April 2012 PNHS Newsletter

April 2012 volume 27, issue 4

Billy Graham of Rodent Pro will be speaking

about “Important Considerations for Monitors in

Captivity.”

Next Meeting:

April 15, 2012 Upcoming Events…… 2

General information……. 3

Letter from the

President………………..

4

Interesting New Ca-

nadian Snake Ab-

stracts you may

have missed..…......…...

6

Another Extinction in

the Hawaiian Islands...

8

Classifieds………………..

10

Contacts & Vets….... 11

Membership Application 12

Inside this issue:

May PNHS

Newsletter Deadline:

April 30, 2012

Pacific Northwest

Herpetological Society

Meeting Location:

Highline Community College Board Meeting 4 p.m.

2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA General Meeting: 6 p.m.

Speaker Presentation:

PNHS:

Come hear a

fascinating

presentation! Above: Sweetheart “Stewie” snuggles his owner, Chris,

while on break from his job as Reptile Ambassador at

the 2011 ECRE Photo Booth. Photo by Suyama Images.

Pa g e 2

Upcoming PNHS Events

April 15, 2012: PNHS Regular Meeting

Meeting moved one week due to the Easter holiday.

Herp-of-the-Month: “ Monitors ” ( Varanus & subspecies )

Speaker: Billy Graham of Glacier Rodents, Topic: “ Important Considera

tions for Moniitors in Captivity. ”

April 26, 2012: PNHS Outreach

Mill Creek all-day science fair. Contact your VP Brandon Winters for

more information. [email protected]

May 20, 2012: PNHS Regular Meeting

Meeting moved one week due to Mother ’ s Day.

Herp-of-the-Month: “ Amphibians ”

Speaker: Jennifer B. Pramuk, Ph.D., Curator, Woodland Park Zoo

June 1st, 2012: PNHS ECRE Set-up

Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, noon—? Contact ECRE Volunteer Coordi

nator, Geoff Sweet, for more information. [email protected]

June 2—3, 2012: Emerald City Reptile Expo

Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

Come be a part

of our biggest

show ever!

Saturday: 10 a.m. —6 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m.—4 p.m.

Spotlight: “ Conservation and

Education ”

Daily Shows: Dave Colburn of

“ P redators of the Heart ”

General Information

The Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society (PNHS) is a non-profit organi-

zation registered with the State of Washington. PNHS is dedicated to the

education of its members and the public, as well as the conservation, ecol-

ogy, and captive care and breeding of reptiles and amphibians. The society

also takes an active role in legislative and environmental issues affecting

these animals and their habitats.

Meeting Information

PNHS holds its general meeting on the second Sunday of every month

(with exceptions for holidays) at 6:00pm at Highline Community College in

Des Moines, Building 12 Room 101. The Board meeting begins at 4:00pm.

Doors open at 5:30. Other business and socialization occurs between 5:30

and 6; then the General Meeting starts. Meetings are open to the public,

and the society encourages anyone with an interest in herpetology to at-

tend. Please purchase a membership to show your support for the society.

Animal Donations

Looking to adopt, release an animal or donate cages and equipment?

Please contact the Adoptions Committee by email at adop-

[email protected], or by voicemail at 206- 583-0686. We will contact you

and make arrangements.

Other Donations

The Adoption Committee receives minimal financial support from the Soci-

ety, so donations of money, food, cages, and equipment are always needed

and appreciated. Please contact the Adoption Chair to make a donation.

Adoptions

To adopt an animal that is in the care of the Committee, you must be pre-

sent at the meeting, be a current member (of at least one month), and be

over 18 years of age or have parental consent. For more details see the

web site or contact the Adoption Chair.

Newsletter Information

A monthly newsletter absorbs the lion’s share of the price of a PNHS mem-

bership. In order to keep it interesting, we encourage contribution of origi-

nal articles, book reviews, letters, ads, and cartoons for publication.

Items for incorporation into articles are also welcome, though with no guar-

antee of their use. Submissions may be sent to the Newsletter Committee

or to the Society through the contacts listed on the following page.

Editorial Policy

The views expressed in this publication are solely the views of the authors

and not necessarily the views of the Society, its members, or the Newsletter

Committee. The Newsletter Committee reserves the right to edit all submis-

sions including advertisements.

General information &

guidelines

re PNHS’ Monthly Meetings

are a great place to learn

something new, purchase

feeders at a discount, and

meet new people

V o l . 2 7 N o . 4 Pa g e 3

Above: Both Green Tree Python

Photos courtesy of the Adams’

Family.

Letter from the President By Brenda Huber Vol. 27, No.4

Continued...

The largest expo of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, the

“Emerald City Reptile Expo,” (“ECRE”) is officially at T—2 months and counting.

Your ECRE Event Coordinator, Norm Hill, your PNHS Board of Directors, your ECRE

Show Committee, along with Paula and Giovanni Fagioli of the Bean Farm (and

Marco, of course,) as well as yours truly have been hard at work behind the scenes to

bring you this unprecedented Seattle Center event.

Why is your participation important?

The ECRE is PNHS’ main fundraiser for the year. The funds received from the success

of the ECRE are used directly for :

- PNHS’ general operating costs;

- the cost of PNHS’ rescue program (which includes food, caging and sup-

plies, and veterinary care and medicine for rescued herps;) and

- PNHS’ involvement in supporting reptile and amphibian conservation and

causes, both locally, nationally, and across the globe.

The more successful the ECRE, the more herps PNHS can help.

Time flies when you’re having fun...

PNHS Rescue Program’s

Surgical Success Stories:

Left: “Pumpkin,” the

Bearded Dragon, came in

with severe prolapsed re-

quiring surgery.

Right: “Missy,” the Veiled

Chameleon, would have

died from eggbinding with-

out lifesaving surgery.

V o l . 2 7 , N o . 4 Pa g e 5

- Brenda Huber, PNHS President

Letter From The President Continued….

ECRE “Event Day”

volunteers receive:

Free show admission for the

entire day (a $10.00 value);

Parking vouchers (limited

number so first come, first

served… Volunteer ASAP);

Free food & drink, and access

to the event “Staff Only” lounge;

A souvenir ECRE 2012

“STAFF” t-shirt; and

A limited-edition ECRE sou-

venir pen and notebook by local

RHL artists.

I’ve got my eye on you!

Above: The “Ecre Eye” logo cre-

ated by the talented Mark Ely.

Www.MarkElyDesign.com

Want to help?

If you would like to assist PNHS with the ECRE in

any way, please send me an email.

[email protected] We welcome any

amount of time you can donate, from five minutes

of “spreading the word” on your social media sites,

to an hour’s worth of folding show programs or

stuffing gift bags at your convenience in your own

home, to the actual set-up on June 1st, and finally,

to the on-floor staffing of this major event June 2nd

and June 3rd. We’d love for you to join us as we

highlight herpetology during Seattle’s “Science and

Technology” month-long celebration.

Have you seen the Emerald City Reptile Expo’s

stunning new website? Mad props go to the

wonderful people of Capitol Media for gener-

ously creating such a web masterpiece.

Check it out!

Www.EmeraldCityReptileExpo.com

V o l . 2 7 , N o . 4

Reptile Conservation: Great Basin Gopher Snakes

By Williams, Hodges & Bishop

Small reserves around hibernation sites may not adequately

protect mobile snakes: the example of the Great Basin Gopher

Snakes, Pituophis catenifer deserticola in British Columbia, Canada.

Authors: Williams, K.E.1; Hodges, K.E.1; Bishop, C.A.2 Source: Canadian Journal of Zool-

ogy, Volume 90, Number 3, February 2012 , pp. 304-312(9)

Publication date: 2012-02-16

A common strategy for reptile conservation is to establish reserves

around nesting or hibernation sites. The government of British Colum-

bia, Canada, mandates protection of 200-300 hectares for wildlife habi-

tat areas (WHAs) around hibernation sites of the federally threatened

Great Basin Gopher Snakes, Pituophis catenifer deserticola, but practical con-

straints result in a mean size of 193 hectares. To evaluate the efficacy of

this reserve size, we radio-tracked 39 adult Gopher Snakes at four study

sites in the Okanagan Valley in 2006 and 2007. Home ranges averaged

10.5 ± 1.7 hectares. The maximum distance trav-

eled from a hibernation site was 2400 meters,

whereas the maximum distance dispersed averaged

520 ± 65 meters.

An idealized circular WHA of 193 hectares with

the hibernation site at the centre would be large

enough to contain Gopher Snake home ranges, but

the dispersal data show that only 85% of snakes would stay within that

area. Small or asymmetrical WHAs likely protect even fewer Gopher

Snake locations. We recommend that WHAs be expanded if possible be-

cause the high mobility of Gopher Snakes suggests that current reserves

may not offer adequate protection.

Reprinted with permission from Herp Digest, Vol. 12, Issue 16, 4/5/12.

“WHA?” Do you know what

this abbreviation

stands for?

Pa g e 7

Seasonal Cues: Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes

By Gienger & Beck

Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes, (Crotalus oreganus) use ther-

mal and structural cues to choose overwintering hibernacula

Authors: Gienger, C.M.; Beck, Daniel D.; Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology,

Volume 89, Number 11, October 2011 , pp. 1084-1090(7)

“Hibernacula,” or the shelter of a hibernating animal, play an important

role in the ecology of high-latitude snakes, and ally denning species may

occupy their hibernacula for half the year or more. Because of the long

duration spent at hibernacula, such sites can provide multiple benefits to

snakes including shelter from lethal overwinter conditions, social opportu-

nities, and basking sites important in thermoregulation. Adequate hiberna-

cula seem to be limited on the landscape and individuals travel several

kilometers to use and reuse specific sites. We investigate orientation, physi-

cal structure, and thermal properties of sites used as hibernacula by

Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes, Crotalus oreganus, and compare them with

random sites that appear to be similar but were not used for hibernation.

Hibernacula occurred primarily on south-facing talus slopes, were oriented

on less-steep slopes, and were composed of rocks that were intermediate

in size to randomly occurring sites. Our results suggest that the orientation

and physical composition of hibernacula allow them to be stable over

time, allowing snakes to repeatedly locate the sites, as well as providing

predictable overwinter refuge. Hibernacula were also warmer on the sur-

face than north-facing random sites and provided increased basking op-

portunities for snakes thermo-regulating in early spring after

emergence from hibernation.

Reprinted with permission from Herp Digest, Vol. 12, Issue 16, 4/5/12.

Vol. 27, No. 4

P a g e 8

Vol. 27, No. 4

Another Vertebrate Species Reported Extinct

From the Hawaiian Islands

A species of lizard is now extinct from the Hawaiian Is-

lands. The following is worth reading as an example of

“cryptic extinction” and as an example that a once common

species can go extinct.

The copper striped blue-tailed skink (Emoia impar) -- a sleek lizard with

smooth, polished scales and a long, sky-blue tail -- was last confirmed in

the Na'Pali coast of Kauai in the 1960’s. But repeated field surveys on

Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawai'i islands from 1988 to 2008 have yielded

no sightings or specimens.

"No other landscape in these United States has been more impacted by

extinction events and species invasions in historic times than the Hawai-

ian Islands, with as yet unknown long-term cascading consequences to

the ecosystem," said U.S. Geological Survey director Marcia McNutt.

"Today, we close the book on one more animal that is unlikely to ever be

re-established in this fragile island home."

"This skink was once common throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and in

fact the species can still be found on many other island groups in the

tropical Pacific," says Robert Fisher, a biologist with the USGS Western

Ecological Research Center. "That's what makes this extinction so in-

triguing: if an otherwise common animal can be completely extirpated

from one island ecosystem but not others, then what does that tell us?"

ScienceDaily March 31, 2012

Continued...

Pa g e 9

Another Herp Extinction

Continued…

Fisher and colleague Ivan Ineich of the Muséum national d'Histoire

naturelle in Paris announced their findings on E. impar this month in the

international conservation journal "Oryx," published by Fauna and Flora

International.

Small animals like this skink are prone to what Fisher and Ineich call

"cryptic extinction" -- when a species is easily confused with similar spe-

cies that their extinction can go unnoticed for decades.

“The extinction of native Hawaiian bird species is well documented,

partly because their presence and sounds had been so distinctive to hu-

mans," says Ineich, who is also a researcher with the French National

Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). "But without regular field sur-

veys, we tend to overlook the disappearances of smaller, secretive spe-

cies, along with the causes of their extinction."

While the exact causes of the skink's Hawaiian extinction is unclear,

Fisher and Ineich note that island extinctions around the world often

share similar factors, such as the loss of habitat due to uncontrolled hu-

man development. Another is competition or predation from invasive

species accidentally or intentionally introduced through human migration

and activity.

"There's some evidence that an invasive ant was preying on these skinks,"

Fisher says. "That's a new factor we'll need to examine as we look out for

other at-risk species in the Pacific islands."

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by U.S. Geological

Survey.

Vol. 27, No. 4

Classifieds

Join the Global Gecko Association Today!

The GGA is a six year old international organization dedicated to the needs of all people interested in geckos.

Members receive the twice-yearly, full-color journal, “Gekko”, plus “Chit-Chat”, our quarterly newsletter.

Annual Membership is $32 US, $34 Canada/Mexico, $36 Overseas.

Email: [email protected] (503)-436-1064 or www.gekkota.com

Pa g e 1 0

Advertise in the PNHS Newsletter!

Business Card .............................$5

Quarter Page................................$10

Half Page ....................................$15

Full Page .....................................$25

If you would like to place an ad

in the PNHS newsletter, please contact:

[email protected]

GET PUBLICITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

& SUPPORTING PNHS!

Feeder Insects & Rodents

I have superworms, giant mealworms, and lots more!Plus, I now carry frozen rodents.

Order in advance: special pricing for PNHS

members,,as well as quantity discounts!

For pick up and PNHS meeting delivery.

Jennifer Sronce (425) 750-0477

[email protected]

Bean Farm’s Creative Habitats

Slide-Top Aquariums

Various sizes available.

We can deliver the cages to the meetings, as well as any other item from the Bean Farm catalogue.

Please contact us by the Friday before the meeting in order for items to be delivered. Thank you!

Paula & Giovani Fagioli (877) 708-5882

Email: [email protected]

www.beanfarm.com

For Sale: Radiated Tortoises 3 yearling females (sexed via endoscopy)

Studbook Registered

$2,000.00 each or 3 for $5,500.00

1 large male (weighs 29 lbs.) $4,500.00

1 young adult male $4,000.00

Out-of-state sale only to CBW Permit holder

Contact: (206) 363-0162 [email protected]

Contact Information

PNHS

P.O. Box 27542 Adoptions:206-583-0686

Seattle, WA 98165 Email: [email protected]

www.pnwhs.org General information: 206-628-4740

Area Representatives

N King & Snohomish Brenda Huber 206-334-7168 [email protected]

S King & Pierce Dale Drexler 253-606-4328 [email protected]

Greater Seattle Aimee Kenoyer 206-200-1240 [email protected]

Peninsula, Island Troy Barnhatt

Oregon Elizabeth Freer 503-436-1064 [email protected]

Officers for 2012

President Brenda Huber [email protected]

Vice President Brandon Winter [email protected]

President-Elect Rachel Shirk [email protected]

Treasurer Dale Drexler [email protected]

Secretary Teresa Montoya [email protected]

Membership Secretary Geoff Sweet [email protected]

Members-At-Large Ted Adams [email protected]

David Brunnelle [email protected] Carol Dean [email protected]

Matt Lee [email protected]

Julie Sharkey [email protected]

Adoptions Coordinator Rachel Shirk [email protected]

Event Coordinator Norm Hill [email protected]

Newsletter Editor Marian Huber [email protected]

Webmaster Geoff Sweet [email protected]

Find us on

FACEBOOK!

V o l . 2 7 , N o . 4 Pa g e 1 1

Recommended EXOTIC VETS

Dr. Tracy Bennett

Dr. Daniel Lejnieks

Bird & Exotic Clinic of Seattle

4019 Aurora Ave. N.

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(206) 783-4538

www.birdandexotic.com

Dr. Elizabeth Kamaka

Kamaka Exotic Animal Vet-

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Dr. Adolf Maas

The Center For Bird & Exotic

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11401 NE 195th St.

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(425) 486-9000

www.avianandexoticanimalhospit

al..com

To join PNHS, please print & complete the following application,

enclose your yearly or multi-yearly membership fee and return to:

PNHS Membership Secretary

P.O. Box 27542

Seattle, WA 98165

Membership applications and fees may also be received at the monthly meetings by the Membership Secretary. With your yearly or multi-year membership fee you will receive the monthly PNHS E-Newsletter, access to membership pricing for adoption ani-mals, and the opportunity to participate in the many outreaches and special “Members Only” events held throughout the year.

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Above: Kids are

intent on every-

thing Board Mem-

ber Geoff Sweet

has to say at an

outreach in Duvall,

2005.

April 2012 PNHS Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of April 2012 PNHS Newsletter