THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

December 1999 Newsletter

Upcoming Meeting

January General Meeting Program:

"So You Want To Breed Reptiles Professionally?"

Guest Speaker: John Meltzer

MHS General Meeting Date: January 7, 1999 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Borlaug Hall, Room 335, U of M, St Paul Campus

John Meltzer has been involved with reptiles for a long time. He has studied the natural history and ecology of Minnesota herps and is very concerned about the conselVation of native species. As a member of the :MHS he served several terms as a rnember-at-Iarge and was vice- president of the society in 1990 and president in 1991.

His first interest in breeding began in 1980 as he observed a wild population of Western Hognose Snakes. This interest would later become the basis for several captive breeding programs.

John and Ruth Meltzer are owners of RJ Reptiles ... a successful business that breeds and sells unusual reptiles and amphibians. John took an interesting hobby and has turned it into a fascinating profession. lbis January Meeting should give us a great look into the rI other sideN of herpeculture.

Volume 19 Number 12

Ma.y yOto" Holida.ys be filled with pleasant stu"prises :

Board of Directors

President Bill Moss (651) 488-1383

Vice President John Levell (507) 467-3076

Recording Secretary Julie Beauvais (612) 321-0058

Membership Secretary Mark Schmidtke (651) 481-0127

Treasurer Marilyn Blasus (612) 925-4237

Newsletter Editor NancyHaig (612) 434-8684

Past President George Richard (651) 639-6368

Menrubersatlarge JodiAherns (612) 588-9329 Nancy Hakomaki (612) 203-5295 Gordon Merclc (612) 56&-2001 Janell Osborn (320) 654-0213

Committees

Adoption Sarah Richard (612) 202-3567

Education Janlatson (507) 263-4391

Northern Minnesota Jeff Korbel (218) 586-2588

Occasional Papers Jolm Moriarty (651) 482-8109

Rodent Sales Tina Cisewski (612) 856-2865

He!.e Assistance

Amphibians Greg Kvartbek (651) 388-0305 John Meltzer (612) 263-7880 Jolm Moriarty (651) 482-8109

Chameleons Vern & Laurie Grassel (612) 428-4625

Crocodilians Jeff Lang (701)772-=

Lizards NancyHaig (612) 434-8684

Big lizards, Monitors Bill Moss (651) 488-1383

Large boas, Pythons Tina Cisewski (612) 856-2865

Other snakes Jef£Ledere (651) 488-6388 John Meltzer (612) 263-7880

Aquatic Turtles Gary Ash (612) 753-0218 John Levell (507) 467-3076

Terrestrial Turtles FredBosman (612) 476-0306 Jolm Levell (507) 467-3076

The Minnesota Herpetological Society

Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church Street, SE,

Minneapolis Minnesota, 55455-0104

Voice Mail: (612) 624-7065 Email: MinnHerps@aol.com

Internet http://www.onrampinc.net/mhs/

December 1999 Volume 19, Number 12

The purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to

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

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

• Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

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

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

Subntissioos to the Newsletter Ads or Notices must be submitted no later than the night of the General Meeting to be included in the next issue. Longer articles will be printed as time and space allows. All active members are allowed a classified ad, run free of charge as space pennits. Business cards are run for $5.00 per month. Items may be sent to: or Emailed to:

The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church 5t, SE Minneapolis, MN. 55455-0104

bruchaig@citilink.com

Snakebite Emergency Hennepin Region.l Poison Center

1 - (800) - 764 -7661 This should work for both 10<.1 and out state calls

Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society 1999. Contents may be reproduced for nonaprofit use provided that all material is reproduced without change and proper credit is given authors and the WiS Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.

MHS Newsletter Volume 19 Number 12

I NEWS, NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS I Critter Of The Month

John Levell

Sarah Richard

Bruce Kelly

Bill Moss

Malayan Box Turtle Cuorassp

Baby Leopard Geckos Eiblepharis macularis

Spectacled Caiman Caiman crocodilus

American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis

Dwarf Caiman Paleosuchus Palpebrosus

Shannon Bowman Green Basilisk BasiUscus plumifrons

Jeff LeClere Brown Basilisk Basiliscus basilicus

Thanks to Raffle Donors Craig J. Renier Plants

Marilyn Blasus

The Science Museum used aquariums

Help a Hapless Herp

Animals adopted at the Dec. meeting:

1 Leopard Tortoise 1 Malayan Box Turtle 1 Russian Tortoise 1 Painted Turtle 2 Green Iguanas 1 California Kingsnake 1 American Anole 1 baby Ball Python

Still available 10 + Common Boas Red eared Sliders 4 Burmese Pythons 2 American Alligators

If you are interested in adopting animals please contact Sarah Richard at (651) 639-6326.

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liThe Great White Snake Sale

& Photo Contest"

February 4, 2000

This annual event is a major fund raising source for the MHS. Proceeds from the sale go towards the item. you see expensed in the budget The more money we raise, the more functions, services and grants we can support.

Start bringing smaller donations for the White Snake Sale. For large items (cages,etc.) contact Bill Mo.s (651) 488-1383 to make arrangements.

PHOTO CONTEST RULES

There are four categories:

Herps in a Natural Setting

Herps with People

Photographs by Professional Photographers

Miscellaneous styles

Entries must be:

1. 4" x6", 5"x7"or 8"xlO" mounted on cardboard no larger than 11'x14".

2. Identified on the back with entrants' name, address, and category. Do not place names on the front of the prints.

3. Members may submit up to five prints.

For information concerning the Photo Contest contact Michelle Hewitt (651) 604-3014.

MHS Newsletter Volume 19 Number 12

I FROM OUR MEMBERS

TURTLES: Experts Say Many Species

Headed To Extinction. UN wire Tuesday, 30 November 1999.

Almost half of the world's nearly 300 turtle species face possible extinction, the Philadelphia InqUirer reports. Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International: "We are on the brink of losing a group of animals that has managed to survive the upheavals of the last 200 million years." International wildlife experts and representatives from 14 Asian nations will gather in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Thursday to discuss the lIworldwide turtle crisis.lI Josh Ginsburg, director of Asia programs for the Wildlife Conservation Society (betterknown as New York City's Bronx Zoo): "We know ifs bad, but we want to findout just how bad it is."

Ginsburg said the biggest problem is the Asian turtle trade. The biggest demand for turtles comes from China and Southeast Asia, where the animal is a delicacy and prices for some species have reached more than $1,000 per turtle. A report to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species estimated that 12 million turtles are sold each year in China alone. Tu,rtles are also eaten in Mexico and Madagascar, mainly as subsistence food for the poor. "Although much of this is being done in the name of tradition, it now threatens a group of globally important animals,lt Mittermeier said.

Meanwhile, in the United States, desert tortoises face threats from a boom in off-road vehicles and an infection that may have been brought into the country by turtles in the pet trade. The thriving pet trade is also threatening box turtles, map turtles, sliders and wood turtles. Freshwater turtles are also at risk, because of disappearing wetlands. And turtles in the Indian Ocean are reportedly being killed in the nets of shrimp trawlers (Mark Jaffe, Philadelphia Inquirer, 29 Nov).

(Submitted by Glen Jacobsen)

International Amphibian Day

By Jared Cruz

Amphibian enthusiasts of all types abounded at the International Amphibian Day held by the Mid­Atlantic Reptile Show (MARS) Preservation Fund in Timonium, Maryland, just north of Baltimore. International Amphibian Day was created for amphibian hobbyists and had a strong pro-environment emphasis. For example, the sale was captive-bred only. Also, the proceeds of the event went to two environmental organizations: the Center for Ecosystem Survival (eES), which purchases and protects critical habitat for endangered species or plants, animals and ecosystems, and the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF), which endeavors to detennine the nature, extent and cause of amphibian declines throughout the world and promote means by which declines can be halted or reversed.

While it was an event for hobbyists, there were individuals there from the Smithsonian and the National Zoo and herpetologists from various agencies as well as the usual crowd of hobbyists and dealers. While most of the people in attendance were from the United States, there were a few individuals there from Europe, most notably Marc Staniszewski from the UK, author of the book Amphibians in Captivity as well as a couple of books on Mantellas. (Unfortunately, I think that my wife and I were the only reps from Minnesota.)

The "Daylt actually consisted of a number of events running from Wednesday, October 6th to Sunday, October 10th. Here is a partial listing of the events (to give you a taste):

4

Thursd!!y

Salamander herping in the Appalachian Mountains

An evening of talks that included the multi-media presentation of "Amphibians of the Appalachians" by Eric Juterbock and info. on USGS amphibian surveys

Friday

Behind the scenes tour of the National Aquarium in Baltimore

Dinner and Keynote address by Dr. John Daly, National Institutes of Health, on research on amphibian toxins

Sat and Sun

Show/sale and workshops and Sunday auction

Sat evening

Lectures on declining amphibians, CITES regulations for importing amphibians, salamander-keeping, Ecuadorian frog adventures, and the Dendrobates azureus project at the National Aquarium

All of the events were worthwhile and fun, and many were amazing. Being a salamander enthusiast I loved the outing to the Catoctin Mountains in the Appalachians where we saw 5 species of salamander: Desmogoathus fuscus, Eurycea bislineata, Plethodon glutinosus, Plethodon cinereus and (the most spectacular) a Pseudotriton ruber.

For herp nuts with interests in amphibians, this was the event to be at The show/sale was a frog extravaganza. And, if you missed this one, lucky for you, there is word of a 2nd annual for next year. To ask about future details e-mail: IAlJ@reptileinfo.com. You can also find the web page for MARS at www.reptileinfo.com.

MHS Newsletter Volume 19 Number 12

FROM OUR MEMBERS

Aquarium fire kills dozens of animals.

"The smoke and flames killed more than 60 reptiles and 100 fish and sharks."

Ocean City, N.J. (AP) -The Minnesom Daily 11-1-99

When the Ocean City Aquarium caught fire, the firefighters feared its dozens of snakes, sharks and alligators were dead- until an IS-foot python slithered up through the ashes.

Then two large alligators appeared, and a few turtles.

And the firefighter's attention shifted to what creatures were still alive and lurking in the next puddle as they stomped through the aquarium's charred ruins in the dark.

"It would be hard to explain how one of your men got bit by a caiman while he was fighting a fire," Fire Capt Bill McDonnell said early Sunday as he helped dinect cautious firefighters into the building after the flames had been extinguished.

The smoke and flames killed more than 60 reptiles and 100 fish and sharks.

Among the survivors: 20 turtles, 12 alligators and crocodiles, three boa constrictors, two pythons and a moray eel, aquarium owner Angelo Cuculino said Sunday.

The fire early Saturday evening destroyed the 1 'h story pink stucco building that houses the 4-year-old aquarium and about 40/000 visitors a year. A neighbor reported hearing an explosion, but by the time firefighters arrived, the aquarium was engulfed In flames.

One of the first on the scene spotted was an IS-foot African rock python. Cuculino grabbed it behind the head and stuffed it into a Styrofoam box.

His wife, June, carried a red-eared slider turtle to safety, and firefighter Ed Kooker rescued four caimans and stuffed them into wire cages.

Then came the big alligators.

Kooker struggled out of the charred building with a 5-footer as his fellow firefighters rushed in with duct tape to fasten the animal snout shut The only place to keep the four alligators was in the back seat of Mrs. Cuculino's 1988 Mazda.

For now, the four are living in Cuculino's bathroom.

Sunday morning, a 100foot Burmese python turned up- coiled in a comer window of the aquarium gift shop, still alive. A 4-foot anaconda found Cuculino, biting him on the thumb.

Despite the bite, Cuculino and none of the firefighters was seriously hurt

The cause of the fire was still under Investigation, said Deputy Chief Mark McCulley. It happened on Mischief Night, the night before Halloween, when vandals and arsonists have been known to strike.

Cuculino said the building was a total loss, but he hoped to rebuild.

(This article was received in the MHS mail, tlumk you to whomever sent it in­ed.)

5

Heather C Matson Gecko Breeder & Alotogr2pher

612871.7334 Em2il gecko@hlack-ho!e.com

2438CbndAve#207 Minne.apolls, Minnesota

55405

i ... ,

Shelley LeTendre. 612-943-4011

Call For An Appointment

MHS Nl?WSletter Volume 19 Number 12

Root River Naturalist

"Turtle Island"

Traditionally, this column has focused on natural history topics relevant to southeastern Mirmesota and other portions of the "Driftless Area" in adjacent Wisconsin and Iowa. After all, the objects closest at hand, whether familiar or not, are typically the things most likely to command our attention.

While this is certainly the way it should be, an occasional sojourn to more distant or exotic locales is likewise always of interest and can provide a refreshing change of pace from the more mlll1dane, everyday world which surrounds us. Having just returned from an excursion to Florida, and with the experience still vividly alive in my min<L I think perhaps now is as good a time as any for us to digress just a bit and briefly visit a landscape in that state's still balmy, semi­tropical climes.

Granted I have always been infatuated with Florida, which really isn't all that surprising considering my fondness for reptiles, amphibians and other creeping. crawling things. Even the plants; Palms, stately Live Oaks .. Strangler Fig and a bewildering array of fems, clinging vines and other low growing vegetation, dazzles me with roth diversity and profusion At the same time, anyone familiar with Minnesota's autumn and winter gloom should readily understand my relish at stealing more precious summer days, no matter when and however few.

Hooked since my first hiatus in America's 'ISunshine State!! more years ago than I care to remember, I now typically spend at least several weeks explOring Florida armually. Despite having visited virtually all the state's major geographic divisions from the Panhandle to the Ten Thousand Islands and Florida Keys, however, I do still stumble upon at least one additional extraordinary place on each and every excursion. True to form this most recent expedition added yet another "newt! Florida discovery, Egmont Key Wildlife Refuge located seven miles offshore near St. Petersburg.

Situated just inside "the mouth" of Tampa Bay on Florida's Gulf Coast, Egmont Key is a relatively long but narrow (two miles long by a hill mile wide) barrier island with a total area of only about 350 acres. Such landforms are called '1xtrrier

islands" because they take the brunt of incoming storms and therefore shield mainland coastlines from the worst of wind-driven waves. like many barrier islands, Egmont is composed mainly of granu1ized coral and shell and is subjected to continual modification in both size and shape due to the unending processes of erosion and sand deposition.

Again like many Florida islands, Egmont Key offers much in the way of historical and cultwa1 interest including a fully operational lighthouse origina11y built in 1848. Severely damaged shortly after completion by the Great Hurricane of 1848 and again by a smaller hurricane in 1853, the Egmont Ughthouse was rebuilt to standards designed to "withstand any stonn" in 1858. Eighty-seven feet tall, this structure is the only manned lighthouse remaining within the U.s., all others being converted to automated teclmology some time ago.

Also present on Egmon. Key are the crumbling ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish/ American War era installation complete with gun-batteries built in the early 19005 and fully staffed until being decollUIlissioned in 1923. Over 70 years worth of uninhibited vegetational growth encroaching on the still imposing rema.ins of the fort's buildings lends a somewhat surreal "lost cityll aura to the island, vaguely similar to that experienced at Meso-Indian :ruins in Central and South America. Prior to the establishment of Pori Dade, Egmont Key was utilized as a detention camp for captured Seminole warriors and the island was occupied successively by both Confederate and Union forces during the American Ovil War.

With the exception of the lighthouse keepers' and their families, Egmont Key has remained largely uninhabited since the deactivation of Fort Dade in 192'3. 1he island's wildlife has subsequently flourished and Egmont was officially designated a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Today ths refuge is jointly managed by the U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Park Service, and only a few individuals associated with these agencies currently occupy a small Egmont Key settlement. Neither governmental agency proVides public transportation to the key,

6

By John P. Levell

which effectively restricts access to the island to those arriving by personal or chartered watercraft.

Never-the-Iess, Egmont Key is a bird­watchers paradise and provides a protected. nesting sanctuary for the Brown Pelican and other mars~ shore and water dwelling birds. Other species recorded on Egmont include Peregrine Falcon.. Wood Stork, White Ibis, Cormorants, Snowy and Great Egret, Black Skimmers and a wide assortment of herons, gulls, terns, plovers and turnslones. In addition, Snook. Cobia, Grouper, Speclded Trout, Redfish, and Tarpon, as well as the endangered West Indian Manatee may be found in the island1s offshore waters.

Despite the diversity of bird life, I was most impressed by the truly extraordinary populations of turtles present on Egmont, so much so in fact that I'll always remember the key as "Turtle Island" While limited to only three species including the huge Loggerhead Sea Turtle which utilizes the beaches for nesting, two strictly terrestrial species, the Florida Box Turtle and the Gopher Tortoise, occur in such incredible densities that it is virtually impossible to hike anywhere on the island without encountering numerous examples of each.

Although both species also occur widely throughout mainland Florida, populations there have declined drastically prompting the enactment of protective legislation by both state and federal wildlife agencies.

Why do so many of these turtles live on Egmont? At the same time, how did these terrestrial species reach the island in the first place? While we will probably never adequately answer the latter of these two questions, a virtually motorized vehicle-free environment is almost certainly partially responsible for both species current abundance.

You know, perhaps this discussion is relevant to Mirmesota and our native turtles after all!

Originally Published in: The Fillmore County loumal 15(2). October 18, 1999.

I Holiday Banquet

Holiday Banquet

About 55 MHS members participated in the Holiday Banquet December 4, 1999. The food was fabulous and Jeff Pannelle had a very entertaining talk about the eating habits and skeleton adaptations of our favorite amphibians and reptiles.

Thanks to Gordon Merck and Bruce Haig for co-<:hairing the event Pred and Liz Bosman, Nancy Hakomaki, and Bill Moss for setting up the decorations; Tony Gamble and Barney Oldfield for donating the raffle items: Shannon Bowman, Nancy Hakomaki, Jeff LeClere, Bill Moss, Mark Schmidtke, Tara Sullivan and many others who helped with the clean up.

7

MHS Newsleller Volume 19 Number 12

The Holiday Banquet is an event for and by the members, thanks to everyone who participated in making this a great start to the Holiday Season!

MRS News/etter Volume 19 Number 12

The Herpin' Lifestyle

I'll be Smooth next time

After reading the Playboy interview with Jesse Ventura, I've been doing some thinking. Not about whether or not religion is for the weak minded, or why Navy SEALS don't wear underwear. I've only been thinking about the brothels of Nevada (desert lizards!) a little bit; I've mostly been thinking about reincarnation.

Ventura says that he would like to come back as a 38DD. I'm not really sure that I believe in reincarnation, and I definitely don't believe we are reincarnated as bras. However, I've been thinking about what it would be like to come back as an amphibian or a reptile.

Normal people probably have no great desire to be reincarnated as a herp; I suspect that most would prefer to come back as some sort of bird, given our fascination with flight But what if I was to come back as a herp, what species would I like to be?

I don't think I would want to be a spadefoot toad, because they spend nearly their entire lives underground. Maybe some other kind of toad would be good. I definitely would not want to come back as a TantiIIa, as they eat primarily centipedes, although that would be a fitting punishment for some. What do you suppose the Tantilla currently alive did in their previous lives to warrant their fate?

Being a rattlesnake wouldn't be too bad, if I was in some remote area with little human activity. My personal belief is that most of the rattlesnakes alive today have never encountered a human; if they had, they'd probably be dead. In that case, maybe they would be reincarnated as something else. For the same reason, I don't think l'd want to be a bullsnake, at least not a buJIsnake that lives on the prairies around the Twin Cities.

If I were reincarnated, I think I would want to be a smooth softshell turtle. The smoothie is the ultimate beach bum, spending its days basking on the sand, diving into the river if it gets too hot, and then basking some more. Smoothies don't have to eat carrion or other rotten stuff if they don't want to, because it is one of the few species of turtle fast enough to catch fish. As a smoothie, I would also be fast enough to avoid most predators, especially humans. I would definitely be fast enough to avoid herpetologists; I wouldn't even let them see me. The only humans that most smooth softshells ever see are usually canoeists and fishermen, who probably don't bother them, even if they are aware of the turtles' presence. All I'd have to do is sit around with the other smoothies on some remote river sandbar, and dash into the water if I saw something out of the ordinary. Or , if the other smoothies dashes into the water, so would I. I could always pop my head up later to see what the danger was, knowing that, whatever it was, I could swim faster than it could. If it was a herpetologist, I would let them swim to within a few feet of me, and if they made a grab for me, I would dive, quickly swim a few feet to one side or the other, and poke my head up again. Then I would eat a fish or crawdad or something and go bask on the sandbar some more.

By Greg K vanbek

I think that sex is easier for rurtles than it is for humans. Unlike humans, turtles don't require sex every day, or every week or whatever. They only require it for a brief period on the springtime. Smoothies don't have to worry about how they look, or even about how the females look. They don't need lots of money. They don't even need to be employed. They don't need clever pick up lines (they're smooth enough without them), and they don't need to worry about misinterpreting a mixed message from a fickle female (1 guess I'm assuming that I'd be reincarnated as a male turtle). Mating would be simple; I'd see what I want, move in, bam!, and I'd be out of there again. Then I'd go catch a fish, and go up on a sandbar to bask. Maybe I'd just swim up and down the river (very fast) for a while. I think you get the idea.

If you were reincarnate as a herp, what would you like to be, and why? Give It some thought, write it up and send it to me. I'd like to be able to publish your thought on reincarnation in a future edition of the newsletter, so send them to me (somebody please send me something) in care of the MHS; the address is on the inside front cover of the newsletter.

For those who can't find the inside front cover, send your reincarnation thoughts to:

8

The Minnesota Herpetological Society C/o The Bell Museum of Natural History

10 Church Street, SE Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104 Attn: Greg

MHS Newsletter Volume 19 Number 12

M.H.S. BUSINESS

MHS Coming Events

January 7, 2000 MHS General Meeting -"So You Want to Breed Reptiles Professionally?" Guest Speaker: John Meltzer. 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus, 7:00 PM.

February 4, 2000 MHS General Meeting - "MHS Annual White Snake Sale & Photo Contes~' 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St Paul Campus, 7:00 P.M.

March 3, 2000 MHS General Meeting - "MHS Annual Meeting and Election of the Board of Directors" 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus, 7:00 PM.

Nominations for Board of Directors

The Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Herpetological Society will be held March 3, 2000. During the meeting the elections for the new Board of Directors will take place. Nominations are being sought for the following positions.

President Vice President Recording Secretary Membership Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor Members -at- Large

(5 positions)

If you would like to run for one of these positions or nominate someone else please contact Julie Beauvais (612) 321-0958.

9

Treasurer's Report of November 1999 Prepared by Marilyn Brooks Blasus

Beginning checkbook balance: 2,775.32 Income:

Membership: 610.00 Library Fines 1.00 Raffle 60.25 Sales 32.00 Rodent Sales 677.50 Donations 3.50 Adoption/placement 130.00 Mise ( Reofest dpt) 50.00

Total income: 1,564.25

Expense: Newsletter 281.98 Misc. prt/post 0.00 Program 50.00 Library 0.00 Supplies 0.00 Refreshments 0.00 Rodent costs 342.25 Adoption Expense 174.00

Total Expense: lHll,23 Net income/ (loss) 716.02

Ending checkbook balance: 3,491.34

Unpaid Expenses Phone 497.72 Grants (3) 1775.00 Vet work 100.00 Adoption cages 200.00 Cable TV tapes 100.00 Business cards 80.00 HoI. Banquet frames 50.00 Insurance §QQJlQ

3,402.72 Funds available 88.62

Savings account 1,400.00

t ~~r!'!!~ I ~ IIRfHDAYPARfJU SCOUJ'TROOPS li CHI1l>CARI al/TlU ...... ($. WHCIIIOIIS ~

t ~'::' lOY NORQUIST CH<IIWf:: ~ i (507) 645 - 2757 I (877) 566 - 9949 -.l

MHS Newsleller Volume 19 Number 12

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS I Oasslfied ads are free to the membership. Deadline is the night of the general meeting 10 be [nduded in the ~:>.1 ne\>./sj.ettet. Mail 10: MRS Editor, Bell Museum of Natural HIstory, 10 C1tun:h St., SI!. Mlnneapoli!l, MN, 55155 . ) J.O./F- male, 0.1.0" femaJe, 0.0.1 =0 unsexed, ("b" captive bred, 000 - or bestoffer, +..- times run. (ads.ue run only 3)(. unless. requested to continue.

For Sale: Gecko ... Gonuirosaurus Lichtenfedieri breeding pair $300. 0.2 Giant Day Geekos, 0.1 Golden Gecko, Various size and sex Leopard and Panther Geekos $20. and up. Large Lizard ... 0.1 B&W Tegu, dog tame, 3 1,1 ft long 21,2 yrs old w / 4'wide x 3' deep x 2 1f2 ' cage $275. Heather C. Matson (612) 871-7334 +++

0.0.4 P.M. Grandis Babies cb 8/99 $20. Each Call Craig (612) 368-9689 +++

Veiled Chameleons, babies $40., Adult Breeders $50., Screen cage setups $75. Call Vern (612) 428-4625 +

Yearling Carpet Python, excellent colors, good feed response, $150. obo. Jake (507) 433-3006 +++

1.0.0 cb Florida Keys Cornsnake, Exceptional specimen, $80. Contact Richard or Uam Bonk (612) 727-3562 +++

Ground Geeko Freak-Male Sale. 4-male Bolivian Prickly Gecko $50. Ea., 1- Male Viper Geeko $75., 2-male Leopard Gecko $40. Ea., 1 male Leopard Geeko (bad lip) $20., 2-female Bearded Dragons "Sandfire Bloodline" not much red, real dark- (1 ®l2", 1 ®l4") head to tail $50. Ea., Com's, snow, albino, zig~zag, normals, red Okeetee, all captive bred '99, $15 to $50. Looking for Leopard Geekos of all sizes, Females only, Call if you have any. Jodi L Aherns (612) 58&-9329 +

Corn Snake Breeding Projeet! I am scaling back, and the following com snakes are for sale: 2.2 snow corns, 1.3 amelanistic corns, 1.1 "red okeetee" (greatly reduced black, bri1liant red ground color), .1 okeetee with slight "zipper" pattern, all are young adults, 3-5 years old; all are proven breeders. The entire group is for sale $ 500.00. This is an excellent and inexpensive opportunity to get started in com snakes, or add to an existing breeding colony. Call Greg Kvanbek at (651) 388-0305 or (612) 701-9454 Will deliver to Twin Cities area. +

English Spot Dutch

Jim's Rabbit Shack "W1Jere Spots Are Tops·

JIM DALUGE (612) 295-2818

8700 Jaber Ave. NE Monticello, MN 55362

IO

Frozen Rabbits - all sizes. Prices very reasonable- pinkies to adults. Jim Daluge (612) 295-2818

Wanted: All the shed snake skins in the world. Needed for giveaways at educational programs contact Bob Duerr 541-0362

Information Request: Please send the following: 1. A complete inventory of all reptiles and amphibians living in your collection as of January 1. Include numbers of males, females or unknown sex. 2. A list of all speeies bred during the previous year. Bare minimum would ba to mark the speeies bred and indicate if they laid eggs or gave live birth. H possible include more detailed notes of a paragraph or more. 3. List of all speeies, living or dead which you may believe may be record length. 4. Be sure to list your name, address and telephone number, fax as you want them listed. Please be legible. Anonymous submissions will be considered, try to at least list your name and state. 5. H you know of a person keeping reptiles and amphibians in captivity that has not responded please encourage them to do so. All collectors should respond. Send to Frank L. Slavens, PO Box 30744, Seattle, Washington, 98103, or Fax 206 546 2912

MHS Hats are still available by special order. They are white will a blue logo or khaki with a green logo. One size fits all, $8.00ppd or $10.00 if you want your name embroidered on the back. Contact Gordon Merck (612) 566-2001

Proud Member M.R.S. G.G.A. I.G.S.

JODI L. AIIERNS Ground Gecko l'reak

African Fat- Tailed Gecko Leucistic Leopard Gecko 5 Other Morphs of Leopards Homonota HorrMa

2946 Thomas Ave. N. Mpls .• MN 554 J J

612·588·9329

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 Ad.: All active members are allowed a classified ad, run free of charge as space pennils. Ads may be run (3) consecutive months, after which time they may be resubmitted. Corresponding members are allowed a complimentary business card advertisement monthly as space pennils. Due to Federal restrictions on Non-profit mailing pennils, we are not allowed to run ads for traveL credit or insurance agencies.

Display Ad Rates: Ad Size per Month 1f4 page $10.00 'h page $20.00

full page $40.00 Business card advertisements may be purchased at $5.00 per ad, per month.

Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Editor, Ben Museum of Natoral History, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Deadline is the night of the General Meeting for inclusion in the next newsletter. Malee checks payable to: Minnesota Herpetological Society

Minnesota Herpetolo ical Socie

New Renewal Membership #

MHS Rodent Sales

Mice Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adults

Rats SmPups LgPups Juvn Rats. Adults

$7.00 dozen $7.00 dozen $8.00 dozen $10.00 dozen

$12.00 dz. $18.00 dz. $24.oodz. $15.00 six $3O.00dz.

For pick up at monthly meetings only. Orders must be placed at least one week in advance of date of meeting at which the frozen rodents are to be delivered. Place orders with Tina (Rat Girl) Osewski at (612) 856-2865.

All proceeds go toward the operating costs of the society. The MHS is a completely volunteer run, non-profit organization.

Membership Application

T Check #

Name ____________________________________________________________________________ __

Address ____________________________________ _

City _____________________ State Zip ______ _

Phone ________________________ ---.email List in MHS Directory? __ Yes __ No

Herp related interests _______________________________________________________________ _

Active Memberships : ___ Sustaining ($60Iyr) __ Contrlbuting ($30Iyr) __ B,asic ($15Iyr)

Corresponding Memberships: ____ Gold Commercial ($100/yr 2 full pg. ads) ____ Silver Commercial ($75/yr 2 1/2 pg.

ads) ____ Bronze Commercial ($50Iyr 2 1/4pg ads) ___ Basic Commercial ($25Iyr 2 Bus cards)

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 SI. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please allow 6 - 8 weeks for processing.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA- ST. PAUL CAMPUS

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

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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Next Meeting:

January 3, 2000

Rm. 335 Borlaug Hall, U of M St. Paul Campus

Start time: 7:00 p.m.

MHS Voice mail: (612) 624 - 7065

Internet: http://www.onrampinc.net/mhs/

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Non-Profit Rate U.S. Postage

PAID Mpls. MN

Pennit No. 2275

POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL