Vol. 24 (2004), No. 9

EDITED/REMOVED

September’s Guest Speaker:

BOB DUERR: “SNAKES AND FLOWERS”

INSIDE:

R ARE

FOSSIL FOUND IN

A STORY OF

15-20

FOOT-LONG ANCIENT TURTLES

H ERP S UR VEY W RAP -U P

S EPTEMBER 2004

N ORTH D AKOTA

BY

RANDY BLASUS

V OLUME 24

BY

VALLEY

DAN GUNDERSON

WEB VERSION

INFORMATION

A PERSON ALL BABY- BOOMERS WILL REMEMBER , Y OU WILL WANT TO BE HERE FOR THIS

TO RESPECT PRIVACY CONCERNS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE

N UMBER 9

Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis Minnesota 55455

Board of Directors President Randy Blasus

The Minnesota S o c i

Vice President Tony Gamble

Recording Secretary Barb Buzicky

Herpetological e t y

MHS Webpage: http://www.mnher psoc.org MHS Group Email: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mnherpsoc MHS Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

Membership Secretary Nancy Haig Treasurer Liz Bosman

Newsletter Editor Bill Moss

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.

Members at Large Heather Clayton Nancy Hakomaki Mike Bush

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.

Jodi L. Aherns

Committees Adoption Sarah Richard

General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the St. 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.

Education Jan Larson

Library Beth Girard

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 and should be in electronic file format if possible. See inside back cover for ad rates.

Submissions may be sent to: -orThe Minnesota Herpetological Society Bill Moss Attn: Newsletter Editor 75 Geranium Ave East Bell museum of Natural History Saint Paul, MN 55117 10 Church St. SE. -orMinneapolis, MN 55455.0104 mngatorguy@comcast.net

Webmaster Anke Reinders theMHSwebmaster@yahoo.com

Herp Assistance Amphibians Greg Kvanbek John Meltzer Chameleons Vern & Laurie Grassel Crocodilians Jeff Lang Bill Moss Lizards Nancy Haig

Large Boas, Pythons Tina Cisewski

Other Snakes Jeff Leclere

John Meltzer

Aquatic Turtles John Levell John Moriarty

Terrestrial Turtles Fred Bosman

John Levell

Copyright 2004, Minnesota Herpetological Society. Except where noted, contents may be reproduced for nonprofit, non-commercial use only. All material must be reproduced without change. Proper credit will be given including the author/photographer and the MHS Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

The Vice-presidents report

By Tony Gamble

Friday, September 10th, 2004, 7:00 PM Program:

Snakes and Flowers Guest Speaker:

Bob Duerr Any Minnesotan over the age of 35 will tell you that there has only been one real snake man on television: Bob Duerr.

Decades before Steve Irwin or Mark O’Shea landed cushy jobs on cable Bob was entertaining and educating young people about amphibians and reptiles.

From the early 1960s through the mid 1970s Bob’s appearances on local children’s television programs like Casey Jones inspired a generation of young Minnesotans to appreciate scaly critters and “be kind to snakes”.

Bob’s entry in television was an offshoot of his jobs as zookeeper at St. Paul’s Como zoo. Bob started working at Como in 1959 and was, in many respects, the zoo’s public face. In addition to reptiles, Bob cared for many other animals. Gorillas, deer, and wolves were among the critters he Bob worked with. Bob was very devoted to his job and often took young and sick MHS’s Tom Bliese at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival photo by Bill Moss

Volume 24

Number 9

animals home to provide round the clock care. This occasionally led to problems. The landlord was called on one occasion when downstairs neighbors complained about the noise in Bob’s apartment. The landlord, expecting Bob was having too many friends over, was surprised at what he found. Bob, of course, explained that baby elephants need round the clock attention but the landlord was adamant that the elephant leave. The need for more help with young animals, in part, inspired Bob and others to form the Como zoo docents, an organization of zoo volunteers.

After leaving the zoo in 1972, Bob went to work as a naturalist at the Science Museum of Minnesota. It was there that he and filmmaker Tom Ramsay made the film, “Snakes and Flowers”. The film introduced each of Minnesota’s snake species and provided natural history information and anecdotes. The film also projected the image of snakes as an important part of nature and not something to be feared or destroyed.

Bob is also well known to visitors to the Minnesota State Fair. Since 1967 he has operated the snake zoo, delighting thousands of people with glimpses of snakes from Minnesota and around the world.

Bob will show “Snakes and Flowers” at the September meeting and will talk about his days at Como zoo, the Science Museum, and other snakey adventures. Bob is a great public speaker with plenty of tales to tell.

This will be a fun meeting!

Note: The September meeting will be on the Duerr second Friday because of the Labor Day holiday.

Upcoming Meetings: Friday, October 1st, 2004 - TBA Page 3

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

Volume 24

Number 9

News, Notes & Announcements NOTICE OF ELECTION

Adoption Report - August

can give us.

by Sarah Richard, Adoption Chair The membership of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is hereby notified that the annual meeting, including elections for the 2005 Board of Directors will take place at the November, 2004 General Membership meeting.

Date: November 5,2004 Time: 7:00 PM Where: Room 335, Borloug Hall, U of MN - St. Paul Campus Who: All current MHS members in good standing.

Raffle Donors - August A special thanks to he following people for donating to the MHS raffle Marylin Blasus Vern and Laurie Grassel “Stuffed” snake and lizard Brian and Heather Ingbretson “Hatching snakes”, Biomite and Nomite

Critter of the Month The following people brought animals to the August meeting: Beth Girard Diploda John Moriarty Wood Turtles Tony Gamble Stink Pot Turtle

Following is a list of animals that came up for adoption. All but one Iguana went home with people. The Iguana is desperately looking for a home. Unfortunately, my fosters are full up and people have begun to avert their eyes and duck around corners when they see me coming.

(Hope it's that I am harassing them about Iguanas/boas/RES etc. and not my breath) But seriously folks, if you know of anyone who would make a good caretaker for an Iguana, have them contact Liz Redmond or Jamie Pajak as we have close to 20 Igs in foster and seem to have saturated the society.

Thanks in advance for any help you

Reminder As was previously announced, as a way of increasing the participation of the membership in the content of our newletter, we are giving a certificate for a sitting and an 11” x 14” Heritage print at Benda Photography (who actually encourage you to bring your herps! - see ad in this newsletter) This package, valued at $283, will go to the author of the article that the editor and a team of people yet to be determined, deem the best of 2004. The subject can be anything herp related - care sheets, human interest, natural history, short story, let your imagination run wild. Keep in mind that there is limited space in the newsletter so if you wait till the last minute, we may not be able to run the piece. The contest is closed effective the November 2004 newletter.

Lets get those pens and pencils dusted off and get to work!

Page 4

Bearded Dragon (2) Blue Tongue Skink Iguana(2) Gulf Coast Box (2) Ornate m Russian Tort m RES Boa Spectacled Caiman F American Alligator M

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

Volume 24

ber of venomous species in Georgia really take a beating – the attitude of “the only good snake is a dead snake” is sadly too prevalent. We It is true you don’t know how good also discovered the Georgia laws to you have it till it’s gone. Well, the be a bit difficult for herpers – no MHS isn’t gone, we are but we sure native species regardless of origin. miss the society. Last Fall Toni and That means no corn snakes (even Paul Vetrone moved from northern obvious CB Minnesota to morphs), black n o r t h e r n rat snakes, Georgia in pure a s t e r n suit of bigger kingsnakes, and better eastern garter things. Since snakes, eastmoving here ern box turtles we’ve discovincluding three ered that toeds, but Georgia has a native venherp society omous snakes but nowhere are okay, go near as active figure? There and profesis an exception sional as MN. for some The upside is aquatic turtles the weather. but not all. The Our turtles and laws certainly some of our hamper the tortoises budding herpspend the year er and are outdoors with surely ignored all the wonderin some cases. ful sunshine.

We hope to We have a Paul and Toni were married at the Ren Fest in 2002 help change B&W Tegu, that and have Veiled Chameleon, Collared Lizard, a lot of fun in the meantime. We are and Bearded Dragon that are all keeping our MHS membership curreaping the benefits of natural sun- rent and look forward to receiving the light for so many months of the year. newsletter monthly. Visit us at We have formed North Georgia www.ngaherps.com or e-mail us at Herpetological Resources LLC to gartersnk@hotmail.com. provide educational programs to the public. We are located about 50 Paul & Toni Vetrone miles north of Atlanta. “Casper”, our Dahlonega, GA first MHS adoption , is a 14 foot, 85 pound albino Burmese Python, and one of our star attractions. It is amazing the number of “city” people who come north to enjoy the outdoors and know very little about wildlife.

Snakes in particular due to the num-

Minnesota Herpers in Georgia

Number 9

Foreign Frogs Frighten San Fran (CBS) By all appearances it is a tranquil haven, reports CBS News Correspondent John Blackstone.

But lurking just beneath the calm surface of the lily pond in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is a feared foreign amphibian: the African Clawed Frog.

The African Clawed Frog is kept as a pet in some states but it is banned in California because it competes with and consumes native species.

"They are really hard to pick up because they're very slippery," said Ken Howell, Asst. Curator, California Academy of Sciences. "And if you look at the back you and see the claws -- the three claws on the back there."

Nobody knows how the outlawed amphibians got into the lily pond but they have reproduced wildly threatening to wipe out most everything else.

"These are very aggressive and invasive frogs - they will eat anything they can get their mouth around," said Eric Mills, with Action for Animals.

A plan to kill or capture the frogs by draining the pond was cancelled by the California Department of Fish and Game.

Some call that a foul up -- it's fueling fears the forbidden frogs could flourish far and wide.

But officials say they are still looking for a way to wipe out a creature that after millions of years of evolution is almost indestructible.

"You can't poison these frogs. You can't blow them up. There's no way to get rid of them,'' says Rob Floerke, Regional Manager of the California Department of Fish and Game.

"It’s extremely difficult," said Floerke.

"And then, if you left two, you would be back in the same place again."

So the interlopers of the lily pond won't be gone anytime soon. When it comes to survival, these frogs have legs. § Page 5

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

RARE

FOSSIL FOUND IN

September 2004

Volume 24

Number 9

NORTH DAKOTA VALLEY

by Dan Gunderson, Minnesota Public Radio July 22, 2004

you can think back that 75 million years ago this would have been the bottom of the ocean, with sharks swimming in here and these huge turtles," says John Hoganson.

A rough circle about 40 feet in diameter is roped off, and lots of small pink flags are stuck in the ground, each marking the spot where a piece of bone was found on the surface.

The sea turtles were 15-20 feet long, with five to six foot flippers and a rubbery shell. (MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson)

Eight people using a variety of hand tools are carefully removing dirt from a small area. A middle-aged man with broad shoulders and a sunburned neck lies on his stomach. He's intently unearthing a small bone with a dental pick.

Peter Mack is a tow truck driver and amateur

In a dry riverbed in eastern North Dakota, people on their hands and knees carefully uncover rare bones. This river valley was gouged from the earth 10,000 years ago by water from melting glaciers.

In the bed of an ancient ocean, scientists found a giant sea turtle. The discovery is from a time and place far removed from the North Dakota wheat fields.

Cooperstown, N.D. — Paleontologist John Hoganson loves coming to this dry river bed.

"Where we're standing is the bed of the ocean -- would have been the bed of the ocean 75 million years ago," says Hoganson, who works for the North Dakota Geological Survey.

Dusty green sage plants dot the landscape, along with a scattering of cactus. A young red tail hawk circles lazily above. Under the thin layer of gray clay lie treasures from another time.

"Coming out here for me -- and I've been doing this for 20 years -- it's always a thrill to go to a place where Page 6

"Coming out here for me, and I've been doing this for 20 years, it's always a thrill to go to a place where you can think back that 75 million years ago this would have been the bottom of the ocean with sharks swimming in here and these huge turtles," says John Hoganson. (MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson)

rock hound, who has been coming to this valley for 30 years to look for arrowheads and fossils.

It was here last summer that he stumbled across

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

Volume 24

Number 9

an interesting bone. He wasn't sure what it was, are fragile and could easily crumble if not hanbut he knew it was important because he'd never dled properly. Progress is measured in fractions of an inch. seen anything like it before.

"I got kind of excited -- probably a little over- Hoganson has been digging for fossils in North excited. It's pretty exciting you know, not finding Dakota for more than 20 years, but still gets a much for 30 years and then stumbling across thrill from seeing ancient bones emerge from the “... Other people sit home and watch Discovery earth.

Channel, but we get to do it.�

- Amateur paleontologist Jim Daly

something like this. It's pretty good," says Mack.

Peter Mack's rare find was the jawbone of an Archelon, a giant sea turtle that lived in a shallow sea covering all of North Dakota 75 million years ago. The sea turtles were 15-20 feet long, with five to six-foot flippers and a rubbery shell.

"There's nothing quite like finding a Tyrannosaurus Rex tooth lying on the surface of the earth, or a turtle jaw, or these kind of things," Hoganson says. "Most of the people who come and work with me here -- most of them are volunteers, and they always talk about, 'Wow, I'm the first person to have seen this bone in 75 million years.' There's something about that, yeah."

Part of a flipper is partially uncovered, and there's also a flat curved bone about three feet long that may be a rib.

Jim Daly is digging a trench around the bone so it can be encased in plaster to keep it safe while it's hauled to the laboratory in Bismarck, North Dakota. Daly is a retired police officer from Little Canada, Minnesota. He's been on several fossil digs in North Dakota, and Daly is willing to put in long days in the scorching sun for a simple reason.

"Being the first human to see something that's 75 million years old," says Daly. "I picked up fossils when I was young. I've just always been interested in them. Now I have time to go on the digs.

I tell people -- other people sit home and watch Discovery Channel. We get to do it."

Dusty green sage plants dot the landscape along with a scattering of cactus. (MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson

It will likely take most of the summer to see just how much of the Archelon skeleton is buried here. Only a few Archelon fossils have been discovered around the world. The most complete Archelon was found in South Dakota in the Paleontologist John Hoganson depends on vol- 1970s. John Hoganson hopes the North Dakota unteers like Jim Daly, because he has a small find will help scientists develop a better picture staff and can't afford to hire enough profession- of life under the sea 75 million years ago. als for large excavations. submitted by Nancy Hakomaki This is painstaking work, because these bones § Page 7

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

Volume 24

Number 9

The 2004 MHS Herp Survey in Upper Sioux Agency State Park

by Randy Blasus

Weather provides an all encompassing, uncontrollable as well as barely predictable phenomena that often is the determining factor in the success of many pursuits. So it was with the 2004 Survey. This year it actually provided to the betterment of the task at hand. Almost perfect, warm and sunny days were followed by cool evenings allowing herps to thermoregulate and participants to sleep well.

This field trip also proved to be one of the richest trips to date. Over 200 herps of 11 species/subspecies were recorded. A good number of these were Prairie Skinks (Eumeces septentrionalis) and Gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, T.S. parietalis and T. radix.). The garters were numerous on the prairie fields with notably large specimens on top of the bluff that were chasing and consuming equally large Leopard frogs (Rana pipiens). The skinks were found under rocks and all over the grassy hillsides. Two notable specimens were secured for photographs included a nice sized male in breeding colors (orange Jowls) and a sausage-like gravid female.

Prairie skink

Fox snake

Of particular interest to most members were the Fox snakes (Elaphe vulpina) captured. Several adult Fox Snakes were seen and captured for the later photo session. Most were found in an aggregation near a favorite hiding spot while others were found hidden under man made objects or out in the middle of a field. A handful of juveniles fox snakes were rescued from a manhole on the property with the aid of a snake hook attached to a long stick.

Red-sided garter snake

Amphibians were found in small numbers other than the Leopard frogs. A solitary Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) was heard calling on one of the cool evenings. A somewhat larger chorus of Cope’s Gray Treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) called from a swamp. Over a dozen Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma t. tigrinum) juveniles were likewise rescued from a manhole cover with a net and pole setup.

While the fields were not totally overgrown, some were quite filled with vegetation and were difficult to herp. The rivers, however, were inaccessible. Both the Minnesota and the Yellow medicine rivers which border the north and east edges of the park, respectively, were swollen with water leaving few if any beaches or other perches above water for turtle observation. It also made trapping a futile effort. Turtles were instead observed from the relative safety of shore.

The paucity of basking areas also served to concentrate those chelonians so inclined to pack close together in order to receive the benefit of the warm sun. Continued observation only revealed Spiny Softshell Turtles (Apalone spinifera) and a few False Map Turtles (Graptemys p. pseudogeographica) to brave these perches. One lucky (?) softshell was caught by a fisherman who generously (?) offered to sell it to a MHS member.

Fortunately, they were convinced to pass the turtle to said member who Page 8

Blake Sheldon, Randy Blasus, Liam Bonk, and Richard Bonk rescuing

Plains Garter Snake

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

Volume 24

Number 9

then released the animal.

Over the two days over twenty people participated in this survey including eager park personnel, (who enthusiastically welcomed and helped us), a couple of local people and MHS members. The evenings were spent swapping tales around the fire as people ate their hard earned fire roasted meal before retiring to the cool serenity of sleep. The days were action packed climbing goat prairie and walking fields as the clouds swept over trailing a fresh breeze.

Marilyn Blasus educates park visitors during the survey

Liam Bonk carries rescued fox snakes

Carmeleta and Dan Knutson admire a fox snake

Just before the final hurrah and end of the trip, cameras were freed and the herps documented by professional and amateur alike. Jim Gerholdt brought along his mobile set for those wishing a more appeasing picture then that of moved grass. Blake Sheldon also pulled out his 600 mm lens for us as he shot pictures providing evidence of the map turtle and further documentation of the softshells.

Persons of particular note for this weekend and who provided much needed assistance were as follows. Tom Jessen, who assisted in coordinating and guiding the volunteers and provided an invaluable reference source.

Jim Gerholdt, Blake Sheldon who helped with the photographic session and provided documentation for the survey report. To Marilyn, without whom the survey would not have been nearly as much fun as she provided all the camp necessities and was the major contributor in its coordination. Lastly, all those who chose this weekend to join us and help the MHS provide information valuable to the MNDNR and who made this weekend a success‌.A Hearty Thanks is given.

Stay alert for information about next year’s survey in your newsletter. Those with questions or who would like to participate or have suggestions for future such endeavors, please contact the author and Coordinator of the surveys Randy Blasus 952-925-4237. Thank you. §

Marilyn and Randy present an education program to the public

Tiger Salamander

Leopard Frog

Look familiar?

Your President, Randy Blasus resueing snakes.

Page 9

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

Minnesota Herpetological TBA Society Board Meeting Review August 7, 2004 by Barb Secretary

Buzicky,

Recording

Board Members Present: Randy Blasus, Bill Moss. Barb Buzicky,Tony Gamble, Nancy Hakomaki, Jodi Aherns, Nancy HaigLiz Bosman Non-Board Members Present: Fred Bosman, M a r i l y n Blasus Meeting was called to order at 6:15 PM CDT at the University of Minnesota Student Center, Room 202.

Minutes from the July 10, 2004, Board Meeting, were approved with changes.

Old Business: Newsletter Mailing Chair will be Jim or Aaron Heit.

The Ingebretson's will provide the training. The Board moved and approved funds in the amount of $500 for a blue denim shirt with the MHS logo embroidered on it. Mission-Purpose statement-Nancy Haig researched the topic and made her findings known to the Board. She did an excellent job. Midwest update-the board approved up to $8000 for expenses. There are 5 openings left for volunteers for checking and cleaning the MHS exhibit in the DNR Building. Pet Expo feedback-MHS was a hit with people there last year.

Treasurer's Report for April, New Business: May, June, and July, 2004, was The National Wildlife approved.

Rehabilitation Assn is looking for people willing to volunteer Membership Report for July, video equipment to them. MHS 2004, was approved. insurance bill has come due, General Meeting August 6, the Board moved and approved 2004, had an attendance of 112. $1100 for the insurance bill.

The Board voted to skip the President's Report: Board meeting in September Randy continued his series on due to the RenFest.

The Board Development, and there October Board meeting will still were no questions on the last be held on the 2nd of October. segment, Crisis Management. The Board approved funds for The next in the series is vet bills in the amount of $120.

Managing Volunteer Programs. There will be no Board Meeting Randy read some information on September 11, 2004, due to from the Board handout. the RenFest. The next Board Volunteering is done by choice, Meeting will be on October 2, without monetary reward, and 2004, at the St. Paul Student for the benefit of the community. Center, Room 202.

Volume 24

Alice Cooper's Eats Too Much

Number 9

Snake

HADDAM, Conn. - Alice the albino python had a little too much to eat for dinner.

Just hours before its owner, rocker Alice Cooper, was to take the stage at a theater in Wallingford last weekend, the 8-foot-long snake ate a live rat and then swallowed a 12-by-14 inch heating pad, wires and all, that had been left in its cage by mistake.

Before Saturday night's show, Cooper's roadies saw the snake's unusually large bulge and called at-risk snake helper Alison Sloan, who directed Alice to Higganum veterinarian Richard Jacobs.

"It was absolutely an emergency," Sloan told The Hartford Courant Thursday, noting the wires could have ruptured Alice's intestines or other organs with fatal results.

After sedating the python, Jacobs said he cut a 5-inch incision along a row of scales and maneuvered the heating pad out.

"That's an outrageous X-ray," Jacobs said Thursday, looking at the pre-op picture that showed the wires and contacts from the heating pad _ plus a rodent. "It's probably the most astonishing X-ray I've taken in my career."

Vice President's Report: Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM (....cooper cont. page 11) September Bob Duerr---Topic CDT. Page 10

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

(....cooper cont. from page 10)

September 2004

Volume 24

Number 9

Huge Gathering Of Garter “Shelling” Or How Snakes Baffles Even Muscantine, Iowa’s Turtle Experts Trot Race Almost Got Torpedoed

Sloan, director and owner of Ashleigh's Rain Forest in Essex, allowed Cooper to borrow a yellow anaconda for Saturday's show to replace the python, which undu Based on article by Dan Shapley, based on article by Cynthia Beaudette Poughkeepsie Journal, 8/8/04

lates onstage with Cooper during It wouldn't be strange for a pile of writhing snakes to cause a stir his performances. among golfers on a golf course. But Alice the snake was resting com- when such a tangle stirs even the fortably at Jacobs' office Thursday. herpetologists who study reptiles, something is up. That's what is hapCooper was unavailable for com- pening during the past three weeks after golfers at James Baird State ment.

Park in LaGrange reported a ''tree full of snakes'' off the 18th fairway.

Associated Press.

It’s a large rosebush full of garter snakes -- piled up, lying on the Submitted by Dav Kaufman branches, crawling through the leaves, and a few up in the tree just behind it. It is not unusual for snakes to get together. They gather by the hundreds, sometimes thousands, to hibernate through the winter. And males will sometimes form huge ''breeding balls'' in spring as they vie to mate with a single female. But it's too early to hibernate, and too late to breed now. The group of garter snakes in LaGrange mystified herpetologists, amateur and professional who have tried to figure out what was happening. The verdict is still out, but the experts have sett! led on two possible explanations: - The snakes have found a good place to hibernate -with a ready food supply, so they are sticking close by. - Or, females have gathered together to give birth.

HerpDigest V4 #48

of the Muscatine Journal, 7/17/09

Muscatine, IA –The 31st Annual Turtle Trot Race, was postponed due to shelling. The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, sponsor of the race, was told by Kons Scientific, a distributor of turtles, that shelling is a biological condition occurring in the four-inch red-eared slider turtles the Chamber planned to use for the event. Jane Daufeldt, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, explained that shelling is a biological condition occurring in the four-inch red-eared slider turtles that have been used for the event. During shelling the turtle shells soften and expand to allow growth.

"Turtles are in a very fragile state during this process," said Daufeldt.

"And the supplier would not guarantee delivery of live, healthy turtles.” Kons said they could order them, But Kons were almost 99.9 percent sure they wouldn't be alive when they arrived at Muscatine.

This hadn't been a problem for past races because the reunion, usually is held in August rather than July and by then the shelling process was over. Daufeldt said a new supplier was located that will guarantee the shipment of 150 live healthy four-inch turtles in time or the July 31, 2004 event.

HerpDigest V4 #45 Page 11

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

September 2004

Volume 24

Hosted By The

Friday Evening (ice breaker)

Saturday Evening: banqueVauction

Speaker: Sunday: sales John HOllister - Herping in SW

Texas

Admission Rates: $50.00 per person (before September 15, 2004 )

Saturday Speakers: Dick Bartlett - Midwest Herping

$60.00 per person (after September 15, 2004)

Jay King - Chicken Frog

Banquet: $25.00 per person

Jeff Briggle r- The Hellbender

T-Shirts: $10.00 (in advance, request size on order form )

Chris Tobaka - Asian Turtle Karl Krumke - Asian Rat Snakes Jonathan Losos - Anoles Key Note Speaker

visit www.midwestsymposium.org for more information and registration Page 12

Number 9

G E T Y O U R M E S S A G E TO Y O U R TA R G E T A U D I E N C E W I T H A 1 / 4 PA G E A D . $10 PER MONTH $ 11 0 P E R Y E A R *

*12th month is free on a one year commitment Advertising Policies

MHS AD RATES Business card 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page

$5/Month $10/Month $20/Month $40/Month

$55/Year* $110/Year* $220/Year* $440/Year*

* Note: 12th month is free on a one year commitment

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.

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

Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New

Name

Renewal

Address

Membership#

City, State, Zip,

Type

Phone

Check #

Herp related interests

Active Memberships: Sustaining ($60/year)

Email

List in MHS Directory?

Yes

No

Contributing ($30/year) Basic ($15/year)

Corresponding Memberships: Commercial ($25/year 2 Business Card Ads/year) Required check info. Drivers Lic # 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 St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing.