Vol. 29 (2009), No. 2

M I N N E S O T A HERPETOLOGICAL S O C I E T Y

FEBRUARY 2009

VOLUME 29

NUMBER 2

President Jennifer Hensley Vice- President David Dewitt

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY FEBRUARY 2009 MHS VOICE MAIL:

VOLUME 29

NUMBER 2

612.624.7065

MHS WEB PAGE: HTTP://WWW.MNHERPSOC .ORG GROUP E MAIL

:

HTTP

://WWW. GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/ GROUP/ MNHERPSOC

Treasurer Nancy Haig

The Purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to: Membership Secretary Ellen Heck

• Further the education of the membership and the general public in care and captive propagation

Recording Secretary Jenna Rypka-Hauer

• Educate the members and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians;

News Letter Editor James Soos

mhsnewseditor@yahoo.com MEMBERS AT LARGE Jeff LeClere

• Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

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

Kathy Claugherty Chris Smith Heather Clayton COMMITTEES Adoption Sara Richard Education Jan Larson Library Carmelita Pfar Webmaster Anke Reinders

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.

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 Please send email to mhsnewseditor@yahoo.com © Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society 2009. Contents may be reproduced for non-profit use provided that all material is reproduced without Change and proper credit is given authors and the Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.

Cover Animal: male Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon (=Eumeces) fasciatus) from Houston Co. in breeding color by Jim Gerholdt

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THE NEWS LETTER OF THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

FEBRUARY 2009

VOLUME 29

NUMBER 2

ANDREW WYATT ON ANIMAL ARK

by Jenna Rypka-Hauer

Andrew Wyatt spoke at the January meeting about the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK). A former Army Ranger, Andrew has a long list of accomplishments and dealings with the reptile and animal communities. His credentials include but are not limited to being a dog trainer and python breeder, working with Ecotour, being involved with several National Geographic productions and a co-founder of USARK. Andrew became involved in the legal aspects of keeping reptiles in 2004 when he invested in his reticulated python breeding program. At this time, an animal rights group, Animal Protection Institute (API), sponsored legislation banning particular animals from being owned. He cofounded the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) as a defense against legislature that restricts the import, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of exotic reptiles and amphibians.

USARK has a number of functions to help the reptile keeping community. They intend to form a Grass roots type of rally to show legislators that there are many voters who are responsible reptile owners. They encourage the rank and file around the country to take responsibility for themselves and become involved in the law-making process. Herpetological societies around the nation are encouraged to join USARK for this purpose.

Many specialists are involved with USARK to address issues like invasive species. By using scientific data, they will educate legislators so they are able to make informed decisions regarding reptiles instead of just reacting to the sensationalistic hype created by opposing animal rights groups.

USARK can also act as a type of early warning system, alerting people on their mailing lists to pending legislation.

They encourage and educate citizens regarding writing letters to their legislators, giving tips on how to be effective.

Andrew brought in a petition against House Resolution 6311. This resolution bans the import, trade and breeding of many reptiles and amphibians, targeting boas, pythons and eunictes. He encouraged attendees to sign the petition.

There is also an online copy of it on their website, www.

USARK.org.

As members and supporters of a herp society, Andrew encourages us to join the USARK mailing list on their website. Joining the organization will also help fight legislation. Membership is $30. There are also many resources on their website.

THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

UPCOMING EVENTS SECTION Next Meeting: Friday, February 6, 2009 Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus Speaker: John Moriarty Herps and the Law – Minnesota Style John has been working on Minnesota amphibians and reptiles for 25 years and has been involved with several legislative and rule making efforts during that time. John will be highlighting state and federal laws that effect Minnesota’s amphibians and reptiles, including endangered species laws, commercial turtle harvest, and frog regulations. He will also cover the process of how you pass a new law through the legislature and or state agency.

Future Speakers: March: Matt Edgar Ven:

April: White Snake Sale.

Snake Curator of the St. Louis Zoo.

Do not forget the Photo Contest.

Details page 3.

Friday, March 6 2009 Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

Friday, April 3 2009 Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

May: TBA Friday, May 1st 2009 Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

Remember we have video (DVD) copies of Our Speakers available for viewing: please check the list at our library.

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THE NEWS LETTER OF THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

ADOPTION REPORT FOR JANUARY With the help of a couple of our faithful fosters, I went home with an empty car again. The 3 Iguanas and 4 Red Eared Sliders went to foster, so if anyone wants one you can contact me.

All the other animals found permanent homes. There was a Ball Python brought in by a member who took it back home so we didn’t count that one. All in all a good start to the year.

With 13 animals being placed in January, I suspect we will have a banner year, so get your cages ready.

4 Red Eared Sliders 3 Iguanas Tegu (juvenile) Bearded Dragon sm Corn snake Cal King Argentine Boa Albino Burm

FEBRUARY 2009

VOLUME 29

NUMBER 2

Calling All Artists!

2009 Herp Photo & Art Contest!

Once again the Photo and Art Contest will be held during the White Snake Sale at the April Meeting. So Come and vote for your favorite.

4 Categories include : Herps in the Wild/in natural settings Herps with People/Miscellaneous Photos Kids submissions And Mixed media Bring your items the night of the April Meeting All items need to show herps or be herp related.

Photos/art need to be matted or easy to hang by tape Prints should be between 5x7 and 11x14 (outside dimension) Names should be on the back of items Only 1-5 pieces per person

Sarah Richard Adoption Chair Minnesota Herpetological Society http://www.bellmuse um.org/herpetolo gy/Main.html Beginning Checkbook Balance:

Why Some Herps are not adopted: Part of the purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to further the education of its members and the general public in the care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians and to promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. We fulfill these purposes in a variety of ways: including topics of speakers at the general meeting; Hands-Ons events for the public, articles of interest in the newsletter; our library and newsletter exchange; and promotion of the Midwest Herpetological Symposium. Our adoption program provides a source for members to obtain animals and expand their experience in caring for them.

We also further the education for captive care by donating specimens (not fit for adoption because of severe ill heath or injury) for the Vet School students to increase their experiences in working on herps or to further research studies.

These animals are humanely euthanized after examination by a knowledgeable vet. As Dr. Amy Kizer stated in the Jan 2008 MHS newsletter, there is no definitive diagnosis for IBD in living snakes. It is hoped that further testing may someday provide a basis for diagnosing and treating this and other diseases in the future and that the contribution of these animals may help provide for our other herp companions.

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Membership Raffle Adoption Rodent Sales Renfest donations Holiday Banquet Total income: Expense: Newsletter Program Adoption Library Rodent costs

$25,184.93 $625.00 $65.00 $170.00 848.00 $1538.14 $10.00 $3,256.14

$269.55 $50.00 $60.00 $27.97 $1243.63

Total Expense Cash increase/(decrease)

$1,651.15 $1,604.99

Ending Checkbook Balance:

$26,849.92

Placement of cash holdings Checking account Paypal acct Cash on hand Total

$26,849.92 $545.57 $155.00 $27,550.49

THE NEWS LETTER OF THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

FEBRUARY 2009

VOLUME 29

NUMBER 2

THE HERPER’S CORNER COMFORTABLE CRITTERS

By Terry Odegaard

As caretakers of animals, whether pets, or specimens to be studied, one thing we all, (I hope), have in common, is the desire to keep our captives as comfortable and happy?, as possible.

To accomplish this the first thing to do is learn as much as possible about the natural history of the species in question. This is a lot easier to do now than it was in the old days, (I’m a herper dinosaur). We now have excellent sources of reference such as the Herpetological Library series of books, and Reptiles magazine, which is really packed with info on care of most of the herp species someone might keep.

As an example of our wrong perception in the past, let me use the indigo snake (Drymarchon) of Florida, Texas, and Central and South America. This is one of the few U.S. snake species that is truly tropical. So keep that guy hot!

Big mistake! Even though it comes from a very warm climate, it avoids excessive heat by prowling only in the cool morning or winter months, and spending the rest of its time in burrows or clumps of thick vegetation where the temperature is relatively cool. Captive indigo snakes invariably had bad nose rubs, and seeing this I tried a few new things. Among these were a warm end of the cage, (80 to 90 degrees), and a cool cage end, (70 to 75 degrees).

The snakes responded by warming at the warm end for 20 or 30 minutes and then spending many hours in the cool end. The result? No more nose rubs! Yeah!

But you might want to look closer at your herp’s situation than is explained in the books. Corn snakes, most king snakes, and garter snakes seem to prowl about or rest in a cage with just a nice water dish and a nice hide box.

But other species need to have a good grip on objects, or they don’t feel secure. Ball pythons and rosy boas in particular are happier if you provide them with relatively large rocks to grip and push against when they prowl. Try it, they’ll like it! The first ball pythons we imported back in the 1960’s were reluctant to feed until I tried this cage situation.

Some of the most spectacular display snakes are arboreal species. This includes yellow rat snakes, tree boas, green tree pythons, and eyelash vipers. But I have seen exhibits where these arboreal species would rather sit coiled on the bottom, trying to hide behind the water dish, than hang out in a rather cool fashion, on a branch in the middle of the display. But why?

Through trial and error, (way too many errors I’m sad to admit), I have found that their climbing perches should be at eye level or higher, (why else be arboreal?). They

should be offered a temperature gradient on different perches. Don’t make them choose between being on a comfortable perch or being at a comfortable temperature. And give them a choice of perch sizes, meaning branch diameter, shelf width, etc. A green tree python that feels good on a one inch diameter branch when empty might feel a lot better on a two inch branch, if it has a fat mouse in its stomach. And they like a horizontal branch better than one angled, (try sleeping in a sleeping bag on a hillside, and you’ll see what I mean).

I have seen in many books, that boa constrictors and reticulated pythons are tree dwellers when small, but ground dwellers when large.

This is true to some extent, but large bulky boids will still rest on a branch or platform overhead if it is large enough to be comfortable.

As a 50 lb. eight year old I could lean over a picket fence to reach a caterpillar or grasshopper with no problem, but if I tried that now, at 165 lbs or so, I feel like I was being cut in half, (I know, I tried it.). I think snakes are the same. As the snake grows, offer larger perches.

Substrate! That’s the stuff on the bottom of the cage. Lots of choices.

What works best Again, refer to your care books, but keep in mind that if one type doesn’t seem to work, try another. And you might have to change with the season. A box turtle terrarium with a pine chip substrate might work well in the humid Minnesota summer, but come winter, when heating creates extremely dry air, you must provide a moist mulch box for the turtle to burrow into or use those bags of leaves you raked off the lawn in the fall, as a substrate. They can be as dry or soggy as necessary. Check with your turtle for that.

While touring with my mobile reptile exhibit, I used different types of Astroturf or indoor-outdoor carpeting in many of the snake habitats.

This worked great as it could be replaced and cleaned at a moment’s notice. And it had enough texture so the snakes could comfortably prowl. But when I noticed the ball python was prowling more than usual, I put a bath towel on one side of the cage and the python settled right down on the towel. It just didn’t like the texture of the carpeting, even though other snakes did well on it.

Be observant and keep an open mind. Keep trying different approaches until something works. But always be aware of the possibility of contamination from pesticides or toxic varieties of plant material. Cedar shavings are quite toxic and may kill some reptile varieties within a few minutes of exposure, but most commercial chips and shavings work well for many snakes and lizards. Monitor feeding closely though, as these particles can be ingested and cause blockages.

Volunteers needed for the White Snake Sale. Please contact George Richards at geohard@aol.com

THE NEWS LETTER OF THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

FEBRUARY 2009

VOLUME 29

NUMBER 2

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 run 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.

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MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION New

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Next Meeting:

Friday, February 6 2009 Room 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

MHS Voice Mail: 612.624.7065

MHS Web Page: www.mnherpsoc.org

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