The newsletter of the
Minnesota Herpetological Society
September Meeting Notice General Meeting September 9th September Speaker Rich Glor: Beyond the Beach—The Secret Diversity of Tropical Island Reptiles and Amphibians Election Announcement page 5 Kid’s Korner pp 16-17
September 2016
Volume 36
Number 9
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Misi Stine 952.217.1267 President@mnherpsoc.org Vice President Jim Soos 612.382.1920 VicePresident@MnHerpSoc.org
C/O Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church Street Southeast Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455-0104
Recording Secretary Nancy Haig 763.434.8684 RecSecretary@MnHerpSoc.org
Or you can still leave us a Voice Mail: 612.326.6516
Membership Secretary Lavania Beguhl 651.274.8511 MemSecretary@MnHerpSoc.org Treasurer Rae Jacobs Ruber 612.366.9337 Treasurer@MnHerpSoc.org Newsletter Editor Ellen Heck 612.750.1649 NewsletterEditor@MnHerpSoc.org Lois Hall 612.824.1447 MemberAtLarge4@MnHerpSoc.org Rebecca Markowitz 409.740.0235 MemberAtLarge1@MnHerpSoc.org Members at Large Tony Beguhl 651.336.8456 MemberAtLarge3@MnHerpSoc.org
Stay informed! Join us on our forums!
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 society’s activities and a media for exchanging information, opinions and resources. General Meetings are held at Borlaug Hall, Room 335 on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota, on the first Friday of each month (unless there is a holiday conflict). The meeting starts at 7:00pm and lasts about three hours. Please check the MHS Voice mail for changes in schedules or cancellations. Submissions to the Newsletter
Chris Smith 612.275.9737 MemberAtLarge2@MnHerpSoc.org
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.
COMMITTEES
See inside back cover for ad rates. Submissions may be sent to:
Adoption Beth Girard 612.326.6516 Adoptions@MnHerpSoc.org Education Jan Larson 507.263.4391 Jan.SkunkHollow@Juno.com Fostering Rebecca Markwitz 612.326.6516 Fosters@MnHerpSoc.org WebMaster WebMaster@MnHerpSoc.org Cover by Cartoons by Fran Frisch
The Minnesota Herpetological Society Attn: Newsletter Editor C/O Bell Museum of Natural History 10 Church St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455-0104 NewsletterEditor@MnHerpSoc.org
SNAKE BITE EMERGENCY HENNEPIN REGIONAL POISON CENTER 800-222-1222
© Copyright 2015, Minnesota Herpetological Society. Except where noted, contents may be reproduced for non-profit, non-commercial use only. All material must be reproduced without change. Proper credit will be given including the author/photographer and the Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter citing: volume, number and date.
General Meeting — Richard Glor September 9th, 7:00pm; 6:30pm Social Hour Social hour begins at 6:30pm. This is a time for people to catch up before the meeting starts. Rich Glor is a lifelong herper who developed his passion for reptiles and amphibians as a teenage volunteer at the Buffalo Zoo and later as a member of the Cornell University Herpetological Society. He earned his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Washington University in St. Louis through work on the evolution of species richness in anole lizards. He conducted postdoctoral work at the University of California, Davis in the Center for Population Biology before spending several years as a professor at the University of Rochester. He joined the University of Kansas in 2014 as Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Associate Curator in the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. Glor has conducted field work across the Caribbean, Australia, and Madagascar. His current work is focused on how new species of lizards emerge in nature. Abstract: The forests behind the beaches on tropical islands are teeming with life, including many species found nowhere else on earth and others that remain to be discovered. Professor Richard Glor of the University of Kansas will discuss recent island discoveries made by researchers from KU’s Division of Herpetology, including dozens of colorful new frog species from Madagascar, a giant fruit eating lizard in the Phillippines, and an almost impossible to see chameleon-like lizard found in a single valley on a single Caribbean island.
Chip Cochran—Herpetological Conservation International’s Project Rondo Submitted by Nancy Haig
When Chip was a University of Arizona undergraduate, most of his work was with rattlesnakes and as a Ph.D. candidate at Loma Linda University in California, his interest is still there writing a paper on the geographic variations of venom in rattlesnakes. But that is not all Chip does, he is an active member of Herpetological Conservation International and part of the Pondo Project. Project Pondo: A Chameleon Conservation Project by HCI. Herpetological Conservation International (HCI) was created 2015. It is a registered 501 (c) 3 public charity and a recognized GuideStar Exchange Gold participant. HCI’s primary focus is on the conservation of reptiles and amphibians. It is dedicated to conserving imperiled reptile and amphibian species across the world through habitat preservation, field research, and community outreach.
and Extinct in the Wild). Within the foreseeable future of 150 years, we could lose anywhere from between 1/3 to2/3s of the species we currently known to exist. The need for Reptile Conservation is critical. One out of 5 reptiles in the world is threatened with extinction; another one in five is classified as data deficient, we don’t even know how well they are doing. Typically, reptiles have narrower distributional ranges than other vertebrates.
In order to provide proper conservation it is necessary to understand how individual species interact with their environment as some species can provide important benefits to the eco systems. Chip sited various examples such as the sea otters in the kelp forests and the role of mussels and clams in filtering pollutants out of seawater and building oyster beds for protection against storm surges. There is also a The International Union for Conservation of Na- commercial side for understanding the value of ture (IUCN) has assessed 76,000 species, 29.4 % the species as in the use of venom as medicine: ace inhibitors for blood pressure control, or Gila fall into the four most threatened categories venom for blood sugar control. (Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered September 2016
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So why was the Pondo Dwarf Chameleon chosen for study? Dwarf Chameleons (Bradypodian) are found in South Africa, Swaziland. Of the species, Bradypodian, 17 genus are known, 8 have been assessed and 2 of those are listed as Endangered. The Pondo Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodian caffer) was first described by Boettger in 1889, it averages 15 cm in total length, it is a coastal forest species and is limited to the vicinity of Port of St. Johns in South Africa. The coastal forest where they are found is highly fragmented and 43% of it is already transformed from human impact. Both the IUCN and World Wildlife Federation (WWF) consider the area Endangered. The small distribution area of the animal, the higher purchasing power of the Dollar to the Rand and the basic lack of ecological and biological studies for the genus all pointed to a project the HCI could handle. They are currently in the Phase 1of the project: Land Acquisition. First they verify the presence of the Chameleon, compare growth potential for sites; receive local approval form the tribes and government then negotiate a land purchase and finally purchase the land. Phase 2 will be baseline surveys. This will involve mark & recapture studies to determine chameleon density; other reptile, bird, mammal, invert and vegetation surveys and collaborating with other local researchers and institutions. Phase 3 will be to Expand and Maintain. They hope to increase the size of the reserve, construct low impact structure to house researchers and volunteers and provide jobs for locals. Providing employment for locals is important not only to help the local economy but to give a sense of ownership in maintaining the facility and mission. For more information on how to get involved with HCI or to donate go to their website: www.herpconservation.org Chip also gave a short presentation about his ongoing Ph.D. work: Characterizing geographic venom variation among populations of Crotalus pyrrhus from a fractal perspective. When Chip was out herping, a friend was bitten by a small Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus). The reaction to the anti-venom prevented the blood from coagulating for six days which Chip found very interesting and decided to use as a basis for his paper. Crotaluas pyrrhus was first described by Cope in 1867, they are generally under a meter in length, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, and are highly variable in coloration usually matching their ground color to the substrate of the area they are found in. Chris’s project treated the species as island specie with each high rocky location separated by low dessert areas. Chris has collected 182 different venom samples from 24 different mountain ranges and across 3 states (AZ, Ca, and NV). Proteomics is the study of what is in venoms. The samples are tested by looking at Gels- which pull apart the basic protein components and compare them to a base standard; RP-HPLC- Reverse Phase-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography which separated the venoms by how much they didn’t like water (hydrophobic); and Mass Spectrometry which ionizes the fractals and identifies the protein families against a known database. All of this is just ways to extract data that needs to be analyzed. Fractal analysis uses waveforms (Planar curves with coordinates that can be plotted and compared). By plotting his results, Chris will be able to tell if the samples differ or are similar to each other. When comparing the results Chris will look at various conditions in diet, location and density that might explain the variations. Stay tuned. The HCI website: www.herpconservation.org
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Volume 36 Number 9
Elections and Annual Meeting The MHS elections will be held at the annual meeting November 4th, 2015 in Borlaug Hall on the U of M Campus. In order to vote, you must be a member in good standing and present at the meeting. No proxy votes will be accepted. In order to run for a board position, you must be a member in good standing and at least 18 years of age at the start of the term—January 1, 2016. The Minnesota Herpetological Society is a VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN organization that only exists because of the commitment of its members. I strongly encourage you to consider taking an active role in keeping MHS the vital organization it has been for last 32 years. If you are interested in running for an office, or if you know someone who may be, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience by phone (763-434-8684 ) or email (recsecreatry@mnherpsoc.org). This year’s elections will be held on Friday, November 4th. Want to know more? According to the Minnesota Herpetological Society By-Laws … MHS Administration. MHS shall be administered by a Board of Directors comprised of the elected officers, and four active members at large, all of whom are eighteen (18) years of age or older and whom shall be members of MHS in good standing. Officers. The officers of MHS shall be President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, and Newsletter Editor, all of whom shall be members of MHS in good standing. Term of Office. The officers and members-at-large elected at the Annual Meeting of MHS as hereafter provided, shall serve for a period of one (1) year commencing January 1. Board of Directors may serve only four (4) terms consecutively. President. The President shall perform the duties of such office including chairing monthly membership meetings and Board of Directors. The President shall appoint all special and standing committee chairs subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. Also, the President may establish such ad hoc, standing and special committees as may be required to further the work of MHS. Vice President. The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President, serve as program coordinator, and perform such duties as designated by the President. Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the proceedings of all the meetings of the members in appropriate books. Membership Secretary. The Membership Secretary shall give and serve all notices of MHS, shall keep the names and residences of the members, and maintain membership notices. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds and assets of MHS, payment of authorized accounts, present financial reports at Board of Directors meetings and the Annual Meeting, and submit the records for audit. Newsletter Editor. The Newsletter Editor shall edit and produce the Newsletter of the Minnesota Herpetological Society on a monthly basis. If you are interested in running for any position, contact Nancy Haig RecSecretary@MnHerpSoc.org or any board member. If you have questions regarding a particular position, feel free to contact the current MHS member who holds that position or join us at a board meeting. See page 11 for time and location.
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Volume 36 Number 9
MHS Photo Contest If you missed out on the Photo Contest held at the April meeting, fret no more!! MHS will be “testing the waters” to see if hosting the photo contest later in the year may encourage greater participation. All of those amazing photos you are taking this summer could win you a blue (or red or white) ribbon!!!! We are also introducing a NEW CATEGORY … SELFIES!!! Thank you Angie Cairl for suggesting it! Take your photos to the November meeting and join the fun! The People’s Choice photograph (or a photo of it if it is a Mixed Media entry) will be the cover photo on a MHS newsletter!! Photo Contest Rules: You must be a member of the MHS and be the one that took the photograph. However, you do not need to own the amphibian or reptile in the photo. All items need to show herps or be herp related. Color and / or black and white photographs are acceptable. Artwork is defined as sculptures, drawings, paintings, etc. Photos should be no smaller than 5 x 7 and no larger than 11x 14 (outside dimension). Mounting or matting of photos / art is recommended but not necessary. Members are allowed to submit up to 2 photos / items in each category. On the back of the photo, please include your name and the category you want your picture to compete in. Categories: Herps in the Wild / In a Natural Setting: Photographs of animal(s) taken outside and / or in a natural setting. A natural setting that has been staged is also permitted. Herps and Humans / Non-Wild Setting: Subject(s) should be in a non-wild setting – i.e. photographs taken around your home, on or with something that is manmade. Some examples of this are: Herps in their cages, people holding their pets and photographs of animals taken at a zoo. Kid Submission: Any photo / artwork submission by a member who is 16 years of age or younger. Selfies: A selfie of you and a herp, or a selfie from the herps perspective! Have fun with this new category! Mixed Media: Herp related artwork by a member or photographs taken by a member that have been altered / enhanced using photo editing software in any matter other than cropping. There will also be an award issued for the “People’s Choice”: Members will also vote for one submission from the above categories that they feel is the best overall photograph / piece of artwork. The submission that receives the most votes is the winner of this category.
September 2016
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September 2016
Volume 36 Number 9
Hello Membership! We are going to be doing a clothing order! Here are the options for this round, please give them a look and decide what you are thinking, please be ready to order at the August meeting which will include pre-paying for your order. The options for payment will be cash, check, credit card (chip reader available) or on Paypal. If you are unable to make the meeting and would like to order you may place your order on Paypal up until SEPTEMBER 10th AT 5:00PM, which is a week after the meeting. We have a women's and men's T-shirt option as well as a hoodie option. I am going to try to do clothing on a more regular basis depending on demand for items if you are unable to order and with our increasing new membership. I'd like to run an artwork contest and order clothing with that on it and our logo as a small icon on T-shirts, hoodies and even sweatpants (but that is a future project to keep in mind). Men's sizes: Youth XSmall -Youth XL; Adult Small-4XL ($15) Women's sizes: Adult XSmall-3XL ($15) Hoodie sizes: Youth small-Youth Large; Adult Small-5XL ($30) Prices are going to be about $15 for the T-shirts and about $30 for the Hoodies. If you have any questions please feel free to talk to me at the meeting or text me. Lavania 651-274-8511
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Looking for Herp Assistance Volunteers! Are you an experienced keeper of a particular type of herp? Are you willing and able to provide answers to others? We are looking to re-introduce the herp assistance program and need people willing to offer advice for all types of reptiles and amphibians. We are also looking for people who specialize in breeding (herps, that is) cage building, etc. Volunteers will be listed in the newsletter and on the website with a phone number and/or email address that people seeking advice can call you on. Please contact Ellen NewsletterEditor@mnherpsoc.org if you are interested in helping.
Snake Sheds Wanted Eden Bio-Creations (https://edenbiocreations.com/ ) has asked if MHS members would be willing to give snake sheds of all sizes, and species to them to produce their shed textile products, like cell phone covers. In return MHS would receive a donation for each product sold using our members snake sheds. Here is a video on the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J59mMc92xZU#t=119 For those of you willing to share your sheds with MHS for this program a box will be made available at the monthly meetings, starting in January, to collect them for this group. Here is what we need when you bring in your sheds: 1. 2. 3. 4.
each shed is placed in it's own Ziploc baggie, and labeled with the species be sure that the shed is does not have any large chunks of feces on it All sizes of sheds are accepted Please feel free to submit even if torn (include all the pieces), as they can be put back together.
If you have any questions about this please direct them to Lois Hall at MemberAtLarge4@MnHerpSoc.org
The passage of time—Bobber the alligator and Petra the heart-breaker September 2016
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September 2016
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Upcoming Hands-on Event Schedule 3M Teachers Workshop—3M St Paul Campus Friday September 30th 3-6:30pm 3M Super Science Saturday—3M St Paul Campus Saturday October 1 9am-1pm
Here’s the deal- Bring your herp(s) to one of the shows listed above, and talk about them. That’s it! You don’t have to be an expert, you’re not giving speeches. Most of the time you will find that people are more than open to hearing about our misrepresented critters.
Contact Jan at Jan.SkunkHollow@Juno.com for details or if interested in signing up. Or sign up on the website.
Herp First Aid Emergency kits, whether they be for earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, floods or fires, share a lot of commonalities. The basics, of course, such as food and water, are mandatory. A close third is an adequately supplied first aid kit. (yes this is a repeat but important) http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptiles-Magazine/The-VetReport-Herp-First-Aid-Kit-Checklist/
Black Mamba Warning Call OK, yes, I know; they don't actually make noise like this. But it is an excellent close-up of how they got their name. http://cheezburger.com/75241473/funny-memes-yas-mamba
How to Climb a Tree—Snake Version Just in case you ever wondered. Fortunately, my snake Ripley has not learned this or I would have spent the opening weekend at RenFest up a tree trying to disentangling him. http://cheezburger.com/8483935232
Boa Caught in Glencoe On Saturday, Aug. 27, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of an 8 to 10-foot boa constrictor on the loose at the Buffalo Creek Park, near Glencoe. http://www.kare11.com/news/8-foot-snake-caught-in-glencoe/310523510
New Frog Species with Red Legs in Central Peru A new frog species from central Peru has been discovered and described by researchers with the Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad and Southern Illinois University. The frog, Pristimantis pulchridormientes, which translates into sleeping beauty in Latin, was discovered at 1000-1700m in elevation in the premontane forests of Tingo María National Park in the central Andes in Peru. There is a chain of small and isolated mountains within the park called “La Bella Durmiente” (“The sleeping beauty”), of which the frog is named. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/New-Frog-Species-From-Central-Peru-Discovered-trending/ September 2016
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MHS Reports and Announcements No Treasurer report this month as the treasurer had a baby. So instead enjoy these babies.
Board Meeting The board meeting will be held 6pm Tuesday September 13th. If you are interested in attending please contact Misi at President@MnHerpSoc.org Everyone is welcome to attend the board meeting. We encourage you to come check it out. September 2016
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MHS Reports and Announcements IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ANYONE FOSTERING AN MHS ANIMAL Due to the requirements of the new MHS insurance policy, more complete records need to be maintained concerning the animals “owned” by MHS. This refers to those taken in at Intake and not outsourced or adopted. To this end, we are updating our paperwork and have created a new FOSTER AGREEMENT. If you are currently fostering an animal and have not turned in the new form, please complete the one in the newsletter and email it to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org or return it at the August meeting. If you are currently fostering animals for MHS, please send a list of the animals you are currently fostering and the date you began doing so. The list can be sent to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org Any animals not reported by the AUGUST MEETING (August 5th) will be marked as “adopted” by you. You may still surrender those animals to the adoption program at a later date. Only animals that have been reported to us by August 6th as “fostered” will be covered under the MHS insurance policy. Animals fostered at the July meeting are already listed. The two-page FOSTER AGREEMENT includes the following restrictions. When an animal is taken home to be fostered, its travel enclosure and the paperwork (label and attached 3”x5” card) should be kept intact so they can be returned with the animal. This helps the Adoption Committee maintain accuracy with its paperwork. The animal should be housed in a quarantined area to protect you, your family, your personal collection and the fostered animal. These animals should not be used for educational purposes as their health status and temperament are questionable. If a situation should arise and the animal you are fostering needs medical care, please contact the Adoption Chair. MHS is reimburses for medical care on a very limited case-by-case basis. Please send an email to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org 3-5 days before each meeting to let us know your intentions. Do you intend to bring the animal back to the meeting? Have you, or someone else, adopted it? Do you intend to keep fostering it, but are unable to attend the meeting? If we do not hear from you within 60 days (two meetings), the animal will be considered to be adopted. When returning a foster animal to a meeting, please make every attempt to do so before 6:40pm. We would like all members to have the opportunity to view the animals prior to the start of the meeting. The form also has a place for you to note if you may be available to transport and/or house animals and/or husbandry items that are surrendered between meetings. When a need arises, an email will be sent to all fosters residing in the area where assistance is needed. You are under no obligation to respond. Thank you for your willingness to be part of the MHS Adoption Program. If it were not for our amazing fosters (LIKE YOU!) we would not be able to help over three hundred animals find forever homes each year!!!
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MHS Reports and Announcements
MHS Foster Agreement Thank you for volunteering to foster animals for the Minneapolis Herpetological Society. While fostering an animal you will be expected to provide a temporary home for the animal until the next MHS general meeting. During that time, you agree to: Provide proper housing, food, lighting and temperature requirements for the species, and if needed, provide health care for those with special needs. House the animal in a quarantined area to protect both your personal collection and the fostered animal. Inform the Adoption Chair adoptions@mnherpsoc.org if you have any questions or concerns in regards to the health of the animal. If you decide to adopt an animal, or have found an alternative home for it, please let us know as soon as possible. Please contact the Adoption Chair 3-5 days prior to each general meeting as to the status of the animal/s you are fostering. (Health, status, and whether you will or will not be returning it at the general meeting.) ___________________________________ Name & Date (Please print)
___________________________________ Signature
Contact information: Name: ________________________ Member #: _________ Exp. Date: ____________ Address: ________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________________ If I am not at the meeting, you may contact me about housing the following species: ________________________________________________________________________ __________ Initial here if we may call you midmonth for help transporting an animal. __________ Initial here if we may contact you about transporting intake items.
When an animal is taken home to be fostered, its travel enclosure and the paperwork (label and attached 3�x5� card) should be kept intact so they can be returned with the animal. This helps the Adoption Committee maintain accuracy with its paperwork. The animal should be housed in a quarantined area to protect you, your family, your personal collection and the fostered animal. These animals should not be used for educational purposes as their health status and temperament are questionable. If a situation should arise and the animal you are fostering needs medical care, please contact the Adoption Chair. MHS reimburses for medical care on a very limited case-by-case basis. Please send an email to adoptions@mnherpsoc.org 3-5 days before each meeting to let us know your intentions. Do you intend to bring the animal back to the meeting? Have you, or someone else, adopted it? Do you intend to keep fostering it, but are unable to attend the meeting? If we do not hear from you in 60 days (two meetings), the animal will be considered to be adopted by you. When returning a foster animal to a meeting, please make every attempt to do so before 6:40pm. We would like all members to have the opportunity to view the animals prior to the start of the meeting. Thank you again for agreeing to foster animals for the Minnesota Herpetological Society! We could not continue the adoption program without members willing and able to care for those waiting to be adopted. Beth Girard MHS Adoption Chair Email: adoptions@mnherpsoc.org Cell# 612/616-8431 September 2016
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MHS Reports and Announcements Minutes of the July 9, 2016 MHS Board of Directors Meeting Byerly’s Community Room , St Louis Park Attending: Misi Stine, Jim Soos, Nancy Haig, Chris Smith, Rae Rueber, Ellen Heck, Lavania Beguhl, Lois Hall, Rebecca Markowitz Lois Hall. 6 must be present for a quorum. Quorum was present. (7) Visitors attending: Tony Beguhl, Chris Rueber, Laural Wiendle, Beth Girard, Jeff LeClere Meeting was called to order at 6:06pm First order of Business: The President appointed Tony Beguhl as Member at Large to fill the position vacated by Casey Sievert Motion: to approve the appointment of Tony Beguhl as member at large. Seconded and passed. Old Business Insurance: We have renewed our contract with Bremer. It is the same policy, no changes to coverage. There are still several extra areas of coverage that need to be discussed. Misi has also contacted an agent that does the insurance for the Madison Area Herp Soc. and the Chicago Herp Soc.to see if we can get better coverage for our organizations activities including the Hands on events where the public touches animals. Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance- Misi posted a quote from Bremer on D&O insurance and two articles on why nonprofits should have this coverage. (posted July 2 on forum Directors and Officers policy.). The actual insurance policy was not available. After discussion on the reasons for D&O coverage a motion was called. Motion: to accept the Director and Officers’ Liability insurance offer from Bremer. Seconded. Votes: 4 yes;2 No; 2 Abstained. The Motion passed . Red Eared Slider/ Outsourcing / Attorney. After consulting with our attorney Glen McCluskey, Misi emailed his replies to our questions concerning liabilities regarding the outsourcing some of our adoption animals. The board discussed the various points and concluded it was not in the best interests of the MHS to continue with parts of the program that involve crossing state lines until more information is obtained regarding legal requirements and procedures. Actions: The Board agreed to stop outsourcing RES to Iowa. Noting that finding homes would be easier if there were not so many animals needing them, the board agreed to begin working on the source problem. Misi will create a campaign committee to encourage Pet Stores in Minnesota to stop selling RES. New options for outsourcing hard to place animals should be referred to the Adoption Chair, Beth Girard. Address change: Ellen has found a Roseville Post office that has 24/7 access to large post boxes with a real (not P.O.Box number) address designation for about $186.00 per year. Motion: to accept Ellen’s proposal to obtain a Pot Box at the Roseville station. Seconded, passed. Sand Dunes State Forest: The Advisory Board met June 26, 2016. Misi and Lois attended for MHS. Chris Smith was there for another organization. The proposed forestry project is being questioned by many conservation minded groups. MHS was able to show a presence and do outreach with the local community. Misi will try to keep us informed of future meetings if others wish to attend. Holiday Banquet-Lavania-She is checking into a location that will allow us to do a potluck and has a paid bar. She will firm up the price for a 4-11pm time frame and set-up the date for Dec 3rd. 2016. New Business: Updates to Policies: Discussion on how to proceed with updates. Policies should go to the Chairs of committees involves and the governance committee for redlining and a final draft will be given to the board for consideration. Adoption/invoicing Question was raised on the Board authorizing the payment of vet bill for an adoption/foster animal. The invoices were turned into the Treasurer at the March 6, 2016 Board Meeting. The expense was discussed at the Feb 6, 2016 Board meeting. Actions: Future committee expense receipts should first be given to the committee chair for initializing. The chair will then turn over the receipt to the treasurer, who will reimburse the payment to the member. Clothing: Lavania has found a source for t-shirts and sweatshirts and passed around a laptop image of what the shirts would look like with a colored version of our logo. There will be one general meeting to take orders from members and then the t-shirts will be bought. Renfest Contract: Rae posted the Renfest contract with Mid-America Festivals on the forum and the Board authorized her to sign it. The activities of the hands on will be dictated by what insurance we can arrange, but the contract only calls for the animals to be displayed so the MHS should be able to fulfill the contract. Meeting adjourned at 9:51pm Approved date____8-6-2016 September 2016
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Kid’s Korner
September 2016
Volume 36 Number 9
Kid’s Korner
September 2016
Volume 36 Number 9
QUARANTINE PROCEDURES One of the snakes from this month’s adoption was found to have mites. Although we do keep contact to a minimum between animals and enclosures, we want to remind everyone to follow proper quarantine procedures!!! DO NOT put new animals in the same space, or share enclosures or cage furnishings, with your collection! MHS has included a page of Quarantine Suggestions for several months now. Unfortunately it was written 20 years ago for zoos and other groups with large collections and the equipment and knowledge necessary for evaluating fecal exams. The one I like can be found at http://www.herpcenter.com/reptilearticles/quarantining-reptiles/ QUARANTINING REPTILES Quarantining your new acquisitions is done so that you can monitor the animals behavior, appetite, stool, and activity. It is also done to protect the animals you currently own. This is a step that can actually save your entire colony of animals, save you money, and save you time. Quarantining new animals should become an instinctive behavior by both new and experienced enthusiasts, though it is often overlooked at one time or another by all. It is a crucial step in the prevention of colony infection. Diseases like Cryptosporidium can destroy an entire collection if introduced to your reptiles. WHAT IS QUARANTINING Quarantining is the process in which you isolate the reptile you are bringing home. This is the time period in which you monitor the animal and note or treat the animal for any illness or injury that it has. Quarantining ensures that you will not spread any contagious illness or parasites to your current collection. REPTILE QUARANTINE BASICS Keep the set-up simple Keep the set-up clean Keep the setup isolated Monitor the reptile Save it for last TIME FRAME Your new reptile should be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days. Ideally, 60-90 days would be better. Once a reptile has finished the quarantine period and is deemed fit, they can be introduced into their permanent enclosure in the proximity of other reptiles. QUARANTINE SET-UP A setup designed as a quarantine tank should be very simple in design and extremely easy to clean. The goal is to use the quarantine tank as an observational area. For reptiles, the quarantine tank should consist of the bare essentials. The enclosure itself should be made of solid plastic or glass. Old fish tanks are great quarantine tanks. Avoid wooden enclosures as quarantine tanks as they are difficult to clean. QUARANTINE TANK The best substrate to use for a quarantine tank is either no substrate, or paper towel. This makes cleaning a breeze, allows complete visibility to monitor the reptiles feces, and is a complete risk free substrate from impaction. The rest of the enclosure should be limited to a hide, a water bowl, and feeder dish (If required.) A calcium dish should be part of a leopard geckos quarantine tank. Climbing branches and other decor should not be in the quarantine tank. Continued next page September 2016
Volume 36 Number 9
The tank above is an example quarantine setup for a leopard gecko. The tank is a 32 quart Sterilite tub heated with a human heat pad. It contains a hide directly over the heat source, a moist hide/cool hide, a calcium dish, a mealworm dish, a disposable water dish, and paper towel as a substrate. The example shows how simple the enclosure can be for the quarantine period. This setup is easy to clean and maintain. Holes have been drilled into the sides of the Sterilite for air circulation, and the cover also has holes drilled into it. CLEANLINESS Your quarantine tank should be cleaned daily. Remove any feces (after looking it over) from the enclosure, change the water, remove any dead insects, and make sure the tank itself is clean. You want to be able to monitor the animal as closely as possible. The cleaner the tank is, the easier it will be to monitor the reptile. ISOLATION It is best to isolate the reptile from the rest of your collection. This is best done by placing the quarantine tank in a separate room from where you house your other reptiles. It doesn't stop there however. You should also be isolating what items come into contact with the quarantine tank. You should never use the same cleaning materials between a quarantine tank and those that house the rest of your collection. The same is true for water and feeding dishes. This could result in indirect contact with a parasite or illness. MONITORING Make sure you spend some time watching the reptile in quarantine. Watch how he hunts/eats, make sure he isn't lethargic, and ensure that he is alert when you disturb him. Reptiles in general are experts at hiding illness. This is how they survive in the wild. Make it a point to ensure that the animal is behaving normally and that its stool appears "normal". THE LAST STOP When cleaning your enclosures, save the quarantine tank for last. This will help reduce the chance of indirect contact. Also save the quarantined animal for last when you are working with your collection. You want to limit any possible exposure between the new reptile and your current collection. By making the quarantined reptile the last stop, you are placing distance between any accidental exposure. PERSONAL HYGIENE It is always a good practice to use an antibacterial soap to wash your hands after every handling session you have with a reptile or its enclosure. It is especially important to maintain proper hygiene protocol when dealing with an animal in quarantine. The accidental spreading of a disease or parasite could come from direct or indirect contact with another animal, or its supplies in your collection. Avoid this by washing your hands every time you leave the quarantine area. It is crucial that you maintain strict protocol when quarantining. A single parasite that has been introduce to your collection could cost you extreme amounts of money in vet bills, delayed breeding programs, and could even result in the death of one or more animals in your collection. Quarantining is very simple to do and can save you a great deal of headaches. Be vigilant and quarantine all new reptiles!
If you do find mites, take the proper steps to avoid having it move to other animals. Many of us use Provent-a-mite if we believe an animal may be infested. It can be purchased many places, such as at LLL Reptiles on-line. They have a video which describes the process at http:// www.lllreptile.com/products/391-provent-a-mite Proper quarantine procedures should ALWAYS be used when introducing a new animal into your collection! This includes enclosures, furnishings, substrate, cleaning materials, feeding tools, and YOU!
September 2016
Volume 36 Number 9
Quarantine Suggestions (Editor’s Note—this was run last month as well, but we consider this to be such an important topic we are running it again) Miller, R.E. 1996. Quarantine protocols and preventive medicine procedures for reptiles, birds and mammals in zoos. Rev. Sci. Tech 15(1): 183-189 QUARANTINE PERSONNEL Ideally, a keeper should be designated to care only for quarantined animals; otherwise, a keeper should attend quarantined animals only after fulfilling responsibilities for resident species. Equipment used to feed and clean animals in quarantine should be used only with these animals. If this is not possible, then equipment must be cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant (as designated by the veterinarian supervising quarantine) before use with post-quarantine animals. Institutions must take precautions to minimize the risk of exposure of animal handling personnel to zoonotic diseases which may be present in newly-acquired animals. These precautions should include the use of disinfectant footbaths, the wearing of appropriate protective clothing and masks (in some cases), and minimizing physical exposure in some species (e.g. with primates, by the use of chemical rather than physical restraint). A programme of tuberculin testing and surveillance must be established for zoo/aquarium employees, to ensure the health of both the employees and the animal collection. QUARANTINE PROTOCOL During the quarantine period, certain prophylactic measures should be instituted. Individual faecal samples, or representative samples from large numbers of individuals housed in a limited area (e.g. birds of the same species in an aviary or frogs in a terrarium), should be collected, on at least two occasions, and examined for gastrointestinal parasites. Treatment should be prescribed by the attending veterinarian. Ideally, release from quarantine should be dependent on obtaining two negative faecal results at a minimum interval of two weeks, either initially or after parasiticide treatment. In addition, all animals should be evaluated for ectoparasites and should receive appropriate treatment, if necessary. Vaccinations should be updated as appropriate for each species (1). If the animal arrives without a vaccination history, it should be treated as being immunologically naive and should be given an appropriate series of vaccinations. Whenever possible, blood should be collected and sera stored in a freezer (not frost-free) at either - 70ÅãC or - 20ÅãC. Such sera could provide an important resource for retrospective disease evaluation. The quarantine period also presents an opportunity to identify permanently all unmarked animals, when anaesthetized or restrained (e.g. tattoo, ear notch, ear tag). Also, whenever animals are restrained or immobilized, a complete physical examination, including dental examination, should be performed. Complete medical records of all animals should be kept, and should be available for consultation during the quarantine period. Necropsy should be performed, under the supervision of a veterinarian, on all animals which die during quarantine; representative tissues should be submitted for histopathological examination. QUARANTINE PROCEDURES Evaluation of faecal samples for parasites is required for each species. Ideally, at least two negative results should be obtained from samples taken with a minimum 14-day interval, although other protocols are necessary for some parasite infestations. As noted above, all appropriate vaccinations should be performed. Recommendations and suggestions for appropriate quarantine procedures for several animal groups are presented below. This is extremely important. ALWAYS work with newly acquired animals last. Rubber gloves are cheap! Discard between use (don’t try to re-use them).
Herp First Aid Emergency kits, whether they be for earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, floods or fires, share a lot of commonalities. The basics, of course, such as food and water, are mandatory. A close third is an adequately supplied first aid kit. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptiles-Magazine/The-VetReport-Herp-First-Aid-Kit-Checklist/ September 2016
Volume 36 Number 9
Online Classifieds In addition to ads in the newsletter, MHS provides online classifieds via the forums. A valid login (provided to current members) is required to both post and read ads. http://www.mnherpsoc.org/forums/members/classifieds September 2016
Volume 36 Number 9
Minnesota Herpetological Society Membership Application New
Name
Renewal
Address
Membership #
City, State, Zip
Type
Phone
List in MHS Directory? Yes No
Check # Herp related interests
Active Memberships: Sustaining ($60/year)
Contributing ($40/year) Basic ($20/year)
Corresponding Memberships: Commercial ($25/year, 2 business card ads/year) Required check info. Drivers Lic #
State
DOB
Please enclose the proper payment with your application. Make checks payable to MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Membership is for 12 months from the date of approval. A receipt will be sent only upon request. Mail To: Minnesota Herpetological Society, C/O BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 10 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing.
Rodents! Order your MHS Rodents today! Ordering by phone? See the new phone number below. Mice Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adult
Weight 2-3 grams 5-7 grams 8-11 grams 25-30 grams
Price $7/dz $7/dz $8/dz $10/dz
Rats Small Adult Med. Adults Large Adult Jumbo
Weight 50-60 grams 125-150 grams 200-240 grams 250-350 grams
Price $18/dz $22/ 10 rats $17/ 6 rats $16/ 5 rats
For pickup at monthly meetings only. Orders may be placed via: 1. At the meeting for the following month 2. Online at www.MnHerpSoc.org
Orders MUST be placed 10 days in advance of the meeting to guarantee availability. We no longer keep an inventory of rodents on hand, so if you attempt to place an order after the deadline, there is no way to fill it.
Advertising Policies MHS Ad Policy: The MHS assumes NO RESPONSIBILITY regarding the health or legality of any animal, or the quality or legality of any product or service advertised in the MHS Newsletter. Any ad may be rejected at the discretion of the Newsletter Editor. Due to space limitations, unpaid and complimentary advertisements are subject to occasional omission. Classified Ads: All active members are allowed a classified ad, run free of charge as space permits. Ads may be run three (3) consecutive months, after which time they may be resubmitted. Submissions: All advertisements should be submitted to the MHS Membership Secretary at the general meeting or mailed to: Minnesota Herpetological Society, C/O 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. Advertising Costs Size Cost Business Card Sized $5/month or $55/year* 1/4 Page $10/month or $110/year* 1/2 Page $20/month or $220/year* Full Page $40/month or $440/year*
MINNESOTA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY C/O BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 10 CHURCH STREET SE MINNNEAPOLIS, MN 55455-0104
Next Meeting:
Save the dates!
Friday September 9th - 7:00 pm Room 335 Borlaug Hall U of M St. Paul Campus
Friday September 9th—General Meeting Friday October 7th—General Meeting Friday November 4th—General Meeting & Election
MHS Voice Mail:
MHS Web Page:
612.326.6516
www.MnHerpSoc.org
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