BEHIND BAARS

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BAY AREA AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SOCIETY June 2015

Blue Tegu Anthony Velez

Friday, June 26 @ 7:30 p.m. Doors open 7:00 p.m.

Cubberley Community Center, RoomM-2, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto

BAARS is an educational and conservational group of amateur and professional herpetologists who want to share their

knowledge, enthusiasm, and friendship with others interested in amphibians and reptiles.

CONTENTS

President’s Editorial Hartnell College Show Report Calender of Events & Shows & Meetings A Tale of Two BAARS Shows Treasurer’s Report 2015 Board Members Herpetologically Correct Logo! BAARS Social Connections Support BAARS

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

President’s Editorial

Greetings BAARS Members and Supporters!

At our last meeting, in May, we had Wildlife Biologist Robert Shields speak on the California

Tiger Salamander. He was a great speaker, and I found out it’s illegal to possess or even

bother Tiger salamanders in any way. I hope Robert can return someday as a speaker, as I’m

sure we haven’t even begun to tap his reservoir of knowledge.

This month, Glen Brooksi will be speaking at our General Meeting on Friday, June 26th. Glen is

a reptile breeder who lives in Folsom, CA, and you can find out about him and his reptiles on Facebook by searching

for “Glen A Brooksi” and “Glen Reptiles”. His topic will be “Tips and Tricks to getting quality pictures on a budget”.

In his own words: “Whether you want to post a picture on Facebook, get a good shot for a classified ad, or just

remember a specific moment in the life of your pet, there are simple and straightforward ways to improve the quality

of your photographs without having to go out and buy expensive gear. We will be looking at what things you want to

consider in taking a good photo, and also some easy, quick, and cheap ways to get your optimal image. You will no

longer have to apologize for the ‘crappy cell phone pic,’ because no-one will realize that you took the picture with

your cell phone. Topics will include image composition, processing, helpful tools, and posing a wiggly subject. All

designed to help you to use photography as a way to increase your enjoyment of keeping reptiles and amphibians as

pets.”

The day after our Friday, June 26th, General Meeting will be the Sulphur Creek Reptile Rally in Hayward. This is a great

place, and the setting is real laid back and serene. Then, July 30th to August 2nd, it’s the Santa Clara Valley Fair, and we

really could use volunteers!

If you want to hear some very interesting herp audio presentations I suggest you check out Herp Nation at

http://www.herpnation.com/. Click on “Radio”, and the most recent interview is with Bryan Fry, a herpetologist in

Australia, who studies venomous reptiles. His basic point is that having venom glands is an inherent part of virtually

all reptiles—even boas and pythons will trip the venom meter. Many are venomous, but not dangerous.

Jeff Whitnack, BAARS President, 2015

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Hartnell College Show Report Photos by Tony Velez and Joni

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Calender of Events & Shows & Meetings by Joanne Hiratsuka Petersen

Details are on our BAARS.org website under Shows. Contact Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com.

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

June 2015

June 26 Friday 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting, Cubberley Community Center, Room M-2 Speaker: Glen Brooksi from Glen Reptiles, "Tips and Tricks to getting quality pictures on a budget" START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.) "Tips and Tricks to getting quality pictures on a budget" Whether you want to post a picture on Facebook, get a good shot for a classified ad, or just remember a specific moment in the life of your pet, there are simple and straight forward ways to improve the quality of your photographs without having to go out and buy expensive gear. We will be looking at what things you want to consider in taking a good photo and also some easy, quick and cheap ways to get your optimal image. You will no longer have to apologize for the "crappy cel phone pic," because no one will realise that you took the picture with your cel phone. Topics will include image composition, processing, helpful tools, and posing a wiggily subject. All designed to help you to use photography as a way to increase your enjoyment of keeping reptiles and amphibians as pets.

July 2015

July 3 Friday 7:30 p.m.

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

July 24 Friday 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting, Cubberley Community Center, Room M-2 Speaker: TBD START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

July 25 Saturday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sulphur Creek Reptile Rally Sulphur Creek Nature Center, 1801 D Street, Hayward 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 face­to­face 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

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a family day, bring a picnic and enjoy getting back into nature. Attendees: Pete Marshall, Jeff Whitnack, Scott & Joanne Petersen Contact: Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com or Pete Marshall, PMarshall@calwater.com if you are able to bring herps. Let us know which ones you’ll bring.

August 2015

July 30 - Aug 2 12:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Santa Clara County Fair County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose Take some time off­­we need all the help we can get for these 4 days of intense fun! Santa Clara County Fair with livestock and other animals (BAARS) ­­ great opportunity to meet with kids and adults to show our herps! http://www.thefair.org/ The fair is from Thursday, July 30th through Sunday, August 2nd, 12 noon to 7 pm all days. BAARS will participate; we can work shifts ­­ you don't have to stay all day! Please bring your pets even if it's just for a few hours on any of the 4 days ­­ you'll get a free admission pass to the fair (for the days you'll be showing herps) if you sign up! Contact: Gil Castro, tortoise.whisperer@yahoo.com or Tony Velez, avelstude@yahoo.com if you can participate!

August 7 Friday 7:30 p.m.

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

August 28 Friday 7:30 p.m.

BAARS General Club Meeting - Room M-2 Speaker: TBD START TIME: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open 7 p.m.)

September 2015

September 25 Friday 7:30 p.m.

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

October 2015

October 23 Friday 7:30 p.m.

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

November/December 2015

HOLIDAY PARTY & ELECTIONS - planning in progress

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A Tale of Two BAARS Shows by Jeff Whitnack

Recently both Scott Petersen and I did two BAARS Herp shows.

The first one was at the Santa Clara Library north branch. We were in a single room, and we had a “guard” to limit

the entrants to about five. The event was supposed to end at noon, but there was still a line stretching a long way out

by then, and we stayed until 1 p.m..

The second show was at Sherman Oaks elementary school in San Jose. But this wasn’t a traditional “show”. Instead,

it was their Science Day, and we each did 7 presentations lasting 20 minutes each—Scott and I taking different groups

all day. Each group was about 30 to 50 students, and there was not enough time for all the kids to actually see up

close and handle the reptiles. The event started a bit late, and the teachers asked us to stay over as the first group

missed our herps. Looking back, it was funny to recall how she described that they would be too disappointed if they

missed that part of the Science Day—almost as if they would riot or something! I would be willing to bet big and give

good odds that if the children were polled, our presentation would have been the winning favorite.

At my presentation I had my Carpet Python around my neck—he and his mate are steady favorites at the shows and

don’t seem to get stressed at all. Then a compare and contrast with my Brazilian Rainbow Boa—separated by

geography and genetics from the Carpet Python, but with many similarities.

I talked about how we owe our vision and ability to read and share knowledge to snakes, as primates developed

better vision as soon as venomous snakes appeared, the benefits from snakes per rodent control, lessening plague

and Hanta Virus risks, medicines arising from venom, etc..

I discussed worldwide snake bite mortality. From 20,000 to almost 100,000 deaths worldwide, and the exact number

not really known due to reporting issues. But in the USA, it’s only about 4-10 incidents a year that result in death.

Something to keep in mind with the recent local rattlesnake bites.

Next, I showed my Mussurana a rear-fanged snake , “this snake is venomous but not dangerous”. I described the

statue of this snake in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was erected to honor this snake’s role in formulating anti-venom.

And I finished with both the Blacktail Cribo and Asian King Ratsnake as another example of geologic and genetic

divergence, yet many similarities.

By the 7th showing I had learned some lessons. If one starts out saying, “save your questions until the end,” one

should stick with it.but their hands stretched up, and the put on their most cute and enthusiastic looks…I couldn’t

help it to break and call on them. In the future, I think I’ll have the teachers be the “callers” and such.

Looking back on the long line out the door at the first show, and the almost rabid enthusiasm displayed at the second,

I had a kind of fuzzy epiphany along the lines of, “we’re sitting on a gold mine!”. If we can both tap into and lock in

(i.e. BAARS membership, participation, etc.) this “vein” our organization would surely grow and flourish.

But these were kids, and one has to expect the type of questions kids will ask. The most weird one, “do you ever kiss a

snake?” Next time I plan to turn down the lights, put on some Barry White music, light some candles……

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Treasurer’s Report Scott Petersen

2015 Board Members President: Jeff Whitnack, jeffwhitnack@yahoo.com Vice President & Speakers: Scott Alexander, 408-823-3675, alexander_scott@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, behindbaars@gmail.com Show Coordinator: Joanne Petersen, joanne.hiratsuka@gmail.com Adoptions Coordinator: Alex Maier, BAARS.adoptions@gmail.com Social Media MAL: vacant Members at Large: Gilbert & Dorothy Castro, 408-582-4247, Tortoise.whisperer@yahoo.com Members at Large: Tania Tengan & Michael Pleban & Aria Pleban & Austin Pleban, 408-499-5867, tmtengan@att.net Members at Large: Rhonda Velez & Tony Velez, 831-540-8119, avelstude@sbcglobal.net

Herpetologically Correct Logo! Gabi Haecky has updated our logo to correctly represent a chameleon. With the

new high resolution source files, we will also be able to put this on t-shirts, and

adapt the logo to our needs as necessary. Watch out for the color version in our

July newsletter. Contact behindbaars@gmail.com if you need images or a copy

of the Sketchbook Pro source files.

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BAARS Social Connections 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 ISSUU has a Mobile App for Android and iOS. Search in the respective stores for “ISSUU”.

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.

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.

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

This newsletter and all its content, unless stated otherwise, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution­NonCommercial­NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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Membership type: __1 Year ($25) __2 Years ($50) __Sustaining ($35) __Contributing ($50) __ Patron ($100) __Institutional ($20) BAARS Membership Secretary c/o Palo Alto Junior Museum 1451 Middlefield Road Palo Alto CA 94301-3351

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