OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BAY AREA AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SOCIETY June 2014

BEHIND BAARS

“It must be feeding time.” © Aleks Haecky

General Meeting

Friday, June 27 @ 7:30 p.m. Doors open 7:00 p.m.

Cubberley Community Center, Room M-2, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto

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CONTENTS President’s Report

Some Don’t Like Snakes

Events

Treasurer’s Report

Board & Contacts

Show Report: Alameda Fair

Editor’s Shelf

ONLINE RESOURCES OLDER NEWSLETTERS MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS East Bay Vivarium Berkeley - 10% Dr. R. Singh Veterinarian Sunnyvale - 10%

President’s Report

Hello BAARS Members and Supporters,

We have some exciting guest speakers coming up—please plan on coming to a meeting! I enjoy the meetings, since it’s

one of the few times that I can hang out with other folks who enjoy herps as much as I do! We still meet at the Cubberley

Community Center, on Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, on the 4th Friday, from January through October.

For June’s general meeting, we’ll hear from Juan Landazuri on Invertebrates: tarantulas, centipedes, others, and their

proper care and husbandry. Juan has been keeping vertebrates for over 20 years now, (after starting with black widows)

and he’ll also discuss bites and safety precautions. On June 27th, we’ll be meeting in Cubberley’s M-2; the meeting

starts at 7:30 PM.

July’s general meeting will feature Wolfgang Keil, who will be discussing reticulated pythons, subspecies, and locality

specifics. Wolfgang’s abstract does a good job of summarizing his talk:

“Despite their notoriety for size and wide distribution through highly fragmented and varying habitats including Asian

megacities, reticulated pythons have received practically no scientific attention, and virtually nothing is known about

subspecies, localities, and natural behavior. I have dedicated the last year to research and importation of reticulated

python localities. This presentation reviews and expands on what is and isn't known about this boid, enriched by

extensive photo & video material and keeper experiences.”

The July meeting is at Cubberley, in room M-2, and is on July 25th.

For August, we’ll have Turtle and Tortoise night! We encourage members to bring in interesting species, and we’ll have

some mini-presentations of the tortoises that members bring in. We’ll most likely also have a raffle and other events for

Turtle and Tortoise night.

BAARS also has several educational programs coming up, including a reptile show at Sulphur Creek Nature Center on July

26th. BAARS will also have a table at the Santa Clara County Fair – we can use help staffing tables for this event, so please

let us know if you can help!!

  Hope to see you at the meeting!!

Sincerely,

Scott Alexander, BAARS President, 2014

Cell 408-823-3675

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Some Don’t Like Snakes Text by Jeff Whitnack

I enjoy a good prank. I work at the same hospital where I recently had knee

surgery at. Before admission, I went to the House of Humor and loaded up on

gag outfits, fake bloody bandages, and fake wounds. And “armed” with these,

had a great time in the hospital. But I also purchased a realistic rattlesnake.

However, I elected to not use it, as, after leaving it on the counter at home, my

wife jumped back and screamed very frightfully. I felt bad and thought it not

wise to risk doing the same to my co-workers, having at least a thin shred of

decency

About one third of adults are “ophidiophobic”; that is, have a very profound and

robust fear reaction to snakes. It’s not just that they don’t care to be around

snakes, or have a rational fear of venom or being bitten, but rather, the very

thought of snakes, or even seeing a photo of one, arouses a strong reaction.

Some people don’t like reptiles in general, but snakes seem to be the Rodney

Dangerfield of the herp community—getting no respect. There will probably

never be a “Save the Snakes Day”. Ditto that for spiders!

The reason for why so many people have such a deep-seated fear of spiders and snakes goes way back. In fact, one of

the reasons postulated for why we primates developed the vision we have is in order to detect snakes. But once that

skill is developed, it can go beyond detection and avoidance. That base fear can perhaps flip into a focus on hunting and a

basic fascination, or even love that a predator develops towards the prey as it studies it. So next time you go herping,

remember you are tapping into an ancestral skill or trait.

One of the cardinal rules for herpers is that we not scare people with our reptiles—snakes being the prime one. Still, this

perspective can be nuanced.

Many years ago I was helping with a BAARS show at the Palo Alto Junior Zoo and Museum. As I was standing along the

entrance way, with a Pueblan Milksnake draped over my shoulders, a young woman walked by with her son in tow on

their way to visit the museum—apparently without any idea that there would be snakes there that day. The woman gave

me a terrified look, but not just a look of terror— also a bit of indignation that such a gruesome/dangerous creature was

“confronting” her. And she wasn’t looking ahead as she walked on. Ahead of her was BAARS member Charlie Mosher

with his back to her. Draped over Charlie’s shoulder was his huge boa constrictor (Editor: That would be sweet Baby),

her face pointing back towards the soon-to-be even more scared woman. She turned her gaze from me just in time to be

face to face with the face of the huge constrictor. A brief pause. She seemed to defy the laws of gravity as she rose in

the air. Now we may laugh about it to ourselves, but this woman was terrified.

Many years ago, when I was a kid living at my parents house still, I had a younger brother who had also had a huge boa

constrictor. He wanted to soak it, and so put it in “the kids’ bathroom” in a full tub of water, and then left the house to go

play. He didn’t tell our parents. My mother came home with a female friend who asked to use the bathroom. “Sure just

use the kids’ bathroom down that hall.” The snake had crawled out of the bathtub and was lying atop the sink. This lady

must have been in a hurry to sit down on the throne and didn’t notice the snake at first. Only while seated and doing her

business did it start to move and scare the bejesus out of her. She came out screaming and left. It probably defined her

day for her. Indeed to this day, she probably tells tales of that fright and looks at every new bathroom she enters VERY

carefully!

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Years ago, at a BAARS show at my kid’s elementary school, a young girl carried a small corn snake over to where her

mom was sitting with a group of moms in the shade. She put the snake into her mom’s hand in an earnest attempt to

show and share the creature she was adoring. The mother smiled and seemed genuinely appreciative. But as soon as the

girl left with the snake, the poor mother dissolved in a pit of fear and was comforted by her friends. But I’ve always

admired that woman to this day!

When it’s warm out and I’m doing yard work, I often will have one of my snakes along with me. It gives them some sun

and exercise. I let them crawl on the lawn while dead-heading flowers, watering (spraying mist on them if warm enough).

The Carpet Pythons especially, as they will just wrap around my arm or neck/shoulders as I rake, and shovel. Snakes are

predators, and in my opinion like all predators, like to go for a walk. But when we’re out in the front yard, occasionally

someone will walk by on the sidewalk. And as often as not, that person is somewhere between alarmed to petrified by

seeing my snake. That person might have the attitude that “I should be able to walk down the street and not be

frightened by serpents”. And my stance is, “I have a right to be in my yard and care for my animals”. It has never come to

a verbal stand-off as described, but I’m aware of the potential.

So perhaps the stance we should take is a sort of trifecta of respect, empathy, and private humor.

“California's drought is turning the oasis that was Overfelt Gardens into cracked clay and creating a crisis for abandoned pet turtles in the park's ponds. But because they aren't native to California, the turtles aren't getting any love from officials who decide where water goes and where it doesn't.” - San Jose Mercury News

Check out what BAARS members have to say in this article.

Read more: http://goo.gl/8x4EvT

For Sale: LARGE CAGES

Tim Cunningham, a past BAARS member, has two large cages about 4' X 4'X 8', one horizontal for large snake, with heat controls and fan, and the other upright and divided into 8 separate cages, each with it’s own ventilation and outlet. They have been stored on their covered patio, need some cleaning, have some weathering, and one 12"X12" broken door glass. Some of the cages have wheels! He also has a smaller cage that is 4' L X 2'W X 4' H; it is actually two cages made into one. He has some water bowls, climbing wood, and what he thinks is called a super system for controlling the heat and UV. Cages need to be picked up at Tim’s house in Hayward, off 880 & 238 . A significant part of the proceeds will be donated to BAARS.

Contact Tim (510-461-4717) for details.

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Events by Joanne Hiratsuka Petersen

Details are on our BAARS.org website under Shows.

Contact Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com.

June 2014

June 19 June 26 July 3 12:30 - 6 p.m.

Alameda County Fair Farm Fresh Thursdays Festival Square, The Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton, California 94566 The Alameda County Fair is committed to using the fair as a platform to educate fair attendees as well as entertain and celebrate. Farm Fresh Thursday will be showcasing Bay Area ecology and organic agriculture. We would like BAARS to participate in Farm Fresh Thursday by having your members share their pets on one or more of these Thursdays, June 19th, 26th and July 3rd. Share your love for amphibians and reptiles with thousands of fair attendees! Contact: Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com

June 27 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting >>Music Room M-2<< Speaker: Juan Landazuri START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

July 2014

July 5 4 - 8 p.m.

BAARS Board Meeting & BBQ - 2 p.m. Tania’s House. For details, contact behindBAARS@gmail.com.

July 25 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting >>Music Room M-2<< Speaker: Wolfgang Keil on Reticulated Pythons START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

July 26 11 am - 3 p.m.

Reptile Rally, Sulphur Creek Nature Center 1801 D Street, Hayward, 11 am - 3 pm Reptiles! Resilient, remarkable, and resplendent from the tip of their noses to the end of their tails. Join us as we meet up with the Bay Area Amphibian and Reptile Society (BAARS), for a rockin' good time of coming face-to-face with creatures that have endured the test of time. Bring the family and slither into an exciting day of learning about snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises. This special event is FREE! Make it a family day, bring a picnic and enjoy getting back into nature. Contact: Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com, or Pete Marshall, PMarshall@calwater.com, to say which herps you're bringing.

July 31 - August 3 noon - 7 p.m.

Santa Clara County Fair 344 Tully Rd, San Jose, California 95111 Daily from 12 noon - 7 p.m. Santa Clara County Fair with livestock and other animals (BAARS). This is a great opportunity to meet with kids and adults to show our herps! The fair is from Thursday,

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July 31st, through Sunday, August 3rd, 12 noon to 7 p.m. all days. I would like to have BAARS participate at least on Saturday/Sunday if I can get enough volunteers. We can work shifts, so you don't have to stay all day! Please bring your pets even if it's just for a few hours on one day (any of the 4 days) and you'll get a free admission pass to the fair (for the days you'll be showing herps) if you sign up! Contact: Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com, if you want to participate. Can also contact Tony Velez, avelstude@yahoo.com.

August 2014

August 8 7:30 p.m.

BAARS Board Meeting - 7:30 p.m. Scott and Caroline’s house. For details, contact behindBAARS@gmail.com.

August 22 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting Speaker: Turtle and Tortoise Night START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

September 2014

September 5 7:30 p.m.

BAARS Board Meeting - 7:30 p.m. Scott and Joanne’s -- BYOBsuit and Towel. For details, contact behindBAARS@gmail.com.

September 26 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting TBD START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

October 2014

October 3 7:30 p.m.

BAARS Board Meeting - 7:30 p.m. TBD For details, contact behindBAARS@gmail.com.

October 5 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

YSI Wildlilfe Festival Alum Rock Park, 16260 Penitencia Creek Rd, San Jose, CA 95127 Hold a snake, touch a toad, and meet hawks, owls and other animals! Join us at the Youth Science Institute’s Wildlife Festival. Food and fun throughout the day. Families can participate in wildlife programs, hands-on science.

October 24 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting -- Halloween Speaker: Gerald Merker Costume Contest and Treats START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

November/December 2014

November 7 7:30 p.m.

BAARS Board Meeting - 7:30 p.m. TBD For details, contact behindBAARS@gmail.com.

??? 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Party and Elections TBD START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

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Treasurer’s Report by Scott Petersen

This report covers the month of May 2014.

Cash flow for the month of May was $286.50, giving the club $619.44 YTD positive cash flow, with monthly income of

$523.50 and expenses of $237.00. Room rent was the club’s only expense for the month. Stipends paid to the club for

our members sharing their amphibians and reptiles at private and public events were our biggest revenue generators

for the month. A special thanks to those who participated at the events held at Sherman Oaks School, Hartnell College,

and the Future Farmers of America event in Campbell.

For the month of May 2014, the club had the follow allocated funds:

● Salamander Fund: $213

● Tax/Legal Fund: $755

● Petty Cash: $113.50

As of the end of May 2014, our checking account was $3625.35. As was mentioned last month, because the club is

starting to use CAFEPRESSb (http://www.cafepress.com/baars) for t-shirts and other items with the BAARS logo and

artwork, and PayPal for donations and membership, it makes sense to report the balances in those account as they are

reported in the totals below.

● CafePress Balance: $15.96

● PayPal: $59.50

Posting Date:   ___YTD__     3/31/2014 4/30/2014  5/31/2014 Expenses    $765.97       $157.87   $156.38    $237.00 Income:  $1385.91       $209.21   $355.00    $523.50 Cash flow:       $619.44        $51.32   $198.62    $286.50 

Board & Contacts President: Scott Alexander; 408-823-3675, alexander_scott@yahoo.com Vice President: Eric Koessel, 510-847-4392, erickoessel@yahoo.com Membership Secretary: Kyna Hendra, 408-204-5131, Membership.baars@gmail.com Treasurer: Scott Petersen, scottepetersen@gmail.com Recording Secretary: Vacant Publicity Director: Vacant Newsletter Editor & Webmaster: Aleks Haecky, vhaecky@gmail.com Show Coordinator: Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com Adoptions Coordinator: Austin Pleban and team, baars.adoptions@gmail.com Social Media MAL: Jeff Whitnack, whitnack@pacbell.net MAL: Gilbert & Dorothy Castro, 408-582-4247, Tortoise.whisperer@yahoo.com MAL: Tania Tengan & Michael Pleban & Aria Pleban, 408-499-5867, tmtengan@att.net MAL: Rhonda Velez & Tony Velez, 831-540-8119

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Show Report: Alameda Fair by Jeff Whitnack

Hi all,

thought I'd give a report of sorts on the show.

So, first I had to go to the Will Call window and get a ticket (which I was never asked for) and a parking permit. Then I

found the shuttle place, put the herps on a table, parked my car, walked back to the table, then the shuttle took me into

the fair area, but then another fair person came with a wheeled device to tote them to the table. It was like a military

maneuver of sorts! It would be almost easier to have my own wheeled device (like people at dog shows have). [Editor:

OK, my head is spinning now.]

The fair went fairly well, fair for the fair. Not over-mobbing, though at times there was a full line of people, then no one

for a bit. I had a helper who did great. Almost every other person asked if any were "poisonous". I told them they could

devour any of them and be OK. :)

We were under a tent, but it was hardly shaded all the way—the tent "leaked" a lot of sun. And we were kind of close

to a band and also some speakers, so it was not exactly quiet.

I think my part at the shows needs to be enhanced by better displays for my herps—and labeling them. My daughter is

an artist and could do some cartoonish pictures of them. I do well at allowing people to handle them and all, but I just put

the snakes in the critter keeper plastic things and cover them. I sure could up that game!

I didn't have time to take any pictures, I was pretty busy and afterwards my head felt like when I was a short order cook

on my first break.

Editor: Well, since Jeff didn’t have pictures, here are some The Editor found. And here is the offical page for the

Alameda County Fair: http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/2014fair/index.php

goetan2010, http://www.georgetannerphotography.com/

Image from by San Francisco Chronicle referenced in this blog: http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2014/06/18/alameda-county-fair-opens-in-pleasanton/

Source: http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/2014fair

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Editor’s Shelf by Aleks Haecky

All our newsletters are published on ISSUU! Check out the latest issue, and all issues since November 2012. You can also access the newsletter from baars.org If you cannot accept large attachments, this is a way for you to see the newsletter, even when it has a lot of images.

OOOH, The Editor just discovered this article about Brian Gundy: http://goo.gl/naz3rW

I was floored by this … even if it’s only ichthyootoxism Toxins can appear in the most unlikely places. Read more: http://goo.gl/0JTnc5

BAARS website: www.baars.org

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BAARSociety Lists events and activities.

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/239964525544/

Yahoo Group/Email Group: http://www.yahoogroups.com/neo/groups/BAARS/info

Newsletter Exchanges: Minnesota Herpetological Society Newsletter Page BAARS exchanges Newsletters with other clubs. Contact the Newsletter Editor for information.

BAARS Merchandise: http://www.cafepress.com/baars Wear a club t-shirt to an event to support and promote your club!

Contributions and Advertisements To advertise or publish in our newsletter or on our website, contact behindBAARS@gmail.com.

We love herp-related original articles, trip and show reports, stories about your animals, and original photographs and

drawings. You retain all rights but grant us permission to use, edit, and publish in the newsletter and on our website with

attribution. Only submit materials for which you own the copyright or have written permission from copyright owners

Parting Shot

Murlocs are amphibians, right?

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