Vol. 26 (2006), No. 2

Information edited/removed to respect privacy concerns.

TH E NE WS LE TT ER O F THE

New Juve

WEB VERSION

Herper’s Page! Check it out!

• Meet your 2006 board • Sign up for the 2006 Pet Expo • Are you and your herps prepared for a disaster?

F EBRUARY 2006

V OLUME 26

N UMBER 2

Board of Directors

BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 10 CHURCH STREET SOUTHEAST, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455-0104

President Bruce Haig

T h e

Vice President Tim Banovitz

M i n n e s o t a

H e r p e t o l o g i c a l

Recording Secretary Ellen Heck

S

Membership Secretary George Richard

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i

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y

V OICE M AIL : 612.624.7065 • MHS W EBPAGE : HTTP :// WWW. MNHERPSOC . ORG M H S G R O U P E M A I L : H T T P : / / W W W . G R O U P S . YA H O O . C O M / G R O U P / M N H E R P S O C

Treasurer Nancy Haig

February 2006

Newsletter Editor Asra Halvorson Members at Large Fred Bosman

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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.

Sarah Richard David Dewitt Carmelita Knudson

Committees Adoption Sarah Richard Education Jan Larson Library Tim Banovitz Webmaster Anke Reinders theMHSwebmaster@yahoo.com

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 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.

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: The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church St. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55455.0104

Copyright 2006, Minnesota Herpetological Society. Except where noted, contents may be reproduced for non-profit, noncommercial 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

2006 Photo Contest

by Michelle Hewitt, Photo Chair

Photo Contest updates: Please feel free to email me with any questions you have regarding the contest. I will do my best to answer your questions in a timely manner.

The four categories being judged this year are as follows: 1. Professional photographers 2. Amateur photographers 3. Kids (12 and under) 4. Mixed media and anything that doesn’t fit the above categories. Examples include: a. Artwork b. Digitally modified photographs c. Reptile crafts Each category will have prizes first through third place, so please feel free to enter more than one, but no more than five. Also remember that each entry must have a reptile or amphibian theme to it. I’d love to see photos of your pet dog, but not in this contest.

Submissions can be brought to the meeting the night of the White Snake Sale, but I will require an email sent to me describing the number of entries you have, which category(s) you have entered, and

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a very brief description of each entry by February 25th, 2006.

Photos must be matted and easy to hang via tape onto a blackboard. Print sizes should not be smaller than a 5x7 (so people can easily see it from a distance if needed)

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and no larger than an 11x14 due to space restrictions.

If anyone has any additional questions, please feel free to contact me via email or phone.

Thank you very much and good luck!

Your 2006 MHS Board of Directors Tell us your thoughts, comments, and suggestions!

Bruce Haig President

Asra Halvorson Newsletter Editor

Tim Banovitz Vice President

Sarah Richard Member at Large

Ellen Heck Recording Secretary

Fred Bosman Member at Large

George Richard Membership Secretary

Carmelita Knudson Member at Large

Nancy Haig Treasurer

David Dewitt Member at Large

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

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News, Notes & Announcements 2005 Year-End Adoption Report

by Sarah Richard, Adoption Chair

We took in a total of 136 animals last year. To hit some of the highlights, by the numbers: Iguanas (19) Leopard geckos (16) Boas (11)

Red-eared sliders (17) Ball pythons (11)

January Raffle Donors Mike Howard screen cage, 4 critter cages, 2 books, light, heat lamp, frog item Donna Calander children’s lizard & frog books

Other animals that are problem placements included alligators (4), Burmese pythons (5), and sulcatas (6).

Everything else that we took in fell into the “cool” category, which I define as having more than one application to choose from.

I am also starting to see an interesting trend. While four years doesn’t make a good track, it is interesting to note that in 2002 we placed 277 animals; in 2003, 170 animals; in 2004, 156 animals; and this year, 136. Not sure what this means, but it is worth noting.

Check It Out: Minnesota Monthly’s Pet Issue MHS’s Virginia Shaw-Larson made the pages of Minnesota Monthly’s Pet Issue (December 2005). Featured prominently in the “Exotic Pets” section, she poses for a picture with her Burmese python Tia. Read an except below, but see the Pet Issue for the full story and picture!

Now Tia goes with Shaw-Larson to educate people about snakes. Their goal is to dispel various myths, including that lethally venomous snakes are common in Minnesota and that big snakes eat people. Actually, the only food Tia gets her jaws around is a thawed-out rabbit every four to six months. But Shaw-Larson still uses utmost caution around the python. “They can’t eat you, but they could constrict you,” she says. The only time that’s a concern, she says, is if you smell like a rabbit, bird, or other snake prey.

Danger or no, Shaw-Larson is happy to live with snakes. “It’s natural to have them with me,” she says. “You read [articles about] things like feng shui that say never have a snake in your house; it’s like bad karma. I don’t believe in that at all.”

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MHS Members: Please consider donating items for our annual White Snake Sale coming up in March!

January Adoption Report

by Sarah Richard, Adoption Chair

Starting off the year on an average note we had two alligators, a ball python, a boa, an iguana, and a painted turtle come up.

We found willing homes for everything except the iguana.

Thanks to those who stepped up to the plate to help out these guys. As always, if you know of anyone who is interested in an iguana or a red eared slider, please let me know. If we don’t have one that meets their needs, we will next month.

Cover photo: Peru: A spider monkey addicted to licking frogs. ©1999 Jamie Pastika

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

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Number 2

Internship Available The Kentucky Reptile Zoo, a nonprofit organization, is seeking student interns for the 2006 season.

The zoo is an educational exhibit, reptile breeding, and venom research facility located near Kentucky’s Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge State Park. The intern will assist in the captive maintenance of the zoo’s reptile collection, collect admissions to the exhibit, give interpretive talks and interact with the public, assist with educational outreach programs, and perform other duties as assigned. In addition, the intern will be responsible for the completion of at least one research project related to the field of herpetology. The intern will not be involved in the handling of any venomous species.

Desirable qualifications include a willingness to handle snakes and other reptiles on a daily basis, ability to communicate effectively with people, writing skills, orientation to details, and self-motivation. The intern will be required to work Saturday and Sunday, with days off during the week.

Students majoring in the biological or natural sciences are preferred. Interns are required to be either college students or recent graduates. Former interns have arranged for academic credit with their institutions. Benefits include experience with one of the most extensive and diverse collections of snakes in the United States, housing, and $55/week to cover expenses. Interns have been successful in finding zoo keeper positions: over 95% hire rate! Personal transportation is recommended.

A valid driver’s license is required. Starting dates are flexible, but a minimum of three months covering spring (April-June), summer (June-August), and fall (September-November) is required.

Deadlines are February 1 for spring, April 1 for summer, and July 1 for fall.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, transcript, and at least 2 (preferably 3) references to: Kristen Wiley Internship Coordinator Kentucky Reptile Zoo 200 L&E Railroad Slade, KY 40376

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

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Number 2

January Speaker Review: Jamie Pastika Program: There and Back Again: A trip to Peru 1999

By Ellen Heck, Recording Secretary

Jamie is a relatively new member, moving here from Florida and joining in July.

He has been a zookeeper at several zoos in Florida, including Walt Disney world.

His trip to Peru included 2 coworkers, John Thompson and Andrew Payne.

Peru is slightly smaller than Alaska and has a population of 28 million. Its terrain varies from a somewhat arid coastal region to rainforest on the eastern borders and is split by the rugged Andes mountain range. One rather striking feature is the dearth of arable land; Peru has less than 3% of its area as arable land, compared to the global 10% and the 20% we have here. 54% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Jamie was in Peru for just over 2 weeks. The first week was spent traveling around the southern parts of the country His first stop was Cusco, a city in the southern part of Peru and which is built on Page 6

Inca ruins. His first sighting of a “herp” was an unidentified tarantula. (various members pointed out that a tarantula is in fact an arachnid. Jamie replied, “It creeps, it crawls”. Personally, spiders give me the creeps in a way herps never will.)

Many of the sightings in this area consisted of various amphibians, including the brilliant blue caecilian siphonops annulatus, a strange creature that looks more like an armor-plated worm than a herp.

Next, it was off to Puerto Maldonado and Lago Sandoval, regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Peru and home to many species, including giant river otters,

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

several rare species of bird and of course black caiman.

Highlights here included sharing the rooms with spiders and bats. Several Amazonian river turtles were spotted but no anaconda, and it wasn’t until a nighttime boat excursion that Jamie caught a caiman. Or the caiman nearly caught him, as it pulled Jamie half out of the boat before the others could grab him and pull him back in. This earned him the nickname of “Rambo” and caused a lack of companions on future excursions.

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A lot of the work done at Quistococha involves the rehabilitation of animals. Some involves injured animals, but animals recovered from poachers are also worked with. Caiman in the area have actually been poached out.

One of the more eccentric animals at the zoo is a black spider monkey. He apparently carries around frogs and toads and enjoys licking them. No one seems sure how he developed this habit.

Things are a little less formal at Quistococha. On one day they observed a necropsy on a capuchin monkey, then later watched the meal being prepared on the same surface.

His second week was spent in Iquitos, situated on the Amazon River in the northeast part of the country. One part of the work there was to deliver supplies to the Quistococha Zoo, located just outside town. This zoo houses many animals from the region. Roland is the director there and Victor the curator. The zoo uses a primitive but effective system of waterways, fed by nearby springs.

Another interesting thing about the zoo is the difference in the housing and specifically, how the public interacts with the animals. Here, animals are kept behind multiple fences and the public is never allowed with 10 feet, unless the animal is behind a solid barrier. At Quistococha, the fences are single thickness chain link, with the (Speaker Review continued on page 8)

The team was housed in tents in what is normally a museum, and would wake up to find themselves “on display”. At mealtimes they could enjoy “tasty” grubs, either fried or raw (and wrrrrigling, as Gollum would say).

Page 7

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

(Speaker Review continued from page 7)

February 2006

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Number 2

Board Meeting Highlights for January

By Ellen Heck, Recording Secretary

bottoms not secured. The animals, including large cats such as the jaguars, can stick their paws out underneath the fences. Jamie referred to these as “natural selection” caging, but added that the kids seemed to understand how close they could get and how far to keep clear.

The board meeting was held January 7th at the Byerly’s in St Louis Park.

All board members were present, as well as several other non-board members.

Jamie is currently working on starting up the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery (RAD) Zoo. He and his wife are currently looking for facilities, but hope to open sometime in late spring or summer.

Marilyn Blasus reported that the signup for Pet Expo was good. We received a new book on the tuatara for the library and an announcement of an intern position.

For further information:

Liz Bosman volunteered to head the Rodent Sales, with assistance from Sarah Richard and anyone who would volunteer Thursday night to bag the orders.

Peru http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos /pe.html Quistococha Zoo http://www.zooperu.com/about/ Lago Sandoval http://www.peruvianembassy.us/visiting-perudestination-guide-madre-de-dios.php

Several requests for research grants were discussed and one accepted.

Todd Turner accepted the position of Chair for the White Snake Sale. He is looking for volunteers to help. Several businesses are donating items for the sale, and most items can be dropped off at the door.

Other methods of fund-raising were discussed, as well as other venues for the hands-on program. No one had taken an exact head-count at the meeting, but attendance was 75-85. It was decided to give glasses again this year as the volunteer reward. §

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

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Number 2

Hands On: Pet Expo 2006

By Marilyn Brooks Blasus

MHS is going to be attending the 4th Annual Twin Cities Pet Expo to be held February 18 & 19 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring amphibians and reptiles to the hands of thousands and to bring MHS into the eyes of people who do not even know we exist. Last year’s attendance exceeded everyone’s expectations and they are estimating 20,000+ attendees in 2006.

We have room for many volunteers to help out each day. This is a typical hands-on where the public will file by and touch the animals and ask questions.

One thing to be The 2005 Pet aware of – there will be a lot of people Expo was an throughout the day overwhelming and you will hear the same question a zilsuccess! lion times. Even so, brush up on specifics Will you add to about your animal since there may be a the success of few intriguing questions that require this hands-on more than the typical in 2006? reply of, “if it has a mouth, it can bite.”

Sign up today!

Due to the nature of this event, we will need a four hour commitment, minimum, from volunteers. You will get a break to check out the rest of the show. Shifts are as follows:

2005 Pet Expo to 5 PM, and 3 PM to 7 PM or All Day Sunday: 9 AM to 1 PM, Noon to 4 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM or All Day Unfortunately, we won’t be able to leave this open for people to randomly show up or not.

We will need to provide a list of volunteers to the show staff. If you are not absolutely sure that you will be able to attend, make sure to let us know this when signing up. Because of the small space, we will limit it to 8 people signing up for each shift. Because we are only allowed minimum access badges, we will be permitting one child under 13 per adult.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Jan Larson. A sign up sheet will be available at the Feb. 3rd meeting. A packet with maps and information will be mailed to those who sign up.

If you have other questions or ideas, please contact Marilyn Blasus or Michelle Hewitt. §

Saturday: 9 AM to 1 PM, 11 AM to 3 PM, 1 PM Page 9

The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

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Number 2

PETS Act & Disaster Preparation for People with Pets Resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, In the meantime, isn’t it past time to make your Representative Tom Lantos (CA-12) introduced disaster plan? Red Cross has a checklist for bill H.R. 3858, the Pets Evacuation and humans, but that’s not good enough for me.

Transportation Standards Act of 2005. The PETS Act would amend the For myself, I’ve been making a Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief list of pet-friendly motels at variand Emergency Assistance Act to ous distances from where I live ensure that State and local emer(at this point, Red Cross does Wo u l d Yo u gency preparedness operational not accept pets in their shelters). plans address the needs of indiI bought iguana food in pellet a n d Yo u r viduals with household pets and form that could be stored long service animals following a major term (not great, but better than Herps Be disaster or emergency. nothing during a disaster). Also, I’ve been experimenting with the Re a d y f o r a If you’ve heard the stories of peochemical heat packs that hunters ple having to choose between and ice fishermen use to warm their pets and evacuation, many their hands and feet. My father Disaster? chose their pets. Others tried to also suggested a pair of batterychoose both, such as the woman powered heated socks to mainwho smuggled her lovebird into tain warmth. But I’ve still got a the shelter—in her bra. In any long way to go before I’ll feel case, it’s an agonizing decision to ready. make in this day when pets are members of the family, be they In a disaster, how will you keep furry or scaly. your herps warm? What if there’s no electricity? Where will you The House of Representatives go? What will they eat? reconvenes January 31, 2006. At the time of this writing, H.R. 3858 If you’ve got suggestions, please is in the House Transportation email me. It would be great to and Infrastructure committee. If print up an emergency preparedyou support this bill, let your repness sheet for my fellow herpers, resentative know! Several but I need your expertise and Minnesota representatives experiences in order to make it already support this bill, including happen!

John Kline (MN-2), Betty McCollum (MN-4), and James Oberstar (MN-8), but you should thank them for their support nonetheless.

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

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Number 2

2006 Accepted Budget INCOME Meeting Membership Library fines RaffleDonations (Hands-on) Donations (to MHS) Donations (special funds)

3800.00 800.00 500.00

Sales Rodent Sales T-shirt Sales Small Item Sales Book Sales Occasional Papers Newsletter Ads White Snake Sale Committees Adoption Fees Education/Photos Workshop Income Holiday Banquet Media RenFest (MFInc) Renaissance Festival Midwest Symposium

4500.00 250.00 100.00 0.00 100.00 1000.00 1200.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 2500.00 1800.00

Misc Total Income

17050.00

EXPENSES * Budgeted Routine Expense will be paid up to amount budgeted.

Meeting * Program (speaker fees) * Library Books

2500.00 200.00

Sales * Rodent Cost T-shirt Purchases Small Items Cost Book Cost

4000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Operational * Bulk Mail Permit 150.00 * Voice Mail 1200.00 * Insurance 1100.00 Student Organization Fee 15.00 Supplies 300.00 Gen. Off. Printing & Postage Other Printing & Postage 100.00 Refreshments (+board 15.00) 0.00 Volunteer Awards/Mugs 350.00 Publications * Newsletter Printing * Newsletter Postage Occasional Papers Promotional Printing White Pages & Postage Committees Adoption Fund 200.00 Education /Hands-On Holiday Banquet Media Field Survey Workshops Picnic Renaissance Festival Midwest Symposium State Fair/DNR Display Donations Grants Special fund Other

5000.00 800.00 0.00 0.00 400.00 1200.00 300.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00 0.00 2210.00

Misc Address Correction Service Charges (bank) Returned Check

60.00 20.00

Total Expenses

20405.00

Total Net Gain (Loss)

(3355.00)

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The Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society

February 2006

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Number 2

P a g e r e H v erpe u

Juve Interview Name: Lori Monson Age: 13

NEW

Lives with: I live in St. Paul with my mother, grandmother, 2 cats, a fish tank, and 3 birds. I have a blue tongued skink at my dad’s.

How long have you been going to MHS meetings? About 5 years ago I started coming with my dad.

What’s best about MHS? Some of the lectures are really interesting and I like looking at all the neat herps. Also, meeting new kids and the raffle.

Favorite herp? Well, I’m a real pet lover at heart.

My dad owns a pet shop and that’s been fun. I’ve been able to handle a lot of different herps. We got a blue tongued skink in and I really started to like him. But Dad sold him. Then, two years ago one came up in the MHS adoption. A lot of members put in for it. We got it! I was so happy. He is my baby, I call him Precious.

Next herp you would like to get? Uromastyx are really cool and the ones we’ve had at the store have been really friendly.

Birthday wishes go out to Pets’ names: Cat at Mom’s: Baby Skyler Bouley Jan 27 Cat at Mom’s: Tigger Zoe Bertsch Feb 18 Dog at Dad’s: Ginger Kayla Schenian Feb 20 Cat at Dad’s: Smokie Blue Tongue: Precious Bird at Dad’s: Tweety Bird Grandma’s Birds: Scoobie Doo, Chico, Whitie

!

Drum roll please! The winner of the January 2006 MHS Juve Herper Survey is the B E A R D E D D R A G O N !

Thanks for voting for me as Favorite Herp!

2nd Leopard Gecko 3rd Green Iguana 4th Anoles We had 19 Juve Voters. Some of the comments on why they voted for the bearded dragon: Olivia: It will sit on your hand and won’t come off.

Tali: The bearded dragons are like Velcro, most companionable Sage: I like bearded dragons because they’re cute.

Kayle: Because they are cool and really funny looking Lori: Because they’re pimpin’ Jessie: Because it was my first reptile and I know more about them.

Theo: I just love bearded dragons.

Tamer: Easy to pet and easy to take care of.

Liam: Have one.

Abby: Good pets

February Herp-Help Tip: Never kiss your reptiles or place them in your mouth. Always wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER handling any reptile!

Got a good tip or idea for the Juve Herper Page? Email or call Dan Monson. See you at the meeting! -Dan FishMan Page 12

G E T Y O U R M E SS A G E T O Y O U R TA R G E T A U D I E N C E WI T H A 1 / 4 PA G E A D . $ 10 P E R M O NT H $11 0 P E R YE AR *

*12th month is free on a one year commitment 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.

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

$5/Month $55/Year* $10/Month $110/Year* $20/Month $220/Year* $40/Month $440/Year*

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

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:

Email

Sustaining ($60/year)

Contributing ($30/year)

List in MHS Directory?

Yes

No

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.

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

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

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER BY JANUARY 31

Next Meeting: Friday, February 3, 2006 7:00PM Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

MHS Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

MHS Web Page: www.mnherpsoc.org