Simon; "Extremely Weird Frogs"; "Komodo

8

Volume 21 Number 8

July 7th, 2001 Board Meeting Review

by Julie Beauvais, Recording Secretary The July 7th, 2001 board meeting took place at the St. Paul Student Center. A quorum was present. The minutes from the May meeting were read and amended. They were moved and accepted as amended. Marilyn said that the rodent cost were high because Tina replaced the rodent stock.

The Treasurer's report was moved and accepted. Nancy reported that there are approximately 412 members. She is still working on family memberships, which can cause problems when peopie renew memberships. There are 39 exchange memberships.

Nancy guessed that there are about 270 paid memberships. The membership report was moved and accepted. We received an email grant request from the Children's Museum requesting a grant to redo the turtle habitat and to care for 2 box turtles, 2 painted turtles, 1 blandings turtle and a corn snake.

This was tabled until we receive a formal grant proposal. Randy Blasus gave us a report on the field survey.

Marilyn had a request for reimbursement for cost incurred for the field survey. The board approved the reimbursement. The board also approved and additional $50.00 towards the printing of the membership brochures.

General Meeting Review

by Julie Beauvais, Recording Secretary May's speaker was Dr. Dan Keyler.

Dr. Keyler's talk was on venomous snake bites and remedies over the millennia.

4000 years ago Egyptian priests would open up the victims arms to let the demons out.

Dr. Keyler showed a slide of a man with cuts across his arms. Sometimes these cuts would be made by snake fangs.

Milmesota Herpetological Society MonUuy Newsletter

Helpful Hints for Hands -on

Volume 21 Number 8

August 2001

Minnesota Herpetological Society Treasurer's Report Prepared by

I'm glad to see so many people coming to our events. Here are Marilyn Brooks Blasus, Treasurer a few things to remember: 1) Know the following about your animal. a) What kind it is.

For the Month Ending: b) What it eats July 31, 2001 c) Where it lives in the wild d) Life expectancy Income: 2) Never allow anyone other than yourself to Membership hold your animal.

Sales (Net) 3) Try to be polite - even answering really dumb Donations questions!

Raffle 4) Come often - Thanksl Misc Total Income: Jan Larsen jan.skunkhollow@juno.com Aristotle suggested eating the snake.

Another remedy used was mixed herbs to which they added snake flesh and opium.

In the 1600's in the far east they started using snake stones. Snake stones were st?nes that v-:ere put on the wound .so that It would stick and when It fell off you were cured. Snake stones are still used in some countries today and there are disputes over whether it really works.

Snake plantains were used by Native Americans. They thought that the patterns on the plants matched the patterns on the snakes.

There was snake bite booze that you would pour on the wound. Some said that if you were bite then drink as much alcohol as possible. You could also drink snake oil according to others.

In 1685 there was the split chicken treatment. In this treatment you would split a chicken in half and use it to cover the wound. When it turned black or the feathers fell off then you were cured. Chemicals such as strychnine, congo red and nicotine have been used to treat bites. Snake bite kits included potassium permanganate to be put on the wound up until the 1930's.

An Army surgeon made the X cut. Then you would suck out the blood and use a tourniquet. Dr. Keyler showed some very gross slides of the results of using a tourniquet. Others wrapped the entire limb, which can work for cobras and

355.00 93.20 450.00 62.25 2.00 962.45

Expenses: Australian snakes because their Newsletter Printing & Postage venom doesn't have the enzyme properties that rattlesnakes do.

Other Printing Thomas Glass promoted surgically & Postage treating the bite.

Program In 1906 in Grasshopper Valley in .

Conservation/Donation Tennessee t~e Church of God start- .

Supplies & Refreshmnt ed the practice of plckmg up venMisc omous snakes. So far 74 people Total Expense: have died. Other people have tried electroshock treatments.

Net Gain/(Loss): Nowadays some people use active immunization, which consists of injecting small amounts of venom into your own body.

There is also passive immunization in which you are given serum prepared from another animal.

Current research into new antivenins have a process that breaks the venom down into smaller, less ~_ harmful, proteins. The history of treating snake bites . ';) has been very long and t)i:/' very interesting. Thank you EnglIsh Spot Dr. Keyler for sharing this unique history with us.

311.06 50.00 _ 293.86 654.92 307.53

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Jim's Rabbit Shack "Where Spots Are Tops路

JIM DALUGE (763) 295路2818

8700 Jaber Ave NE Monticello. MN 55362

9

j\lillllesota Herpetological Society NewsleUer

August 2001

Volume 21 Nwnber 8

Classified Advertisements Classified ads are free to the member ship.

Deadline Is the night of the general meeting to be Included In the next 1,0.0 =male, 0.1.0 := female, 0.0.1 = unsexed, cb = captive bred, abo = or besl offer, + =times runt ads are run only 3x unless requested to continue).

For Sale LARGE ANIMAL DISPLAY CAGE - ONE OF A KIND 8' Lx 3.25 ' D x 4.5' H, BEAUTIFUL GLASS AND WOOD FINISH INCLUDES HEAT LAMP, FLORESCENT LIGHTING, LOGS AND SHELF $800 OR BIO, CONTACT ROB AT 763-531-1924+ Leopard geckos-5 leo's (All incubated as female) Hatch dates- 7-5 (1), 7-22 (2), 8-3 (2) When leas are five weeks old and healthy they are sold. Pricing- Offspring from a high yellow male and a normal female are $45. Offspring from a High yellow male and a Leucistic female are $50.Call (763-754-8029) or email Uanheit@qwest.net). Ask for Aaron+ Sale: CB Ambanja Panther For Chameleons (Furcifer Pardalis) babies 2 months old, both male and female, eating small crickets. $100.00 pleasecall Linda at (612)729-2256 or e-mail at (lwiUe@usfamiIy.net)+ Yearling Corn Snakes fedding on thawed frozen pinkies. 1.0 amel. 0.1 anery. 1.0 snow. 1.1 ghost. Call Laurie 763.428.4625 or email grassel@gowebway.com +++ For sale: Albino milksnake project; 1.1 albino ruthvenl, 1.5 possible het ruthveni x thayeri, 1.1 possible het ruthveni. Also for give away 1.1 12 year old Hog Island boas F1 from wild caught. Mark Hauge, 320-202-9871, email whitneywee@home.com ++ Frozen Rabbits - all sizes.

Prices very reasonable - pinkies to adults. Jim Daluge 763.295.2818

Flightless FruitFlies - Excellent food for dart frogs, mantellas, hatchling geckos, baby chameleons, spiderllngs, and other small herps. Two species available Drosophila (small) and D. hyde! (large). $5/culture or $25/6 cultures. Each culture contains 30 to 50 adult flies and has the potentail to produce to several hundred young. Also, Mealworms - Two sizes available - regular and mini. $5/1000. Can be delivered to MHS meetings. Cal Tony Gamble 612.818.6861 or email tgamble@mediaone.net

Het. Albino Leopards, Tremper Blood.

Banned nice yellow $25 each. Jungle nice color $40+ each. Striped Super nice color $75+ each. Viper Geckos all sizes Baby subadult Breeders call for pricing. Tieten Frog Eyed Gecko CB 2001 $40 each. Gaint Frog Eyed Gecko CB 2001 $50 each. Call Jodi LAhems 612.588.9329

newsletter.

Wanted Wanted Adult Female Leucistic Leopard Gecko, ready or almost ready to be breed.

Contact Chris at (507)-359-9444 or at tex_2001@hotmail.com

Eastman Nature Center is looking for a Milk snake, Fox snake, or a Black Rat snake.

Snake will be used for school group and Tiger Geckos CB 2001 $40 each. 4 or more family classes and must handle well.

Please call Kim at 763/420-4300. $30 each. email: Heather, geckoloco@qwest.net or call All the shed snake skins in the world.

612.554.8446 Needed for giveaways at educational proBO or possible trade to good home with vis- grams. Contact Bob Duerr 612.541.0362 itation rights. 1.2.0 (purchased as - but they have not bred) northern BTS - (2) 3.5 Male Sail Tail Dragon to entertain my years old (1) ?- $250. for all three. 0.0.2 female. Large Male Northern schnlederri skinks - sub adult - nipped bluetongue skink of atleast 2 years of age. tails $25 pair. 0.0.1 juvey savanah moni- Contact Domonie at 763-424-4243 tor - $40.00. All have been recently para- or domonie@domunique.com site checked/and or treated. Contact Female Gulf Coast Box Turtle. Looking Domonie at 763-424-4243 or for a girl to keep my fella company. Or a domonie@domunique.com+++ pair for breeding. Contact Heather Matson 651.647.3444 or geckoloco@qwest.net

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MHS Rodent Sales Mice

Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adults

$7Idz. $7/dz. $8/dz. $10/dz

Rats

Sm Pups Lg Pups Juvn Rats Adults

$12/dz. $18/dz. $24/dz.

6 @ $15 or $30/dz.

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For pick up at monthly meetings only. Orders Must be placed at least one week in advance of date of meeting at which the frozen rodents are to be delivered.

Place orders with Tina Cisewski at 763.856.2865

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You could Advertise Here for just $10 per Month or $120 per year.

Advertising Policies MHS Ad Policy: The MHS assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY regarding the health or legality of any animal. or the quality or legality 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 omission.

Classified Ads: All active members are allowed a classified ad, run free of charge as space permits. Ads may be ran three consecutive months, after which time they may be resubmitted. Corresponding members are allowed a complimentary business card advertisement monthly as space permits. Due to federal restrictions on Non-profit mailing permits, we are not allowed to run ads for travel, credit or insurance agencies.

Business card advertisoments may be purchased at S5/ad, per month. For other rates please inquire.

Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Editor, Bell Museum of

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Natural History, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Deadline is the night of the

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General Meeting for inclusion in the next newsletter. Make checks payable to: Minnesota Herpetological SOciety.

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Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application

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Name Address City, State, Zip, Phone

Email

List in MHS Directory?

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Herp related interests

Active Memberships: Suslaining ($60/yr) Corresponding Memberships:

Contributing ($30/yr)

Basic Commercial ($25/yr 2 Bus Cards) Silver ($75/yr 2 1/2 pg Ads)

Basic ($15/yr) Bronze ($50/yr 2 1/4 pg ads) Gold ($100/yr 2 Full pg Ads)

Required check info. Drivers Lie # State DOB Please enclose the proper payment with your application. Make Checks Payable To: Minnesota Herpetological Society.

Membership is for 12 months from the date of approval, a receipt will be sent only upon request. Mail to: Minnesota Herpetological Society, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church SI. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please allow 6-8 weeks L for _______________________________________________ ~ processing.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA- ST. PAUL CAMPUS

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET SE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL

Non-Profit Rate U.S. Postage PAID Mpls, MN Permit No. 2275

Newsletter of

The Minne,sota Herpetological â&#x20AC;˘ Soc e t y 1 [Q'(' J

,ÂŁ\!Iil/S.t 2001

Upcoming Meeting

Volume 21 Nmnber "1 Upcoming Meetings:

November 2, 2001 - Carol Hall December 7,2001 fund important research and conserva- Dr. Robert Sprackland December 8, 2001 Holiday Banquet tion efforts.

Please take some time and consider featuring running for a Board position and let me Dr. Robert Sprackland October General Meeting know if you are interested, If you are Friday October 5,2001 7:00 PM January 4, 2002 not quite sure about joining the Board Program: Reptiles and the Law - Dr. Ann Paterson then please join us at the October board February 1, 2002 meeting and see us in action. Again if Guest Speaker: John P. Levell - Bert Langerwerf you are interested in running for a March 1, 2001 Board position let me know. Thanks, The recent release, by the Humane - White Snake Sale Julie Beauvais-Recording Secretary Society of the United States (HSUS), of a report critical of the commercial reptile trade in the United States has sparked a new debate in the herpetocultural community. The moral, legal, and health ;ss~es of keeping repti:o pets ate under MHS Board of Directors scrutiny. HSUS is asking that the USDA The MN Zoo has asked us if we would enact a ban on the sale of reptiles in the be interested in doing a display window 2002 Ballot. us because of the risk of Salmonella. Is inside of their Zoo lab (the interactive, President there any precedent to a ban of this hands-on area). They would like the Jodi L Aherns sort? What other laws effect the keep- subject to be about green iguanas and ing of reptiles in captivity? Do these the problems associated with having Vice President laws change from state to state? them as captive pets. The window is Tony Gamble October's speaker, MHS member John four feet square. If you are interested, Recording Secretary p, Levell, can answer these questions contact Bill Moss at 651-488-1383 as I and more. This talk will help put the will form the committee, Membership Secretary Nancy Haig HSUS report into perspective, and proTreasurer vide an overview of the current legal Marilyn Blasus aspects of reptile keeping.

Newsletter Editor It is time once again to start thinking Heather Matson John is an expert on the subject of herp about the elections coming up in Members @ Large (voting for four) law and is author of two editions of the November, As always volunteers are Nancy Hakomaki book "Reptiles and the Law", He was needed to become a part of the MHS Heather Ingbretson MHS vic~-~resident from 1993 to 1994 Board of Directors, This is a great and again In 1999. He also s{,rved as opportunity for members to become ~ewsletter editor in 1995 and 1996. He involved and help shape the future of IS currently Executive Director of the MHS. Some of the things that we If you are interested in running please NorthStar Herpetological Associates, do as the Board is to decide on the contact Julie @ 612,321 ,0958 an organization devoted to herpetologi- operational budget for the MHS, cal education and research, John is an decide on policy, plan special energetic and passionate spec ker and events, run the White Snake Sale and this talk will offer members an excellent decide on funding for grant requests chance to get caught up on tile legal that we receive. I always liked reviewissues that influence the ing the grant requests because it is herpetocultural hobby. great to know that the Society helps to

The Vice-president's Report

By Tony Gamble

Creative MHS People Wanted

Elections