Old school.

If you knew Tommy Yarborough you're pretty much old school. Tommy was old school. Tommy was a herp legend, who spent over 3 decades traveling from herp spot to herp spot, catching snakes, lizards, turtles and more for his Yarbrough Snake Ranch in Eastaboga Alabama. Back in Alabama he and his wife Mary Ann would put on reptile shows for schools, scouts, church groups and more, entertaining and educating thousands of kids over the years, and starting many a herper down the path.

An early brochure for the Yarbrough Snake Ranch advertises that the "excitement and mysteries of nature are brought to life" — including "cobras (Indian, African and Taiwan), pythons, rattlesnakes, boa constrictors, cottonmouth water moccasins, copperheads, African puff adder, king snakes, rat snakes and tropical snakes."

Today his daughter, Rebecca Yarbrough Tucker, continues Tommy's reptile legacy in Alabama. She has help from her husband, Ken, who helps her care for the more than 300 snakes and other animals at the family’s home in Eastaboga and two volunteers who help with the shows. She donates half of the proceeds of each show to the schools, just as her father did.

The Yarbroughs will be remembered at a special "Reptiles Alive!" show on Saturday August 29 as part of the Anniston Museum of Natural History’s annual Museum Day celebration. Museum admission, programs and activities will be free. To read more, check out the full article at The Anniston Star

Editors note - I met Tommy and Mary Ann several times on the River Road and in Langtry in the late eighties and early nineties. Tommy was a "fast" cruiser and would barrel down the road at 60-70 miles per hour in a big van with ammunition crates roped to the top for the rattlesnakes. Tommy was a character remembered by all that met him.

Today is Nag Panchami, a traditional day of worship of snakes or serpents observed by Hindus throughout India and also in Nepal. On the Nag Panchami day Nag, cobras, and snakes are worshiped with milk, sweets, flowers, lamps and even sacrifices. Images of Nag deities made of silver, stone, wood, or paintings on the wall are first bathed with water and milk and then worshiped with the reciting of mantras. The piety observed on this day is considered a sure protection against the fear of snake bite. At many places, real snakes are worshipped and fairs held. On this day digging the earth is taboo as it could kill or harm snakes which reside in the earth.

In the past people would gather serpents, and snake charmers would bring their finest snakes to the temples, but changes in India's laws have made snake charming and snake possession illegal, changing the way the event is celebrated for most. Though some still try to celebrate the old ways, authorities keep a watch over events, confiscating and releasing snakes used by the celebrants.

"It's the cobra and rat snakes that are most commonly displayed by snake charmers. We urge people to be alert and capture their pictures and alert the local police station or snake rescue helplines so that they can be nabbed and the snake be freed from torture." Nitin Walmiki - Eco-Echo

To read more about Nag Panchami click here!. kingsnake.com gallery photo by BakerReptiles

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking information relevant to a proposal to list the flat-tailed horned lizard as an endangered species. The flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) inhabits desert habitats in southeastern California, the extreme southwestern portion of Arizona and the adjacent portions of northeastern Baja California Norte and northwestern Sonora, Mexico.

In June 2014, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) to formally list the flat-tailed horned lizard as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information from the public regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to reproduction or survival, adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species. Comments, data and other information can be submitted in writing to:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Nongame Wildlife Program
Attn: Laura Patterson
1812 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811

Comments may also be submitted by email to wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov. If submitting comments by email, please include “flat-tailed horned lizard” in the subject heading.
To read the full press release click here. kingsnake.com gallery photo by Duner.

You're low crawling through the underbrush, geared up, M4 rifle in hand, helmet hanging low over your brow, and sweat dripping into your eyes. Then you see it.

Right in your path. A snake.

From the jungles of the Philippines and Vietnam to the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, members of the armed forces have long encountered snakes, often at the most inopportune times, and in the most inconvenient places.

“The students, they see them time and time again,” said Staff Sgt. Heath Hensley, a Ranger instructor and member of the reptile team. “You’ll hear them yell out ‘Snake!’ most of the time, and that starts a tactical pause.”

How does the military deal with this problem? Snake school.

Camp Rudder, part of the sprawling Eglin Air Force Base complex, is home to the U.S. Army Rangers reptile house, incorporated into training as students undergo the third and final phase of Ranger School. Its role is to teach students how to overcome their fears of snakes and other reptiles and identify them when they see them. To read more about this fascinating and little known part of military training click here and read the full article at The Washington Post.
(Photo by Staff Sgt. John Bainter/ U.S. Air Force)

Ever thought of starting an alligator farm? In your basement? In Canada?

Rescuers had their hands full in Canada this week when a reptile hobbyist with an affectation for crocodilians decided he could no longer care for his charges properly, and "donated" them to a zoo - all 150 of them. The list includes crocodiles, alligators, and caimans, some as long as 9 feet.

“I think [the owners] just realized that enough is enough, and they need a larger place,” “Kudos to them. A lot of people don’t do the right thing with exotic pets, and they actually did.” - Bry Loyst - Indian River Reptile Zoo

Reptile people are sometimes thought of as "a bit crazy" and stories like this one continue to reinforce that stereotype and leave even experienced reptile hobbyists scratching their heads.

To read more check out the article at the Toronto Star . kingsnake.com gallery photo by user bci32

Frogs and toads, already under enormous pressure from the ravages of the Chytrid fungus, have a new threat to contend with. Scientists in the U.K. have discovered a new parasite that attacks tadpoles. Protists, single-celled microorganisms that store genetic information in a nucleus, act as a parasite for tadpoles, entering into their livers, and killing off huge numbers of the amphibious larvae. With the loss of so many tadpoles, the disease can rapidly cause a decline in amphibian populations.

"We now need to figure out if this novel microbe—a distant relative of oyster parasites—causes significant disease and could be contributing to the frog population declines" - Thomas Richards, University of Exeter

Tadpoles from six countries across three continents were tested and the previously unidentified parasite was present in tadpole livers in both tropical and temperate sites, and across all continents tested.

To read the press release from the University of Exeter, click here. kingsnake.com gallery photo by user retnaburner

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced Illinois resident Keith Cantore to 41 months incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release and $100 special assessment as well as $41,000 in restitution after he attempted to purchase 100 North American Wood Turtles for $40,000.

“The poaching of Wood Turtles has had a significant negative impact on its population in the wild. In effect, this defendant was willing to help drive this species to extinction to make a few bucks. " - Raymond R. Parmer, head of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans

According to court records, Cantore was charged with three counts of purchasing and/or attempting to purchase threatened species of turtles that were illegally captured from the wild, a violation of the federal Lacey Act. Cantore was previously convicted of federal charges related to the illegal sale of turtles and that he continued to illegally sell turtles while on bond for the current charges.

To read the Department of Justice press release click here. Gallery photo by user arfytoothskin

Researchers have named a brightly colored new flat lizard Platysaurus attenboroughi, after broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough. Attenborough is known worldwide for his numerous documentary films on natural history, many involving reptiles and amphibians.

"We thought it fitting the lizard be named after the world-famous naturalist after he made famous a closely related flat lizard species in the BBC series 'Life in Cold Blood'" - Dr. Martin Whiting - Macquarie University

To read the full article at CBS News click here. Photo Dr. Martin Whiting

The Argentinian Black and White Tegu, Salvator merianae, has been a problem in Southeast Florida for a while now, the lizard has established populations in Miami-Dade, Hillsborough and Polk County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, but it is now spreading to the Southwest region, particularly Collier County.

“This is public enemy number one–the Argentine Tegu,” - Ian Bartoszek, Biologist - Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Wildlife experts have mailed 7,200 postcards to the Collier County as a warning for residents to report a sighting immediately. Residents are urged to call 1-888-IVE-GOT1 if they see a tegu or send a picture of the animal to www.IveGot1.org.

To read the whole article in the Palm Beach Post click here - Gallery photo by RamblinRose

A fatal fungal disease that has been running rampant in snake populations on the east coast and has been found as far west as Illinois has now been identified in at least nine states. The disease can cause crusty scabs and lesions, sometimes on the head, and has a high mortality rate in some populations. Although it affects a number of species, it's especially threatening to rattlesnakes that live in small, isolated populations. It's unclear if this fungal disease was brought to the United States from elsewhere, or if it has always been present and for some unknown reason is now infecting snakes.

"I think potentially this could overwhelm any conservation effort we could employ to try to protect this last remaining population," said Doug Blodgett, a biologist with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

In New Hampshire, the disease helped halve the population of rattlesnakes, now estimated at only several dozen. In Illinois the disease infects about 15 percent of the population of about 300 of massasauga rattlesnakes every year with a mortality rate of 80 to 90 percent.

To read the whole AP story click here!. Gallery photo by herpermike1

Reptile collector Gerard Kruse plead guilty in a New York Federal Court to 13 violations of the Lacey Act for his role in illegally collecting and transporting native snakes.

Arrested as part of a sting dubbed "Operation Kingsnake" Kruse admitted to the illegal collection, transport and receipt of 59 snakes that were collected from and protected by various states, such as New Jersey, California and Oregon.

“All of our protected species, including reptiles, are important to our ecosystems and must be shielded from such illegal trafficking. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously support efforts against domestic wildlife trafficking.” - Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden

According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will seek 13 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring. In addition, Kruse has agreed to be placed on probation and subject to special conditions such as forfeiture of his snakes and being banned from the collection, sale and trade of reptiles and amphibians.

To read the full news release from the U.S. Department of Justice click here.

Gallery Photo by DeanAlessandrini

Although many frogs and toads are known to be poisonous, i.e. deadly if their toxins are ingested, two frogs from Brazil are now known to be venomous as well, delivering their toxins through spines and spikes on their heads, a first for the four legged amphibians. Scientists that made the discovery said calculations suggest that a single gram of the venom from the more toxic species, Aparasphenodon brunoi, could kill more than 300,000 mice or about 80 humans.

The strength of toxicity of the skin secretions is remarkable, and to say we were surprised by that is an understatement," Brodie said. "Amphibians have a wide array of skin toxins that have been well-studied, but this sort of mechanism — transmitting the toxin as a venom — has not been found before. It moves the study of amphibian defenses to a new level.

Although their venom packs a wallop, scientists are convinced it is only used as a defensive mechanism as opposed to using it to hunt their prey. Since neither frog has any known predators, that is certainly a likely scenario.

To read more, check out the full article on LiveScience

Photo: Carlos Jared/Butantan Institute

Prompted by a petition in 2012 by the Center for Biological Diversity the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing 10 species of reptiles and amphibians to consider them for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, despite many of the listed species enjoying protection of state laws in their home range.

According to media reports USFWS will seek to collect additional information for a more thorough review of the following reptiles and amphibians:

• Alligator snapping turtle
  
• Apalachicola kingsnake
  
• Cedar Key mole skink
  
• Gopher frog
  
• Green salamander
  
• Illinois chorus frog in
  
• Key ring-necked snake
  
• Rim Rock crowned snake
  
• Southern hog-nosed snake
  
• Spotted turtle

According to the USFWS "For those petitions that will move on to a more in-depth review, that process will include the opportunity for significant input from states, partners, stakeholders, and the public." To read more about this issue, view the original article on GulfLive.com. kingsnake.com will post more information on the public input process here as it becomes available.

Alligator Snapper gallery photo by kingsnake.com user LEESTOPCUT.

The seven surviving offspring of the leucistic boa constrictor smuggled by reptile breeder Jeremy Stone have been repatriated to Brazil, nearly a year after Stone plead guilty in federal court. The original boa, as well as one of the offspring, died, but the remainder returned to Brazil, which claimed ownership because the original specimen had been captured there.

In July 2014, Stone pleaded guilty plea to unlawfully transporting wildlife into the United States. As part of his plea agreement, Stone agreed to forfeit the boa’s offspring to the United States.

“The successful prosecution of Mr. Stone and the recovery and repatriation of the offspring from this rare and valuable leucistic boa constrictor are due to the exceptional cooperation between the United States and Brazilian authorities,” said U.S. Attorney Huber.

For more information, read the Department of Justice press release at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-repatriates-seven-boa-constrictors-brazil