Vol. 14 (1994), No. 4

NEWSLETTER OF THE

MINNESOTA

HERPETOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

MAY 1994 VOLUME XIV NUMBER 5 BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET SOUTH EAST MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104

Do you ever have a question about one of your herps and wonder who might be able to provide an answer? Most people who keep pets of any kind have been is this situation at one time or another. A group of MRS members has volunteered to provide assistance. Listed below are the people and their specialties. Please be reasonable about the time of day and how frequently you call.

Large pythons and constrictors Terrestrial turtles and tortoises Glen (Jake) Jacobsen 757-8268 John Moriarty 647-1334 Vence Jimerson 869-8547 Ann Porwoll 489-7853

Other Snakes Glen (Jake) Jacobsen 757-8268

John Meltzer 263-7880 Aquatic Turtles

John or Connie Levell 374-5422 Michele Stillinger 224-7212 Dennis Daly 331-8606

Amphibians Lizards John Meltzer 263-7880

Greg Kvanbek 533-7723 Nancy Haig 789-4637

Jeff LeClere 488-6388 Bill Moss 488-1383

Education Contact Crocodilians Dav Lydon 536-9783 Jeff Lang (701) 772-0227

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; to educate the membership and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians; and to promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

MHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY RECORDING SECRETARY TREASURER NEWSLETTER EDITOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE MEMBER-AT-LARGE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Bill Moss John Levell George Richard Randy Blasus Marilyn Brooks Michele Stillinger Gary Ash Donna Calander Jeff LeClere Barb Radanke Glen Jacobsen

SNAKEBITE EMERGENCY

HENNEPIN REGIONAL POISON CENTER

MINNESOTA POISON CONTROL SYSTEM

LOCAL

OUT OF STATE

(612) 347-3141

(612) 221-2113

(800) 222-1222

(612) 488-1383 (612) 374-5422 (612) 623-7620 (612) 925-4237 (612) 925-4237 (612) 224-7212 (612) 753-0218 (612) 757-8268 (612) 488-6388 (612) 291-1132 (612) 757-8268

Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society .. TIle contents of this newsletter may be reproduced for inclusion in the newsletters of other herpetological societies provided that the material is reproduced without change and proJ:X!r credits are given to the MHS Newsletter, citing, voiwnc, numocr, and date.

MINNESOTA HERPETOlOG~CAl SOCiETY

Table of Contents Page

MHS Upcoming Meeting Highlights 3 MHS Business 4 MHS Meeting Review 5 HFYI 6 Snakes of Minnesota by Jeff Leclere 7 MHS Blast from the Past 11 Article of Interest 12 Classified Ads 13 Neonate Page 16

•••• ••••••••• •• . . .. .... . . .............• ><><> . FI'omthe Editor., .. ... . ....... . . . ... •••••••••••••••• •

A very speclal thanks to all members who attended the vet school open house! We received a letter of thanks from the class of 1997 CVM students. They also had a record attendance this year.

I've included some other information of interest on the HFYI page, i.e. info on MN statutes regarding the possession of turtles. Turtle season is here, make sure you're legal so the DNR doesn't fine you. From now on HFYI will include various miscellaneous info, not just events such as conferences.

**PLEASE REMEMBER: I need the complete date, issue, volume, number, title of every article or clipping you send in so I can contact the appropriate publications for permission on reprinting. Thanks.

The weather is warm! Summer is here! Let's see those animals for critter of the month in June. Any herp is fine (see guidelines page 2).

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: June 3rd, 1994

Send all articles, ads, & inqUlrleS pertaining to the newsletter directly to the newsletter editor at:

MHS Editor 234 West George Street

St. Paul, MN 55107

MHS Newsletter Volume XIV Number 5 1


WELCOME!

Welcome to the Minnesota Herpetological Society! Meetings are presented on various topics, directly and indirectly, affecting reptiles and amphibians. Membership rates begin at $15.00; if you wish to join, please visit the Membership Secretary during the General Meeting held on the first friday of every month (except holiday weekends-see list below) at Borlaug Hall Room 335 on the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus. Meeting begins at 7:00 sharp. You can

" also join by filling out the card on the back in"side cover of this newsletter.

MEETING DATES FOR 1994

June 3, 1994 July 8, 1994

August 5, 1994 September 9, 1994 October 7, 1994

November 7, 1994 December 2, 1994 December 3, 1994 (Holiday Party)

MHS PURPOSE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS are listed on the inside front cover of this newsletter as well as the phone numbers of members who can ask specific animal related questions you may have.

GENERAL MEETING AGENDA: Meeting begins at 7:00 sharp. If you are late, you can enter through the back door of the lecture room, around the corner to the right. The meeting consists of a brief address by the president on pertinent business followed by the introduction of the speaker or presentation, given by

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our Vice President. After the speaker there is a short break when you can i, purchase raffle tickets for an assortment of herp related prizes, buy books, tshirts, check out library books in our well stocked herp library and talk to a friend or meet someone new. Following the break we have our "critter of the month", sort of a show-n-tell of your favorite herps, and the raffle drawing. Meeting ends BY 10:00 when we must leave the room, although it could end earlier allowing for more socializing. After the meeting, you may find many of our members at the local restaurants, still talking about herps!

HELPFUL HINT, board members and information people will try to answer your questions, just look for signs or members with yellow colored name tags.

MEETING ETIQUETTE: We request that talking be kept to a minimum during the presentation or when board members are speaking. This is a gel1eral courtesy to the speaker as well as the other members present. If you need to leave after the meeting has begun, please enter and exit through the back doors. For the safety of all members and animals, please do not allow children to run up and down the stairs in the lecture room or in the halls. Because the University lets us use this lecture room at no charge, all children must be with parents \,rhen in the building, once again, please don't let children run around in the halls. Treats are donated by a member(s) for all, please take one to allow everyone to enjoy! Sales other than MHS merchandise, are NOT allowed in the meeting room, transactions may be performed in the hall. Animals brought for critter of the month must stay in their cages, bags, etc., before and after critter of the month. This is for the safety of the animal, too many fingers in the pot... No venomous animals are allowed without permission from the Vice President.

MHS Newsletter Volume XIV Number 5

June Program: The 1993 Fer-De-Lance Study in Veracruz, Mexico Speaker: Paul Buttenhoff

The Minnesota Herpetological society's June 1994 general meeting will feature a program on the Fer-de-lance, Bothrops asper. Also known as the Terciopelo, Bothrops asper is a member of a complex and often confusing assemblage of species of new world pit vipers commonly called the Lanceheads. Widely distributed throughout Central and South America, the Lancehead species group contains some of the most feared

-venomous snakes of the entire neo-tropical region. True to the overall dangerous image of the Lanceheads in general, Bothrops asper can reach adult lengths in excess of 6 feet and the species is often considered to be extremely aggressive.

Our speaker, Paul Buttenhoff, spent the summer of 1993 in Veracruz, Mexico studying Bothrops asper in collaboration with well known herpetologist Dick Vogt. The study was conducted in volcanic highland rainforest located in the University of Mexico's Estacion de Biologia near the eastern coast of Veracruz. In addition to tracking the daily activity patterns of Bothrops asper, Paul spent an extensive amount of time "just herping around", during which he encountered numerous species of the area's herpetofauna. Naturally, he took tons of photographs and Paul has promised to show slides of some species we probably haven't seen before.

A resident of River Falls, Wisconsin, Paul first became interested in the natural history of pit vipers as a student at the University of Wyoming. While in Wyoming Paul spent several years radio tracking free ranging Prairie Rattlesnakes, Crotalus viridis, in association with David Duvall. Paul has authored two papers on Prairie Rattlesnakes and one on Copperheads, and his work has been published in the new IHS journal "Herpetological Natural History", the "Journal of Comparative Physiology", and in the "Southwestern Naturalist". This fall Paul will be attending Auburn University in quest of his PhD, with a planned thesis on sex changing frogs. Hopefully we can convince Paul to present a program on that topic at a future meeting, as that subject sounds almost as interesting as this month's presentation. Don't miss it. JPL

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MHS Bu.s:i.n.ess

March Board Meeting Highlights by Randy Blaaus, Recording Secretary

The Monthly meeting of the MHS Board of Directors was conducted May 7, 1994 at Vice President John Levell's house. A quorum of directors WII8 present. The board took the follOWing actions:

Dav Lydon ran through the board the schedule for the Pet Fair and other mise. d8talls of the fair were worked out.

A rough draft of a membership survey wall presented to the board. It will be typed up and mailed out with the July newsletter.

Now that Dan is back on his feet, he and Glen Jacobsen will be working on a proposal for new process for adopting animals.

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

General .Ira.ung Highlights

RAFFLE DONORS Waunita Shaw, Marilyn Brooks, Twin City Reptiles, Karin Rea and Virginia Shaw Larson. Items included: rubber snake, frog & toad nature cards, books, alligator figurines. CRITTER OF THE MONTH Dan Bergquist - water monitor Waunita Shaw - ornate horned frog Todd Cherveny - water monitor Jeff LeClere - spectacled caiman Rob Nack - reticulated python Jila Hoffman - boa constrictor Demna Calander - Bimini boa John Levell - albino gopher snake (striped pacific)

A good turn out for critter of the month. Let's see if we can get more for June, we should have great warm weather. See guidelines on page two.

A big thanks to the Rea family for donating the wonderful ice cream sandwiches for the general meeting, they were a BIG hit I The Rea family has consistently provided treats for the meetings in the past and we all appreciate it. If you would like to donate something for a meeting contact Nannette Jimerson our refreshment chair. Or, please make a donation to the donation frog on the refreshment table to enable us to continue buying coffee, tea, and Koolaid for everyone.

*** SPECIAL NOTE ***

The Rea family is also composing a MHS "field guide" to our members. Look for it by the library. If there is someone you are looking for their picture and stats may be in there. If you would like to contribute your photo contact James Rea.

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MRS G~~~r~l M~~ti~g R~~i~~ by Randy Blasus

This past month we had the pleasure to have John Murphy as our speaker.

John has made six field trips over the past twelve years to the South American islands of Trinidad and Tobago researching the herpetofauna. These islands support a wide number of families and species, everything from frogs to marine turtles. The total number of herpetological families numbers some 35 with 128 taxa (species and subspecies) under these. Habitat also varies with extremes from rain forest to savanna and aquatic to marine. The animals may range through from South America or surrounding islands as well as include some species that exist only on the islands. The area the islands cover, which is small (a few hundred square miles total), harbors a great number and diversity of life.

Located at the mouth of the Orinoco river, Trinidad is geologically complex with three mountain ranges broken by large flat basins. At one time there were large forests, now there is little forest left because of mans' intrusion upon the island in the last two-hundred years. The population is a contributing factor to the decline as Trinidad is near one million and Tobago around fifty thousand in population.

John stays at the William Beebe Tropical Research Station on his sojourns. This station was built by funding from Mr. Beebe and the New York Zoological Society in the 1940's. Generally the field station of the facility is the place to be

because of its close proximity to rain forest brings the researcher closer to his work. (the fact that it is also cheap factored into John's equation too). In fact on one evening Mr. Murphy happened to venture to the back stoop of the station where he noticed a Fer-de-lance resting. There are many trails in the second growth forest around the station that assist the explorer as well.

John's purpose here was to collect amphibians & reptiles data on their natural history and to photograph any specimens found. The collecting was implemented by walking through habitat in the daytime looking for animals with diurnal habits and searching out likely hiding spots.

Foll.owing the introduction was a definite 'must see' slide show. Even though all taxa were not represented the viewer was witness to some of the most bizarre, unusual and beautiful of animals. Some of the slides were amusing as in the Cane Toad who hadn't quite figured out the particulars of amplexus. Even though reproduction in his position would have been impossible; he was unwilling to release the female to turn around and face the right way. Other slides presented were on unusual breeding or interesting behavior of endemic animals.

All in all this was a very informative and well organized presentation that showed how unique and special this area and its fauna is to our world.

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HFY I (Herpetology For Your Information)

'-".-,".','-",',',' ,"

1>.< iEvent . < ••••••••••.••••..• ·<····.Date.· •• ·•• •••• ••••· •••••••••••••• ·.~therlITfo··· .• • TYjleof. event <.< •• . - - -,. - - -.

JffiSFllwtiQJ)s MHS Annual Picnic at Battle Creek Regional Park August 6, 1994 Details forthcoming .......... ••

in st. Paul

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.............. ..

18th annual International Herp S)1lposiUli in Ne~ June 16-19, 1994 Keynote speaker-Dr. Harold Cogger, ••• .... Orleans, Louisiana. For registration ~rite Deputy Director, Australian

••••

Richard Ross MD, President IHS, P.O. Box 2227, National MuseUli.

I ... Stanford, CA 94309

.<. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians- October 22-27, Various herptile sessions on .... Association 01 Reptilian & Amphibian 1994 husbandry, nutrition and medicine. Veterinarians Annual Conference-Hosted by the Contact Dr. Wilbur Aland,

I ... . .. Pittshurgh Zoo. To be held at the Hyatt Regency Executive Director, mv, 3400

Conferences Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Vest Girard Ave., Philadelphia, ... Penn. 19104-1196 Tel: (215)387-

9094, Fax: (215)387-2165.

All-Ohio Herp Conference-celebrating NOAH's 20th September 16-18, Icebreaker at Cleveland Metroparks anniversary. Held at Marriott Inn-airport, 1994 Zoo, speakers include: Richard D. Cleveland, Ohio Bartlett, Dr. Donald Burton, Paul

Freed, Dr. Fredric L. Frye and . otbers. Contact Steve Frantz, 599

Firehouse Drive, St. Louisville, Ohio 43071 Tel & Fax: (614)745-1262

International Reptile Breeders Convention at the June 25-26, 1994 For info contact: IRBA, P.O. Box San Diego Concourse Plaza Hal!. 85152-279, San Diego, CA 92186

Tel: (800)497-3550 Otber 8VeJ}tS Fax: (619)263-6898

Mid Atlantic Reptile Sho~ 94 - Maryland State Sept. 17-18, Contact: Tim Hoen, Maryland Herp Fairgrounds. Proceeds to purchase rainforest 1994 Society, 2643 N. Cbarles St., thru Ecosystem Survival Plan Baltkore, MD 21218

Tel: (410)557-6879

I? We received info on a new club called The Frog Pond Collectors' Club, and international club open to all who collect frogs in any form. For info contact: The Frog Pond, P.O. BOl{ 193, Beech Grove, IN 46107.

I? Re: the article of interest on page 12, the book Tracking the Vanishing Frogs by Kathryn Phillips is now available, I will see if our bookman, Eric, can order some copies, it looks very interesting.

G' Re: MN stat. on turtles; 97C.605 - You may not take, possess, buy , sel1 or transport any turtles w/o an angling license. 97C.611 - You may not POSSESS more than 3 snapping turtles of Chelydra serpentina w/o license, may not TAKE snappers of less than 10" SIDE TO SIDE at midpoint, INCLUDING curvature.

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S~akes of Mi~~esota by Jeff LeClere

co-author Randy Blasus Photo by Dan Bergquist

EASTERN GARTER SNAKE (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Description

The common garter snake is a medium sized non-venomous Minnesota snake measuring 15 to 48 inches in length. The background coloration of the animal is dark brown to black with two alternating rows of black spots. There are three longitudinal stripes running the length of its body. The dorsal stripe is generally yellow while the lateral varies from brown to greenishyellow to plain yellow. The lateral stripes are found on the second and third scale rows. The skin between the scales is white, orange or red, especially anteriorly. The head may be tan, dark brown or black. Some specimens of this species may be all black lacking the stripes .yet usually retaining the spots. The belly is plain porcelain white, yellow or light blue-green. At times there are black half-moon rows on the ventral scales, most commonly found near the junction of the dorsal and ventral scales. The scales are keeled and the anal plate is single.

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MHS Ne\.,sletter Volume XIV Number 5

Subspecies

There are twelve subspecies of Common Garter snakes, with two occurring in Minnesota; the Eastern (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) and the Red-Sided (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). The Eastern race has already been described above. The Red -sided is similar to the Eastern except it has strongly marked orange or red bars in between the dorsal and lateral stripes. The two subspecies intergrade very heavily in Minnesota. Only small populations consist of pure Eastern or Red-sided garter snakes.

Range

It is difficult to document exact locations of the subspecies separately because they intergrade. Both subspecies ranges meet in Minnesota with Easterns presumably occurring east of the Mississippi and the Red-sided in the west. The intergraded form is found statewide.

Habitat

These snakes utilize all Minnesota habitat forms with a preference for aquatic situations. They are remarkably adaptable to environmental changes. This allows them to be one of the most common snakes found in the state. Preferred areas include; margins of rivers and lakes or ponds, open grasslands, forest margins, city lots and backyards, cemeteries, gardens, and suburban or rural houses or farms.

Habits

This snake is the most active and aggressive of any described so far in this series. It is diurnal and spends most of the day acquiring prey and thermoregulating. It seeks shelter under rocks, logs, misc. debris and mammal burrows. In the hottest summer months, it may be founn hunting earthworms at night or during rain storms. When encountered they may remain perfectly still, or they may attempt escape. If they are at their preferred temperature of around 95 degrees F, they are extremely quick and difficult to capture. Most are, however are around 70 to 85 degrees and therefore much slower. If captured, they will expel musk and excrement. The musk is very strong and may take more then one washing to remove the smell. Most specimens will flatten themselves and open their mouth in a threat display when cornered. They may also attempt to bite if further molested. When handled, the snake will thrash around and try to twist out of your grasp.

" ',~pus ~I!W 'BoJj pJPdo'l ',~PUS'lllPJ Jaqwq 'allJnl dpw ,SIPj lUllS P,uII-,Alj 'lPUS ,sou6oq '6oJj"Jl leJ6 'J,pupweles Ji6!1 ',leus JilJP6 "IIJnl s,6u!pUPla :SJ,~SUV

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MHS Newsletter Volume XIV Numbe.· 5

Common Garter snakes will hibernate in large numbers with the same species as well as other species. Suitable denning sites include; rock crevices, road embankments, house foundations, mammal burrows or other similar shelters. Breeding occurs in the early spring as they are the first snakes out of hibernation in Minnesota. Occasionally females will be entrapped in breeding masses where one female is surrounded by over one hundred males attempting copulation. This occurs in the north especially where there is a congregational denning site consisting exclusively of common garter snakes. Sometimes the female is injured or killed in these massive breeding frenzies. Some males produce and emit pheromones similar to that produced by females. These 'decoy' males reduce the strain on the females by luring some of the males away from her. These decoys will mate with females even when being courted by other males. Gestation lasts about five months after mating. They are ovoviviparous, retaining the eggs until they hatch, but some populations are reported to be viviparous, having direct placental connection to the developing embryos. Unlike other snakes, garter snakes do not fast during the gestation period. A single female may have 6 to 90 in a litter with the average number between twelve and thirty-five. The neonates are 4 to 10 inches at birth.

Food

Earthworms, amphibians, fishes, insects, lizards, small snakes, birds and small mammals have been recorded as food items for these snakes. They are active hunters and locate their prey by sight and smell. They swallow their prey live without constriction or modified saliva.

Care

A 10 gallon or larger sized aquarium will do as will a well built homemade cage. Many substrates may be used; newspaper, indoor/outdoor carpet, aspen or pine wood shavings, wood chips or dry sphagnum moss. Observe them carefully as they eat and change your choice of substrate if it gets in their mouth repeatedly. They should be given a large water bowl so they can soak and catch fish if you give them live food. They need a heat lamp and a basking spot on one side of their cage. Preferably, this basking spot should allow the snake to reach its desired temperature of about 95 degrees F. There should be a retreat so the the snakes can cool down. In the wild, Garter snakes will actively thermoregulate by moving to different locations throughout the day. Ventral heat is not necessary when a heat lamp is used. Feeding is easy because these snakes are voracious eaters. Live food includes earthworms, nightcrawlers, fish, or amphibians. You can freeze fish and amphibians as this will cut down on parasitism. Soon these snakes will follow your movements in anticipation of food. At this time, they will rely on scent rather than movement of prey items so you can feed dead items. It is easy to trick these snakes into eating various other meats scented with worms, fish or frogs. Switching them to mice is usually easy as many will eat unscented pinkies right away. If not, you can scent them or you can throw some pinkies in a dish with live fish. The snakes usually go into a frenzy and

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eat whatever is in the dish. Increase the number of pinkies and decrease the number of fish with each feeding and soon they will eat the pinkies unscented. These snakes need to be fed every other day or twice a week. They are very active even in captivity and have a higher metabolism than most other Minnesota snakes. They are messy captives and will require frequent cage cleanings. It is usually a good idea to keep them singly because they may injure or eat each other during a feeding frenzy. Sometimes there need not ·even be a frenzy to induce one snake to eat its cage mate! Also, it is common for one snake to become dominant and discourage the others from eating and thermoregulating.

Breeding Common Garter snakes is easy. They require no more than 3 months of hibernation (sometimes only one month is needed) to develop the sex cells. Fifty to forty degrees is sufficient. Many will breed right out of hibernation without eating or a post-hibernation shed. Multiple males to a single female is particularly helpful to induce them to breed. Feed the female heavily after mating until you notice she is gravid. At this time, continue to feed her, but be very careful not to overfeed. She will overeat if given the opportunity! Close to the due date, you. may want to take her water bowl out and offer her water for only a short time every day. This is to prevent her from having her young in her water dish. It may not be necessary, so use your discretion. When the young are born, separate the mother from them and feed her heavily enough to get her weight back up to normal. The young will shed immediately to 3 days after birth and then you can begin to feed them small worms or chopped fish. Feed them a varied diet as fish are nutritionally deficient. Get them onto pinkies as soon as their size allows. They will grow quickly and males should be ready to breed in one to two years or at two feet and females at three to four years or three feet.

Common Garter snakes are hardy captives and though they should be kept warmer than other Minnesota snakes, they can also withstand temperature fluctuations and survive at colder temperatures than other Minnesota snakes. They will willingly eat even at 60 degrees F. They are beautiful and very underrated snakes. Great looking Red-sideds are among Minnesota's most attractive serpents.

References:

Behler, John Land F. Wayne King. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of North America. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York.

Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. 1991. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

ROSSi, John V. 1992. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Krieger Publishing Co., Malabar.

Sweeney, Roger. 1992. Garter Snakes. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York.

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MHS Newsletter Volume XIV Numbel- 5 11

MRS Bla.st :froID the Pa.st Reprinted courtesy of the H:inneapol:is Star Tr.ibune

Recognize these two people? By the way, MN Fats was released, he weighed 65 lbs and his shell was 19 1/2 inches long!

Fis "nets';:w6rtdis big est snapping "turtle

Fisherman Craig Dietrich Dusty watching bug..eyed -hoped to put a few tasty pulled in his prize.

on the dinner table. In- "I wasn't stead, he put $100 in his thing half that size," pocket _ the money he got elared. "It was a pretty after landing the world's big- shock ... hen that 01' boy came gest snapping turtle! up. And, oh Lord! He was

The 29-year-old trucker hissing and snapping at was fishing in Squaw Lake in I everything within fourje'!t." Itasca County, Minn., when Dietrich sold his re<ord· the 6;)-.pound Goliath took his I holder to the ~1innesota bait. partmer.t of Natural

Aft~r a battle that seemed sources, which plans to to go on for hours, Dietrich i hibi.t _t~e turtle at fairs

with sons Shan~ and, exhibitions.

Inside

Staff Photo by Rila Reed

People/Reptiles put on display Krls Anton snuggled up to a sealy friend at the Eastman Nature Center where members 01 the Minnesota Herpetological Society displayed reptiles for about 150 visitors. Oetails on page 2Y.

Reprinted ArticlE> ~:f

Courtesy of the Minneapolis

Silence of the frogs is a call to action Ozone depletion one of many threats to species worldwide By Kathryn Phillips

-~----

Yentura, Calif. ~[ienti\t\ have reported finding a link be· tlleen the thinning ozone la)-er and frop, lleathl in Oregon's Cascade Mountains. In <Inc npcriment, ultraviolet-S radiation intrCillC> causet.! by Olone thinning apparently ~llJcd up to 25 percent of the eus of two dhllnlng frog species.

IItI'e researchers finally found a smoking gun thatl.'_lplains woriliwide amphibian declintJ1

lkfinncl)' no\. The UV·B link. if it holds in [urllier research. will likely onl}' uplain deI ii'lr> of certain high·mountain frogs who~ tli~.1rpcalance has unlil now been without oltler explanation, Even then, UV-B may not ~ the sole rulpril. Some preliminary reo <elwh suggesls that Ihis form of ,olar radialion I-v'rnmes an especially effective frog killer whfrl It wmbines with other problem" ~uth a~ a fungu~ or acid pollution.

So "'hat is killing frogs, toads and salaman· ders? No single thmg. Ant.! that is the most rmpurtant message 10 come out of any of the frpg--dedine research since 1990,

1 here is no one cause, but a web of cau~s. If these causes have anything in common, it is thaI people create nearly all of them by the ",~y we lin: and the things we do,

ArlOng the causes, though, there are some lhat stand out as doing more damage than ol/lcrs, The good nev,s is that, if we want, we (an. stop or control most of the worst causes.

No .. J un the most wanted list offral killers is h~hltal (k~lruction. That destruction comes In almost as many forms as the world's nearly 4,000 known spedes of frogs. Deforestation in Central and Snulh America is easily thl' most publicized habitat destruction probkm. Bul closer to home, researchers can point to ", .. etland destruction, rh'er damming. old.growth logging in the Pacific Northwest and pine foresliogging in the Southeast, and simple urbanization as rapid and powerful amphibian killers.

tions in Europe, India, Bangladesh and parts of the United Stales. Today, most frop, legs prepared in American and European restau· rants 3fe taken from wild-caught frogs in Indonesia. Contrary to popular m)'th, there are no giant frog farms raising thick-Ihighed frogs like so many cattle.

Animal lovers' desire to own any of the hundreds of brilliantly colored frogs has hurt frog porulations as they ha\'e become the focus 0 coHectors and pet stores. Many pet store frogs are caught in the wild and 5hipped to the United State~ and Europe from tropi. (Ill countries. A day spent uamining animal import! at the Lo, Angeles International Airport proved to me that a~ manyu half of the wi!d-caught fro~s die in transit becau!.e of inhumane packrng and handling, More than 14 million frogs, toads and salamanders, dead and alive, passed through Ameriel'll1 ports in 1992 for food and fun. .

Air pollution, peslicide~, acid rain and local weather conditions, including droughts and floods, have been linked to some amphibian disappearances and held suspect in others. The~ causes have no respect for invisible boundaries. They have appeared in developed farmlands as well as protected national parks and presumably pristine pre!.erves.

So what have the Oregon scientists found if not a &lobal cause for amphibian dedines? They have found another in a series of warnings from frogs that our abuse of our planet's environment is worse than a Rush Limbaugh would have us believe.

Until recently, frogs ha\'e been best known as heralds of spring when they fill a damp, warm night with' their croakin~ choruses. Now the silence in their absence IS becoming as important as their call, as worrisome as the silence of birds that Rachel Carson predicted would follow pesticide abuse.

The question now: Will we humans respond to this latest silence before it is too late?

Kathryn Phillips, oj Ventura, Calif, jJ a jree. lance journalist and au/hor oj/hejor/heoming

I:n.tE>rE>st Star Tribune dated March

Other forms of habitat destruction are less ob\'ious. Through_out much of the western

book 'Tracking the Vanishing Frogs." I1lustrallon by-Eddie Thomas

United States, outdoorspeople have carried buckets of Irout and other fish into barren ponds and streams to improve the sport

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13, 1994.

fishing. What appears barren to a human • r-------------------------------------------------, though. often is a rich and safe ha"en to a frog. Once the fish are introduad, there is no more safety. The fish bep,in to prey upon the amphibians. Over time. as has happened in pariS of California's Sierra Ne"ada range, researchers can link frog declines to the tnormous appetite of introduced fish.

Grazing callie, with their heavy hooves and insatiable appetite, are nolorious for destroying the heavily wooded stream-side and pond-side habitat that some frogs and sala· manders require. Sport fishers, ~old panners( and off·road motorcyclists can Inadvertently dr'-troy amphibians and their habitat by wading into breeding waters and stompmg or rnlling along sandy stream banh With a single misstep, people can crush hundreds of <,us and young. as they have repeatedly done to rare aTToyo toads in the Los Padres Nalional Forest.

People also hurt amphibian populations in more direct ways. The human taste for frog leg, is unending_ In this century, the frog· leg indu,try has helped wipe out frog popula-

Shedding light on vanishing amphibians From an editorial In the New York Times:

A familiar harbinger of spring in much of North Amerita is a tiny frog known to scientists 89 Hyla crucifer and to ordinary householders as the spring peeper. Bestn· ning in March, male peepers in starch of mates form a damorous and joyful chorus, trilling around ponds and swimming pools. But the chorus has muted in r«:ent year5, in line with a mysterious worldwide decline in fro,s. toads and other amphibians. Now there IS evidence that what is silencing the peeper may be ultraviolet radiation resultmg from a thinner ozone Ia)·er.

This hypothesis does not ellplain all disap: pearanas: loss of habit~t, pollution, aCid rain are among other credible culprits. But scientists at Oregon State University have

found that ultraviolet rays do deadly damage to the eggs of frogs and toads that have been vanishing from the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. This has to be of some interest to another bare-skinned species.

The experimental data seem persuas!\·e. Frog eggs form gelatinous masses, and Oregon's declining species lend to lay them in uncovered shallow water. The Oregon researchers were able to greatly enhance the survjval rate of the eggs from Cascades frogs and Western toads by shielding them from ultra"iolet rays. The working hypoth. esis - that creatures living at high altitudes would be more susceptible to damage caused by solar radiation - was borne out by "xposing frog eggs to different natural conditions.

What this fails to explain, however, is the comparably dramatic decline in lowland species. like Costa Rica's golden toad, which dwells in a dark rain forest. Nor is it yet clear why the Pacific treefrog, which is also native to Oregon, has escaped the fate of its tOusins by laying eggs ""'ith greater survival power.

Even so, the Oregon team has proyideo suggcstivc evidence that wilt.!life is affected by the thinning 010ne layer. Those vanish_ ing frogs are telling us somethillg. And the silence of the spring petpers recalls the vital clue of the dog's failure to bark in a Sherlock Holmes slory. When his sidekick Watson pointed out that "the dog did nothing." the master detective replied: "That was the curious incident."

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Cla.ssifi~d Ads 1.0.0~male. O.1.0~female. O.O.l=unknown. ad rates on ~n9ide back cover of this newsletter

For Sale:

Baby BUl1Ilese pythons, captive born, $50 each. Contact Jay Whitesel at (507)367-2470.

Baby ball pythons, $55. Baby green water dragons, $40. 1.0.0 northern pine snake (black & white), $90. 0.0.1 black pine, 3 ft, $90. Contact Mike at (507) 289-9833.

1.1.0 carpet pythons, 6-7 ft, "Brisbane" phase both feeding on frozen rats, prefer vertical cage, male is captive born, both have done hands-on, $675 pr, $350 each. Contact Jake or Donna at (612)757-8268.

1.1.0 COOlOn boas, juvenile 3 ft, male dark, female light tan, both feeding on frozen rats, both captive born, $275 pr, $150 each. Contact Jake or Donna at (612)757-8268.

1.0.0 ball python, 3 ft, feeding on frozen rats, $75. Contact Jake or Donna at (612)757-8268.

1.0.0 Bimini boa, very long term captive, wild caught on Bimini, feeding on frozen rats, needs vertical cage, current cage available, $125, $200 w/cage. Contact Jake or Donna at (612)757-8268.

Cuban cockroaches for sale. Contact Jake or Donna at (612)757-8268.

Captive bred children'S pythons, $125. Brazilian rainbow boas, $250. Coltmbian rainbow boas, $85. Hogg Island boas, $350. Due May/June. Can deliver to Twin Cities. Contact Mark Wendling (319)857-4787.

1.1 Guyanan red-tailed boas, $650 for pair. Contact Fred or Liz (612)476-0306.

Attention ophiophiles! Plains Reptile is now taking orders for 1994 hatchlings-reserve yours today I io shop while in the luxury of your ovo bo~e, call or write for our free price list. Plains Reptile: P.O. Box 5818, Fargo, ND 58105 (701) 241-9742.

Wanted:

Adult female mexican black kingsnake. Contact Mike at (507)289-9833.

VOLUNTEERS! Get involved witb your herp society! Meet new people! MHS is ALWAYS looking for volunteers for events like hands-on and newsletter folding. We also currently and desperately need volunteers for certain committees: Library and Adoption committee. Please contact President Bill Moss for more info on these opportunities! Thanks for your help!

All the shed snake skins in the world, always, to use at hands-on programs. Bob Duerr 541-9417.

Mise:

Snake skins tanned. Call Jane for more info at 724-7437.

BOA SURVEY: Please write for my questionnaire on boa constrictor reproduction. Even if your animals have not reproduced, please respond if they are at least 4 years old and have had the opportunity. In return for a completed survey you will receive a chart showing the subspecies, their scale counts and range. William Joy, P.O. Box 300703, Arlington, IX 76007, USA. IlfiERNE!: [email protected]

o P H I

D I A N

The Ophidian Herpetological BBS

(602) 837-7305 Multiple Message 8ases. New Files Weekly. On Line Herp Ve~

Breeders Lists, Herp Society Information, Herp Hunting Reports. Classified Ads. and Offline Readers for Long Distance Callers.


Classified ads continued ...

MHS Merchandise

Rat and Mice Sales

Xice: Pinkies - $6.00 doz.

Rats:

Fuzzies - $6.00 doz. Adults - $9.00 doz.

Pups - $10.00 doz. Adults - $12.00 six

$2UO doz.

Orders taken by Terry Scheiber, must be at least one veek before the general meeting where they will be delivered. Phone: 1612)440-7482.

Cage Sales:

Cages come pre-built finished vith the following: laminated interior and exterior, hinged nitered door, glass vindov, latch, incandescent light fixture and cord. Contact Hans Paulson at 1715)425-2050 pm if you would like to order one for delivery to meeting.

Specifications: l x v x h

soall cage: 24 x 18 x 12 - $60 large cage: 48 x 18 x 18 - $90

Mise:

MRS also offers an assortment of other berp relate items for sale at tbe general meetings including: books t-sbirts posters MRS buttons, stickers, patcbes notecards bUllper stickers

Look for sales of mercbandise at the far right band side of the meeting room. Transactions can be handled before tbe meeting, during tbe break and after the neeting if tine allovs. All proceeds from the sale of MRS merchandise and raffle go twards the operating costs of the society sucb as: speaker fees, newsletter costs, books for library, herp related cbaritable donations, etc. MHS is a non-profit organization and is volunteer run.

Largest Selection of Reptiles & Amphibians in Minnesota Cages, Books, Feed & Supplies

6519 Nicollet Ave. So. Richfield, MN 55423

Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5

(612) 861-8868

WE CORRENTI. Y HAVE A LARGE SElECTION

OF COASTAL AND DESERT ROSY BOAS!

WE ALSO HAVE COMMON BOAS! ADULT

AND SUB-ADULI!

JOHN & RUTH MEt. TZER (612) 263-7880

PICK OF THE LtTfER!

FOR SALE OR PETTING zoos PARTIES OR PROMOTIONS

ANIMALS OF WALTON'S HOLLOW EXOTIC a FARM ANIMALS

BILL a JEAN WALTON 5425 PETERSON ROAD

WHITE BEAR LAKE. MN 55127-6713 1612)426-6163

14

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Classified ads continued .••

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS IN CAPTIVITY

BREEDING. LONGEVITY. & INVENTORY. CURRENT JANUARY 1. 1993.

521 pages Compiled by Frank and Kate Slavens

For more information contact: Frank L Slavens, P.O. Box 30744, Seattle, WA, 98103. or FAX 206 546 2912

Featuring . .. lAMS . .. Natural Life . .. Science Dlel Tetra ... Toppers " Other Specialty Foods

VIV ARIL~:YI PETS A Full Une of Pet SuppHes &

Unusual Pets

6519 Nicollet Ave. So. Richfield. MN 55423

Gloria Anton 612·861·8868

TIMBER RATTLESNAKE - LIMITED EDITION PRINT By DAN KEYLER

15

This print is from an original pen & ink drawing and is limited to an edition of 141 signed and numbered prints. Each print will cost $15.00 and can be personalized upon request. MHS members interested in purchasing a print should contact the artist at MRS meetings or by calling 347-8760 (w) or 933-2055 (h). Proceeds will be used to recover printing costs and further Timber Rattlesnake research in Minnesota. So place your order soon - they won't last long.


Carlos & Sam's

Neonate Page Word Scramble

Can you unscramble these words? Hint: they are all found in Minnesota! (answers on page 8 of this newsletter.) Good luck!

dgslbanin urltet THE. 'NIl-\) SIDE.. by t. p. kiely

rtager kanse I fHL LiKE POND SCUM.

girte merdalasan

yrag gretfore

nogsoeh nasek

veilnifde- nikks

selfa pma telurt

bitmer tlakseteran

dol earp gorf

kilm nakse The Warnit'iS S/sns of Ah~ran Depression.

CLASSIFIED AD INSTRUCTIONS: Ads are run as a free service to paid members. MRS takes NO responsibility for legality or health of animal advertised here. Ads may be run for three consecutive months at which time ads may be re-submitted. The editor reserves the right to omit ads when space is limited so as to allow all members a chance to advertise. Size of ad is limited to four (4) typed lines or one (1) standard size business card. DEADLINE for all newsletter items is one week before the general meeting.

NON MEMBER & EXPANDED SIZE ADS: Line ads:$.10 per word. Business Cards: $5.00 per month.

Quarter page ads: Half page ads: Full page ads:

One month only $10.00 per month $20.00 per month $40.00 per month

Three or more months $7.50 per month $15.00 per month $25.00 per month

Six or more months $5.00 per month $10.00 per month $15.00 per month

Send all newsletter items to: Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter Editor, 234 West George Street, SI. Paul, MN 55107.

MEMBERSHIP AND T-SHIRT ORDER FORM MINNESOT A HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

NAME(S) ______________________________________________________________ __

ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________ _

CITY ____________________________ _ STATE ______ __ ZIP CODE

LIST IN MHS DIRECTORY? YES

TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP? NEW ____ RENEWAL __ __

MEMBERSHIP LEVEL? ____ ~SUSTA IN ING ..... 560.00

____ CONTRIBUTING ..... S30.00

____ INSTITUTION .... S25.00

____ nBASIC .... S15.00

Are you currently (or will be ) a University of Minnesota student? ___ (check if yes)

NO __ __

HOW DID YOU HEAR OF MHS? ______________________________________________________ _

Newest T-Shirts Two Designs ($17.00 includes postage)

Circle Choice North American Turtles Iguana (Head Shot)

Indicate how many or cat;h size

SMALL LARGE __ _ ADULTS: MEDIUM X-LARGE __ _

NEW POISON DART FROG T-SHIRT

($14.00 postage included) Indicate how many of each size

KIDS ADULTS: SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE_

X-LARGE __

Please enclose payment. MAKE CHECKS PA YABLE TO: Minnesota HCl1Xw\ogical Society. MClllhcrship is for 12 months from

date of joining. A receipt will be sellt only on request. Allow 6~8 weeks for processing. MAIL TO: Minnesota Hcr~tological

Society, Bell Museum or Natural History. 10 Church Street South East, Minneapolis, MN 55455-()j()-J

MINNESOTA

HERPETOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

10 CHURCH STREET S. E. MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104

+ 111)"1 1:'/99 G

I-IHS L i bral-Y \ / c/o Kari n Rea :( 951 Humbolt Avenue ,

+ \yes"L St. Pau 1, HN 55118· 1430

DELIVER BY MAY 25,1994

+

Non-Profit Rate U. S. Postage

PAID Mpls. MN

Permit No. 2275

Vol. 14 (1994), No. 4

Documents

Transcript of Vol. 14 (1994), No. 4