Feature Blogger

Cindy and Seri at one of the many NARBC Tinley Park shows

Shortly after the March NARBC, Seri Dukart of Gallery Gekko and Creature Care Cards was preparing to go in for her second knee replacement when tragedy struck at home. A fire wiped out both her home and attached dog grooming business. It was a total loss. While most of her animals survived, she lost her beloved African Grey, Toba. With a week to surgery, Seri got everything set. She shipped her geckos across the country to a friend who could hold them until she had a place to live again that was not a camper, a local pet shop opened for her reptile pets to hang out and educate people about reptiles and she ended up finding a place to rent to continue serving her grooming clients. Her home was older and to rebuild, she needed to come up with $10-$15,000 to get the electrical upgrades to get insurance to kick in to start the repairs so she could move back home and restart her life.

Are you ready?

Photo from Reddit

Photo of Noxen Fire Volunteer showing tubed venomous snake, rather than some more barbaric ways of other roundups such as sewing mouths shut while unsedated. Photo from Noxen Fire Dept Facebook page

Two Ibiza wall lizards. Photograph: Guillem Casbas

Image screenshot from video from KVUE

Researcher Corinna Hazelrig studies a snake. Credit: Taylor Miller

Tini, an olive ridley sea turtle, recently laid her eggs on Junitper Beach, Florida marking the first time ever for that species. While loggerheads, leatherbacks and greens do typically nest on the beach, this was the first ever record nest for the species recorded by Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Olive ridleys are among the smallest sea turtle species and are known for their olive-green, heart-shaped shells. They are also famous for two nesting strategies: solitary nesting and the "arribada," a mass nesting event in which thousands of females come ashore at once.

Despite almost a year long battle with keepers, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources moved ahead on ban of all native species with an exception on only three color variants. This does include captive bred species, as well as a variety of color morphs. There is also a ban in place now on turtle and frog races, which is probably the only truly good things here. A few things of note from the new rules:

NR 16.01 (2m) “Color variant” means any of the following atypical native amphibians and
reptiles of any age class:
(a) Individuals, regardless of species, that are:
1. Tyrosinase-negative albino (light pink or yellow body with red eyes).
2. Fully melanistic animals (entirely black).
3. Piebald (10% or more of the animal is pure white).
(b) Gophersnakes and milksnakes that are patternless.
....
(2) POSSESSION RESTRICTED. No Beginning on January 1, 2027, no person may take from the
wild or possess any live or dead native amphibians or reptiles or their eggs, except as provided under
sub. (3) and s. NR 19.26, or turtles taken under the authority of ss. NR 19.275, 21.13 and 22.13. Any live
native wild reptiles or amphibians possessed before January 1, 2027, must be registered with the
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department in a manner determined by the department on or before June 30, 2027. Any native wild
reptiles or amphibians not registered with the department on or before June 30, 2027, will be presumed to
be in violation of this chapter.

We aren't talking about the German Heavy Metal but here, but the actual arachnid! Scientists have recently discovered that 18 species of scorpions reinforce their stingers and pinchers with a variety of "heavy metals".

image from Iowa County Sheriff facebook page of Burmese found in WI

Last friday in rural Wisconsin, a large Burmese python was discovered by the side of a road by a resident and police were notified. An investigation was launched and every rescue in Wisconsin was contacted by press. Seriously, the minute I saw the story, I had a text come through my phone asking if I was available and if I could bring reptiles with for the news piece.

Build in the Public Update You now know our mission statement. Ready to see what we've been working on?? We heard you loud and clear. You want a better mobile experience from Kingsnake. This is our first and top priority. Our development team beautifully stated,

“We are rebuilding Kingsnake with a new, responsive look that displays properly on a desktop, tablet or mobile device”

Kingsnake has been under new ownership for just shy of 4 weeks and what a ride it’s been.

The "Wrestle a Gator" educational show at Reptile Gardens from when Cindy visited. Herper Approved.

Reptile Gardens had a tragic overnight fire in one of their off display buildings that impacted all of their American Alligators from their educational program as well as their African Spur Thigh Tortoises and their Red Foot Tortoises, their other giant tortoises are houses in a different building for winter and are safe. Long time members of the site might remember that Reptile Gardens hosts me for a week several years back for an amazing behind the scenes experience that I was able to share with all of you, including sharing their tortoises and alligators and their show. You can see the photos here.

Each Sunday USARK is reaching out to a new state and this week it is Kansas! They are trying to spread awareness about the organization and what work they do. From their post!

If you have a pet store, veterinary office, or public exhibit that works with reptiles or amphibians in Kansas, USARK will send you a FREE business package that includes brochures, stickers, and possibly more. Please tag any businesses that might be interested! Email vanessa@usark.org with your company name and address if you are in this week’s state and want to assist. We will randomly draw a new state every Sunday. Please feel free to comment and show your support as a member, advocate, fan, or herp owner.