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NEWS LEITER VoL 17No.12· ·DECEMBER1997.····

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MI-I5 Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12

News, Notes & Announcements Upcoming Meeting Highlights The Vice-President's Report By Barbara Buzicky Radanke

January Program: Remarkable Reptiles

Guest Speaker: James Gerholdt

This month's speaker will be one of our MHS members who gives a wonderful talk about reptiles and amphibians. He has been with our club for many years. In his talk, he will give an overview of the wonders of herpetology. He will have many slides about the animals. His talk is one he has been doing for years for the school system and other educational facilities. He is a dynamic speaker, and the talk will entertain all who come to the next general meeting.

I am looking for to hearing him talk and have a large turnout of our membership. The holidays will be over and what a way to keep the energy rolling. Jim has been very active in our society and has worked with reptiles for many years. He has many fascinating stories to tell. So everyone, please WelcOllle our speaker.

Please bring your families and friends especially those that just aren't too sure about what we do at our meetings. Also, you can bring those people who may be interested in joining, but just need a little more of a push to join us.

Thanks so much for attending the general meetings, we have been averaging at least 100 or more people at every meeting. Let's come and have fun.

See you all at the next meeting!! BAR

Get Ready for the Photo Contest There will be four categories:

Herps in a Natural Setting Herps with People Photographs by professional photographers Miscellaneous styles

Entries must be: 1. 4"X6", 5I11 X7''' J 8" Xl au mounted on

cardboard no larger than 11"x14". Framed prints are discouraged.

2. turned in by the Ianuary 9th meeting or post marked no later than December 31, 1997.

3. identified on the back with the entrants name, address, and category. Do Not place names on the front of the prints.

Members may submit up to five prints. Entries will be returned at the February meeting or by mail if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Winners will be determined by popular vote during the February General Meeting.

Contact Michelle Hewitt (935-5845) for further information concerning the contest

Notice: The January Meeting wiII be one week later on January 9, 1998.

Location: BOrlaug Hall, Room 335, U of M. 51. Paul Campus 7:00pm

~~A? OUTOr bt!f r;-! +1iRPPY WINTER 50LSTICt+·

1

MHS Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12

Presidential Pabulum By George Richard - MHS President

Well by now Pm sure the holiday's are in full swing for all of you and I hope you're all enjoying (or at least surviving) it. I'd like to thank Sarah Richard, Roger Statz and Barb Radanke for organizing the MHS Holiday party and all the volunteers who helped out by decorating, rearranging furniture, cleaning up, rearranging furniture, setting up and serving the food, rearranging furniture and celebrating. It was a great party, with an excellent slide presentation by Dr. Grier and a great time was had by all.

Now despite popular acclaim (and in a bold effort to fill ou t the column) here's a light look at one of our family holiday traditions.

Tlvas a Holiday evening and all through the house, not a boa was stirring, (They'd all just had mouse).

The Tokay was plastered, on the side of the glass, watching for crickets (to increase her mass)

The Leopard's below her looked out with glee mentally chanting, Me, Feed Me!!

So we gathered some crickets, with a few extra bugs, the chameleons would eat em' those elastic tongued lugs.

with a couple of pinkies for the monitors too, and for all the humans a glass of fine bre"w.

We open the cages and watch them all leap, the food chain in action (for the third time this week)

The Leopards like hunting and so does the Toad, Half the fun in eating when your blood runs cold

The Iguana's eat salads (no dressing for me), and the Prehensile Skink just some leaves from the tree.

So we feed all the Herps and watch as they feast, a small holiday pleasure for both man and beast.

This poems almost over (thank goodness it's through) Writing a monthly column's not easy to do.

Merry Chrishnas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanza, Blessed Solstice, Happy New Year And Haoov Hero'n to all !! G W. Richard 2

December's "Critter of the Month"

Brian Ingbretson Giant Blue-tailed Day Gecko Tattous otlskiWlius

Janell Osborn Common Green Iguana Iguana iguana

metabolic bone disease- euthanized

Help A Hapless Herp

Finding homes this month were:

2 Ball Pythons 1 African Rock Python 1 Burmese Python

a total of 4 animals found good homes

Still needing a home:

1 Red-eared Slider

For everyone who applied for animals, Thanks

Refreshments

No one contributed this month.

Raffle Donors

Marilyn & Randy BIasus Jewelry, tattoos, stickers

White Snake Sale NOW's the time to start collecting items for the

White Snake Sale.

This is one of the major fund raisers for the Society. Items to be auctioned may include herpetoiogically oriented merchandise, new and used equipment, books, artwork, T-shirts, etc. Take advantage of the New Year to reorganize your "herp dream room" and donate your extras to the Society. The money raised goes a long way to supporting our programs.

Election Notice

The Annual Meeting of the Mitmesota Herpetological Society wiII be held March 6, 1998.

The elections for the Board of Directors will take place during this meeting.

MHS Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12

General Meeting Review Salmonella in Snakes Speaker: Dr. James Grier

Dr. James Grier is an ornithologist by training but wears more than one hat at North Dakota State University where he also teaches herpetology and maintains a collection of a large variety of reptiles from around the world. Although the collection is deepest in the areas of rat snakes, king snakes, and rattlesnakes, there are specimens from all families of reptiles. In addition to their use in teaching the stndents, the collection is used to demonstrate the diversity found in reptiles to 800 to 1,000 visitors each year. The local National Guard comes to visit when they are assigned overseas to get an idea of the animals they are likely to encounter when they get there.

Two snakes died in 1992 and the necropsies showed that both had salmonella. While it was not clear if this was the cause of the deaths, the fact that they were both infected concerned Jim and this to several stndies on the prevalence of this type of bacteria and what can be done to prevent and/or control infestations.

Salmonella is a gram negative, straight rod bacteria that was named in 1900 after D.E. Salmon, an American bacteriologist. There are over 2,000 types/strains/species found in all types of animals and many different environments.

The first study concerned the consistency of results from samples from different sources and handled in different ways. Five samples were taken from each of four sources and tested at NDSU and by an independent lab. The five sets of samples of each source were handled differently prior to testing to determine the effects on the consistency of the tests. The first set was tested immediately, the second was mailed to another site and retnrned, the third was held at NDSU until the second set retnrned by mail, the fourth Was held for two days at the lab before testing, and the fifth was frozen for two days. All analysis of samples was done blindly, the tester did not know the source of the sample being tested. The result was that handling of specimens had little effect on the results and all results from tests done at NDSU were confirmed by the independent lab.

In the second set of tests, samples from several sources and sitnations were tested at NDSU and by the independent lab to determine the prevalence of the bacteria. Sources included water bowls, cage bottoms and sides, door knobs, fecal samples, and the NDSU freezer collection of reptiles. The results

3

By Bruce Haig Recording Secreta!)

showed that the mouse colony had no salmonella but a multi-unit display cage that had not been used for six months tested positive. Interesting ( and slightly scary), the local hospital lab did not find salmonella in any of the samples while an independent lab confirmed all of the results from the tests by NDSU.

Of the 43 snakes tested, 34 or 88% where carrying salmonella and the serotypes included some that are pathogeniC to man. Salmonella was found in freshly caught wild prairie rattlesnakes, on shed snake skins, and in private collections. Other bacteria found included pseudomonas, e. coli, proteus, streptococcus, and others.

In 1995, Jim stndied the degree of contamination encountered during reptile handling at the school lab. Samples taken from lab surfaces and stndent's hands before the class showed no contamination. After the class, samples from two people's hands and from two out of four tabletops tested positive. One stndent's hands still tested positive after washing but Jim wasn't sure how thoroughly they were washed.

Jim reconunends that herpetologists: • Take care in handling and husbandry to

avoid cross-contamination and minimize shess,

• Wash hands between touching animals, • Clean equipment containers, etc. with a

disinfectant before the animals come in contact 'with them,

• Discard all uneaten food rather than giving it to other animals,

(I Quarantine all new or sick animals, and • Use caution when visiting other people's

collections and when other people visit yours.

All new animals at the NDSU are quarantined at least three months before they are brought into the room with the rest of the collection.

If you get sick, depending on the strain you may be sick a few days before it resolves itself. People who have to be most concerned are those with weak or undeveloped immune systems such as the elderly and infants. If you take antibiotics, you may be placing yourself at risk of a clostridium infestation, which can be a more serious problem. Clostridium is a common bacteria that is highly resistant to antibiotics and is usually kept in check by other bacteria which may be destroyed by the antibiotics allowing it to multiply out of control.

MHS Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12 4~~

VITA -MORTEM REPORT A Medical/Education Report by Dr. Janell Osborn, DVM

Being the first article of a new regular feature of your newsletter, I would like to take this space to introduce myself to those of you who don't yet know me. In the future, this space will be used more to let you in on what has happened to unadoptable herps, what education they have been a part of, and to answer some of the questions I've seen coming up on the Reptile/Amphibian listserve on my computer; or frequent medicaljhusbandry questions I am hearing from MHS members and the public.

I am a member of the Adoption Committee and also the Pet trade/Iguana Committee (yes, my name is at the bottom of the position paper), so if you have any comments or ideas in that area I would like to know. On the adoption committee, I am primarily working with triage and medical management of Herps brought in for surrender. This article space will focus mostly on what is happening with those herps deemed not adoptable when surrendered (medical and/ or behavioral reasons) or not adopted after three offers at the monthly meetings.

I am a recent graduate of the UN. of MN. College of Veterinary Medicine. I have been a member of the MHS for 2 years and have been dabbling with herps for about 4 yrs (unless you count the snakes, skinks, and turtles I played with as a child and those that my own children brought in over the years). I started my hobby more seriously about 4 yrs ago with a couple of PFW "throw-away" hatchling iguanas a classmate gave me. My son started me in on helping with a corn snake he bought and I have had two African Clawed Frogs for some time (got eggs, but lost them in tadpole stage due to inexperience). I now have, under my personal care and jurisdiction: an African Royal ("Ball") Python, Aesculapius; a South American Iguana, Agatha Christi (who turns out to be male but I'm not telling "her" that); a Solomon lsI. Prehensile-tailed Skink, Sebastian; and two Australian Blue-Tongue Skinks, Cornelius and Rhapsody. I also have two cats and a ferret who have claimed me and presently call my space theirs-down from several other furry and feathered creatures I have lived with over the years). I have a small animal background and emphasized in large animal clinical training (mostly horses and herd health) my senior year of school - and tell me that an 83lb Python is not a large animal!

4

Herpetological medicine is not yet a part of Vet. school curriculum so I have devoted the last 2 years to learning what I can on the exotics through seminars and conferences. I have decided to devote the next 2 years to expanding this knowledge and presently am starting a HOUSE CALL VETERINARY SERVICE in the metro area (although last week I found myself in Long Prairie, MN. and this week will be visiting an iguana in Moose Lake, MN.). My emphasis is primarily on Herps, but fuzzy critters always add diversity-and those of you with horses may find me willing to negotiate for riding time!!!

I do not like to "euthanize" animals. I became a veterinarian to extend lives and improve quality of life. However, I also believe that if we can learn something to help other critters not die, then the life given up has not been in vain. In other words, I do my best to see that every herp (primarily overabundant iguanas-many with husbandry maladies) that must be euthanized is able to contribute to the education of herpetological medicine. Part of my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Oath, is to do no harm. Therefore, all euthanization is done in a humane manner and the creatures are treated with the same respect and care I would give my own wards.

All creatures up for adoption that have gone through my hands have a medical file started which is available on request at the time of adoption. I will tell you what I know of them. Please bear in mind that many of their histories are sketchy. Many times it is not the original owner surrendering, but a default caregiver who can or will no longer give care to the herp. Often, I have found that the person who became the caregiver did so out of care for the creature but often without adequate knowledge to care correctly. And, yes, many of the iguanas were purchased with inadequate instructions as to their needs and the owner became frustrated in dealing with the subsequent maladies and behaviors.

Dr. Jallell OsbOn!, DVM (612) 599-5476 JOSDVM@ao1.com

By the way, I do give discounts to MHS members on Collection Visits - just call the above number for a Home Visit Collection AppOintment.

MHS Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12

1997 Midwest Herpetological Symposium Wrap-up

By Bill Moss, Symposium Co-Chair

As you all know, Mitmesota hosted the Thirteenth Midwest Herpetological Symposium this past October. I am very proud to announce that by virtually all accounts, it was a tremendous success. All weekend long, I was listening to complements from conference attendees. Once again, MHS reinforced it's reputation as a innovative and active organization.

The only wayan event such as this can be successful is through the combined efforts of a lot of people with varied talents. We are fortunate to have a lot of people with varied talents in MHS. We are also fortunate to have a membership that is willing to get involved and help out. I have never been involved with an organization that has such a high percentage of volunteerism. It really showed at the symposium. People from other societies asked how we got so many people to help out with the symposium. I said we just asked them.

We also had a number of people donate some very nice items to the Saturday night auction. This auction was very successful. It was run very smoothly thanks to the coordination between John Moriarty and Marilyn Blasus. Eric Thiss and Jim Gerholdt did a great job as auctioneers and of course our local Vinnie's and Vanna's did a great job getting the items out into the crowd.

Here are some of the numbers from the symposium:

Total registrations: 292 Full registrations: 240 Number of Friday night walk-ins: approx. 300 Number attending banquet: 140 Total $ from the Auction: $3300 Total $ from the Symposium: $ Final tally is not compiled yet.

As I said before, there were many people involved in putting this thing together and many more that helped out during the event. 1 just want to take a little space here and recognize the major contributors. These are people who donated significant time to this for about the last year and a half Or so.

Marilyn Blasus Randy Blasus Liz Boseman Bruce Haig Nancy Haig Michele Hewitt Sean Hewitt John Levell John Moriarty Eric Thiss Mark Webber

Registration, Planning Planning, General Help Symposium Co-Chair Hotel Selection and Marketing Planning, General Help Signs, General Help Signs, Name tags and Planning Speakers Auction Vendors Graphics and "T" shirt design

In addition to the above, there were many of you who helped out during the symposium. Your help was essential to the smooth operation of the symposium.

In closing, MHS did itself proud this year. Lets continue to support the Midwest Symposiums in the future, no matter where they are.

5

MHS Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12

Contributions from the Membership

Last newsletter there was a paragraph omitted -from Dr. James Grier article "The Odyssey of a Philippine Wolf Snake." Dr Grier graciously referred to this as a computo and supplied the missing paragraph. I was given the accompanying cartoon at the December meeting and thought it appropriate. The correction should read:

We landed at Minneapolis. UnforhmatelYI my flight from Seattle arrived at a different concourse than the next flight, to Fargo. That meant that, at that time, 1 had to go through security checks again!

y S'1l1 E f'\ .-'i

mROR /

I went through the line and the security person was checking all the bags manually} in addition to the x-ray machine. VVhen asked what was in the container, 1 said a snake. The woman said she needed to check with the airlines, so she called in an airline representative. That person,. also a woman, said she saw no problem with it but wrote down my name just in case they needed to get back to me, 1 proceeded to the gate and Waited. The flight was delayed for a late pilot" but was ready to depart and people started boarding. Just before I got on the plane, an announcement was made over the PA system, "Or. Grier please come to the service desk." When I went there" 1 was told 1 could not take the snake onto the plane.

r asked the woman behind the desk why and she said I would have to talk to the pilot. He was just coming down the concourse; late. He would not look at me or talk to me directly but told the service counter woman that when the office had asked him whether a snake could come on 1:xx1rd, he was not in favor of it. He said he was responsible for safety and" in case the snake got out or others became aware of it, he did not want other passengers panicking at 3O)X}{) feet. He had also asked the stewardesses their opinion and they had all voted against it.

) \ Copies of the corrected article as well as Dr. Grier's handouts will be available at the January Meeting.

The following cartoon was also submitted, regarding the current newspaper articles on deformed frogs.

t=::D P1SCWi~ «> 1997 R<xhe1ler PO'1t·~tI1 Co., llC

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W~ICom~ • 11)

M \t\{\~S ota \0,000 c{iffmntl'l shap~d frog s

6

MHS Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12

M.H.S. Business

December Board of Directors Meeting By Bruce Haig, Recording Secretary

Treasurer's Report of November 1997 Prepared by Marilyn Brooks Blasus

The MHS Board of Directors met briefly on December 6, 1997 at the U of M Student Union. A quorum was present.

The MHS budget for 1998 was presented and approved by the board. It will be published in the January newsletter.

The cash surplus of $9,470 from the Midwest Herpetological Symposium exceeded everyone's expectations. $7,100 (75%) will be donated to conservation programs as was decided before the symposium. The first donation of $1,000 was approved to help sponsor a symposium on blanding's turtles in April. The remainder of the donations will be determined in January and February, 1998. Randy Blasus is maintaining a list of all suggestions and requests.

The society will purchase its general liability insurance through the U of M in 1998. The insurer is the same company that the MHS is currently covered by but we will get a better policy at a lower cost by joining with a larger group.

Roger Statz volunteered to put the MHS meetings on the U of M's online events calendar. There is no cost but Roger will have to attend an orientation session.

Beginning checkbook balance:

Income: Membership: Raffle Sales Rodent Sales Donations Fines Others(h.banquet)

Total income:

Expense: Newsletter Misc. prt./post. Program Library Supplies Refreshments Sales costs Donation Other (+ Midwest)

Total Expense: Net income/ (loss)

Ending checkbook balance:

465.00 42.25 99.00

627.00 2,169.80

3.00 85.00

426.90 0.00

50.00 35.00 0.00

12.64 324.00

0.00 603.20

Funds allocated to unpaid expenses Funds available

14,955.68

3,491.05

1,439.10 2,051.95

17,007.63 7,200.00 9,807.63

Presented: Recording Secretary Report and Treasurers Report.

Conservation fund balance 236.15

MHS Coming Events

Note Later Dates for January Meetings January 9, 1998 MRS General Meeting, Guest Speaker: James Gerhold!, Program: Remarkable Reptiles.

335 Borlaug Hall, U of M, st. Paul Campus, 7:00p.m. January 10, 1998 MRS Board of Directors Meeting. U of M Student Union, St. Paul Campus 7:00 p. m.

February 4, 1998 White Snake Sale and Photo Contest

March 6, 1998 MRS Annual Meeting and General Elections , Hands On

January 24, 1998 Senior retirement Center, Mpls, details later January 31, 1998 School for the Gifted and Talented in Sf. Paul

Contact Sean Hewitt (612) 935-5845 for further information of Hands On events.

7

MHS Newsletter Volume 17 Number 12

Classified Advertisements 1.0.0 = male, 0.1.0 = feITh-lie, 0.0.1 = un<7eXed, cb "" captive bred, oix);; or best offer

For Sale: Classified ads are free to the membership. Deadline is the night of the general meeting to be included in the next newsletter. Contact Nancy Haig 434-8684 to leave ad or mail to: ~1HS Editor, Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 ChlU\:h St., SE, NlirmeapoHst MN, 55455

Don't know what to do with that Christmas money you got?- Get a snake! '97 baby red & black cornsnakes '97 baby Pueblan milksnakes '97 baby nigriteus - very little white 2 yr. old pueblan milksnake 3 yr. old nigriteus (Mexican Black Kingsnake) Adult pair of Sinaloan Milksnakes Call Ann 489-7853

0.1.0 Bearded Dragon: June '95 hatch, very healthy, good temperment. $150 or offer. 1.0.0 Girdled Lizard: unknown age, nice small display lizard. $15. Michael 754-8241

0.0.4 Bullsnakes, Pi tllopliis meiallolellcus, cb Sept 3, 1997, feeding on pinkies. $20.00 each. Contact Gordon Merck (612) 531-8256

(Cliamaeieo calyptratlls), Veiled Chameleons, hatched Oct. 97,- Males & Females, very healthy- Guaranted. $40.00 each. Contact Vern 428-4625

Brazilian Rainbow Boas, Epicmtes c. cmcliria, born 21 November 1997, well-started. $200. Steph Porter (612) 690-2589

2 yr. old Red-foot tortoise $150/ (obo) 1.1 adult snow corns $200. 1.1 adult ghost corns $200. Call to see what other phases of corns I got for sale, too. Can 1- 800- 627-3529 and have them ask for Marty at (507) 334-0463.

Taiwan Beauty Ratsnakes, Elaplie taerilmls friesi, cb 9/97. Healthy, feeding on frozen mice. $65.00 each. Paul Turley (612) 930-9516

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

dJ -~ English Spot Dutch

Jim's Rabbit Shack

Polish

Where Spots Are Tops

JIM DALUGE 8700 Jaber Ave. N.E. Monticello. MN 55362

(612) 295·2818 8

Wanted:

Members to Run for Board of Directors Positions

President Vice-president Recording Secretary Membership Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor Member-at large ( 5 positions)

Duties include attendance at monthly general meetings and board meetings. General election is held March 6, 1998, length of term is one year from March 1998 to March 1999.

Also wanted: Members for the Elections and nominating

committee. Duties involve contacting members for Board positions, presenting the list of candidates for the ballots and counting the votes on the annual election night.

Contact a Board member if you would like to run or nominate someone for one of these positions.

Renaissance Festival Goers

If you want your own costume for Renaissance Festival, contact Michelle Hewitt (935 -5845).

Orders taken from now until June. Need to prOVide all the materials or reimburse me for them. Mostly peasant. Fee based on order, costume quality.

MHS Rodent Sales N1ice

Pinkies Fuzzies Hoppers Adults

$6.00 dozen $6.00 dozen $7.50 dozen $9.00 dozen

Rats Small Pups $10.00 dozen Large Pups $15.00 dozen Adults $12.00 six

$24.00 dozen

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

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