Vol. 29 (2009), No. 2

M I N N E S O T A

H E R P E T O L O G I C A L S O C I E T Y

FEBRUARY 2009 VOLUME 29 NUMBER 2

� e Purpose of the Minnesota Herpetological Society is to:

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

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

• Promote the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

� e Minnesota Herpetological Society is a non-profi t, tax-exempt orga-nization. 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. � e Minnesota Herpetologi-cal Society activities and a media for exchanging information, opinions and resources.

General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota on the fi rst Friday of each month (unless there is a holiday confl ict). � e 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:� e Minnesota Herpetological SocietyAttn: Newsletter EditorBell Museum of Natural History10 Church St. SE.Minneapolis, MN 55455.0104Please send email to [email protected]

MHS VOICE MAIL: 612.624.7065

MHS WEB PAGE: HTTP://WWW.MNHERPSOC .ORG

GROUP E MAIL : HTTP ://WWW. GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/ GROUP/ MNHERPSOC

MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY FEBRUARY 2009 VOLUME 29 NUMBER 2President

Jennifer Hensley

Vice- President David Dewitt

Treasurer Nancy Haig

Membership Secretary Ellen Heck Recording Secretary Jenna Rypka-Hauer

News Letter Editor James Soos

[email protected] MEMBERS AT LARGE

Jeff LeClere Kathy Claugherty

Chris Smith

Heather Clayton

COMMITTEES

Adoption Sara Richard Education Jan Larson

Library Carmelita Pfar

WebmasterAnke Reinders

1

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

© Copyright Minnesota Herpetological Society 2009. Contents may be reproduced

for non-profi t 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.

THE NEWS LETTER OF THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY FEBRUARY 2009 VOLUME 29 NUMBER 2

THE MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

UPCOMING EVENTS SECTION

Friday, February 6, 2009

Room 335 Borlaug Hall,

U of M St. Paul Campus

Next Meeting:

Speaker: John Moriarty Herps and the Law – Minnesota Style

April: White Snake Sale. Do not forget the Photo Contest. Details page 3. Friday, April 3 2009Room 335 Borlaug Hall,U of M St. Paul Campus

May: TBA

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

Future Speakers:March: Matt Edgar Ven:

Snake Curator of the St. Louis Zoo.

Friday, March 6 2009



2

ANDREW WYATT ON ANIMAL ARK

Andrew Wyatt spoke at the January meeting about the United States

Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK). A former Army Ranger, An-

drew 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 in-

volved 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), spon-

sored legislation banning particular animals from being owned. He co-

founded 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 commu-

nity. 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 fi le around the country to take responsibility for

themselves and become involved in the law-making process. Herpeto-

logical societies around the nation are encouraged to join USARK for

this purpose.

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

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.

Many specialists are involved with USARK to address is-

sues like invasive species. By using scientifi c 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 let-

ters 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 en-

courages us to join the USARK mailing list on their web-

site. Joining the organization will also help fi ght legisla-

tion. Membership is $30. There are also many resources

on their website.

by Jenna Rypka-Hauer


4

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

Beginning Checkbook Balance: $25,184.93Beginning Checkbook Balance: $25,184.93

Membership $625.00 Membership $625.00

Raffl e $65.00 Raffl e $65.00

Adoption $170.00 Adoption $170.00

Rodent Sales 848.00 Rodent Sales 848.00

Renfest donations $1538.14 Renfest donations $1538.14

Holiday Banquet $10.00 Holiday Banquet $10.00

Total income: $3,256.14Total income: $3,256.14

Expense:

Newsletter $269.55 Newsletter $269.55

Program $50.00 Program $50.00

Adoption $60.00 Adoption $60.00

Library $27.97 Library $27.97

Rodent costs $1243.63 Rodent costs $1243.63

Total Expense $1,651.15Total Expense $1,651.15

Cash increase/(decrease) $1,604.99Cash increase/(decrease) $1,604.99

Ending Checkbook Balance: $26,849.92Ending Checkbook Balance: $26,849.92

Placement of cash holdings

Checking account $26,849.92 Checking account $26,849.92

Paypal acct $545.57 Paypal acct $545.57

Cash on hand $155.00 Cash on hand $155.00

Total $27,550.49Total $27,550.49

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 fulfi ll these purposes in a va-

riety 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 fi t for adoption because of severe ill heath

or injury) for the Vet School students to increase their ex-

periences 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 defi nitive 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.

Why Some Herps are not adopted:

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 Slid-

ers 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

Sarah Richard

Adoption Chair

Minnesota Herpetological Society

http://www.bellmuse um.org/herpetolo gy/Main.html

ADOPTION REPORT

FOR JANUARY


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 fi rst thing to do is learn as much as

possible about the natural history of the species in ques-

tion. 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 fi rst 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 py-

thons 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 approach-

es until something works. But always be aware of the possibility of

contamination from pesticides or toxic varieties of plant material. Ce-

dar 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.

THE HERPER’S CORNERCOMFORTABLE CRITTERS

By Terry Odegaard

Volunteers needed for the

White Snake Sale. Please

contact George Richards

at [email protected]

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.

Classifi ed Ads: All active members are allowed a classifi ed 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-profi t 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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Friday, February 6 2009



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Vol. 29 (2009), No. 2

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