The Monitor

February, 2008

From the Editor's Desk

Newsletter Material

This is YOUR club. The more you give into it, the more you will get out of it. Your opinions, suggesions and submissions are welcome. You may submit articles by email before the 10th of the month to luvcatz5@aol.com

President: Logan Randolph
Vice-President: Michele Patton
Secretary: Carrie Gardner Treasurer: Doreen E. Saccardo
Chairman of the Board: John Soto
Editor: Carrie Gardner
Co-Editor: Doreen Saccardo
Field Trip Chair: Doreen Saccardo
Webmaster: Carrie Gardner
Administrative Assistant Alexander Peters

NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
SHS FUND RAISING AUCTION
7:00 p.m.
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Clearwater, FL 727-462-6024
~~~~~~~~DON'T MISS IT~~~~~~~~

Alton of Smelt Feed and Pet Supply is donating a #15.00 gift certificate every month for our raffle. His store is located at 4116 East 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605, 813-248-2359

If you would like to receive the League of Florida Herpetological Societies newsletter, it is now online. You can contact Victor at . Make sure he has your correct email address and don't forget to mention that you are affiliated with the Suncoast Herp Society.

Web Page info: Calendar page is updated all the time as is Adoptions and Advertisements.

If you would like to receive updates on the website via email, please scroll down to the bottom of the home page and join Yahoo! Groups. Choose to receive email or daily digest. I send out an email to the list every time a change is made.

If you have photos you would like added to the "Club Photos" page, please email Carrie to have them added.

Carrie's Notes

IMPORTANT INFO ALERT!! If you go to the Adoptions/Advertisements page on our website, you will find info on a place that takes in unwanted large reptiles (iguanas, tortoises, etc.). They are located in Nebraska, but assured us that they have the proper facilities and permits. They will even help with shipping costs. If you know of anyone who needs to find a home for a big reptile, please give them our website information.

Hidey Ho fellow herpers!

Celebrate St. Valentine's Day a little late this year...buy your special someone something really cool at our BIG FUND RAISING AUCTION on February 20th! Don't like what you're special someone got you?? Donate it to the auction and help us out!

Bill Murray has two dinner plate size male sulcatas that he is looking for a good home for. If you are interested in these "little" guys, please call him at 727-526-3413.

REPTILES OF SPECIAL CONCERN: I called FWC about the reptiles of special concern...there are 6 animals: reticulated python, Burmese python, African rock python, amethystine python, green (not yellow) anaconda, and the Nile monitor. As of January 1, 2008, you must have a permit to own the above mentioned animals. The permits are combined with the Venomous animal application on FWC. The cost is $100.00, and this is whether you have one or 100. Dealers MUST see the permit before selling an animal to a person, and the Dealer is responsible for keeping records of who they sold what too (in other words, you should have documentation of the name, address, permit #, etc. and what animal you sold too). Also in effect Jan 1. is microchipping reptile of special concern that is over two and a half inches in diameter. That will be enforced on July 1, 2009 more strictly.

RED-EARED SLIDERS: As of right now, there is no rescue for red-eared sliders. However, I spoke to Jenny Novak from FWC and they are working on an adoption network for hopefully the beginning of next year. As of right now, they only option available for unwanted turtles is euthanizing.

The Reptile Shack - I discovered a wonderful reptile store on Hwy. 92 East in Lakeland. They have everything you can imagine...water monitors, gila monsters, and they even had a western diamondback and an eastern diamondback! If you're interested in checking the place out, it's The Reptile Shack, 3632 US Hwy. 92 E, Lakeland, FL 33801. Their phone number is 863-606-0223, and their hours are Tues-Sat: 11-6; Sunday 12-5. They also take in unwanted reptiles.

Doreen's Column

Hi there~~~

*****Last month Buzz Burchill was our guest speaker and he did a great job. I think a field trip to Fort DeSoto Park is in our near future.

*****As you know, I missed January's meeting cause I flew out to New York early on January 16 to be with my sister. After a two year battle with cancer, I saw my younger sister suffer for the last time on January 23, 2008. Luckily, I was with her every minute for the last week of her life. I want to thank everyone for your continued prayer and support throughout this whole ordeal. This hole in my heart is bigger than I ever had to deal with before, even the death of my beloved iguanas in the past does not compare to this void I have now. Please continue to keep me and my family in prayer.

*****My list for guest speakers is getting thin and time seems to fly by so quickly and I can't seem to keep up. If you know of anyone or see someone interesting, please let me know.

*****Continued thanks to Donnetta Hester who agreed to make the monthly calls. This really helps me a lot. Thanks again.

*****I checked the Florida League of Herp Societies, and still the same info. Luckily, our info is up there nice and clear and CORRECT. That's all we can expect at this point. I wrote to Victor asking about it, I will let you know.

*****February 20, 2008 will be our BIIIIIG auction. Please try to solicit items from your local pet stores and favorite vendors and clean out your garages to get rid of those reptile items you are no longer using (to make room for more reptile items you won't use throughout the year).

*****I know Carrie and Michele are working diligently emailing companies. In fact a few of them wrote me requesting a physical address so we should have some cool items this month.

*****We have been invited to participate in the 2008 Year of the Frog by hosting a Frog Watch USA training event. This event allows frog enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels to go out and gather information about frog and toad populations. This programs has volunteers from around the country to go out and listen for 3 minutes after sunset for frog and toad calls, identify and report the data to a website. Volunteers cam go out and listen at their convenience for as many times as they are able. The most successful and accurate Frog Watchers are those that had a formal Frog Watch USA training led by an educator and herpetologist. If we agree to host a Frog Watch training, we will be send a training packet, with helpful info including Power Point slides, flyers, sample schedules, etc. There is also an activity guide and toad related activities for children. There National Wildlife Federation is also launching a yearly frog watching snapshot day on the first Saturday in May, the 3rd. This day will be devoted to listening to frogs and toads and trying to get as many people out frog watching on one day as possible. I will get more information on this program, and if we decide to get involved, we have to sign a Frog Watch USA workshop Facilitator Commitment form (the commitment part makes me nervous, but maybe I will have John sign the form). I just received this email but I will call this week and report back at the next meeting.

*****The Tampa Reptile & Exotic Show will be held March 8 & 9, 2008. We usually get a table there and need volunteers for the show so. Alex did not charge us for the banner in lieu of a donation to the club which would have been around $100. I think that was a fair deal. He also does not charge us for the table. Keep this weekend open. The fall show will be September 27 & 28, 2008. These are always a lot of fun and it's nice to make new contacts. We also get an opportunity to sell snake bags and reptiles magazines, which helps us financially. That is why we can afford to keep our dues at $15 per year and we do not have to scramble around doing fundraisers all over the place, so think about volunteering for the show not just at our table, but for wherever Alex needs you.

*****31st annual All Florida Herpetological Event will be held in Gainesville on March 29 & 30, 2008. I checked their website and they still have not listed their speakers yet. (I guess they are having the same problem I am getting speakers).

*****I just want to add continuing thanks to Carrie for keeping up with the website, I know that takes a lot of work with many frustrations. But she does an excellent job and it shows. Thanks Carrie.

February 5 ~~ Buzz Burchill
March 5 ~~ Carrie Gardner
March 6 ~~ Charles Batdorf
March 9 ~~ Jamie Burchill

Happy Birthday to you!

*****I know we have new people attending our meetings, but I have not received any new birthdays. You can drop me an email at iguanadoreen@hotmail.com and let me know so I can add the list.

*****Thank you to all who do their part for this club. That is what makes our society the GREATEST in the league.

*****Have a herpy day!! Doreen~~

Speaker Recap By Carrie

Last month, we had the extreme pleasure of having one of our own members speak . . . Maurice "Buzz" Burchill. Buzz works at Fort De Soto Park as a Park Ranger and had lots of information to tell. We hope to have a future field trip there soon. It sounds like a great place. Buzz came to the meeting straight from work and had done an 11-acre controlled burn. They literally saved a tortoise from the fire line, and Buzz saw a very singed squirrel

Fort De Soto Park is in Pinellas County and on an island where you have to pay a couple tolls to get on. However, the tolls are state sanctioned and not park sanctioned. The park boasts several features like the largest boat launch in the county, with a marina, several picnic areas, trails (for non-motorized transportation), East Beach, which has three pavilions and faces Tampa Bay (with little wave action), North Beach (great shell collecting area), and a leash-free doggy beach. They also have two fishing piers . . . the 500-foot Bay Pier (which has boating and a boat house that is open on the weekends, with a ferry to Egmont Key - a great herping area for turtles, tortoise and snakes), and the 1000 foot Gulf Pier. There are also camping areas (and a pet friendly camping area) that are usually full. You can book 6-months in advance and this appears to be the only way to get a spot. The park closes at dark, but allows people to hang around until after the sunsets . . . a major attraction.

And of course, there's a fort. Bet you wouldn't have guessed that one, eh? The Fort was built in 1898 when the United States became involved in a conflict with Cuba. Fort De Soto was built to protect the Tampa Bay area. In 1900, it was named Fort De Soto after Spanish Explorer Hernando De Soto. The Fort was built within its $155,000 budget . . . in fact there was $16.73 remaining! In 1923 both Fort De Soto and Fort Dade were abandoned and in 1926 the U.S. Government authorized its sale. In 1977, the Fort De Soto batteries were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, a visitor can view the remains of Battery Laidley and the last four 12-inch M1890-M1 mortars remaining in North America. From the surf of the Gulf of Mexico, what remains of Battery Bigelow can be seen. From their visitors can see two weapons which look to be out of place. They are 6-inch rapid-fire rifles that were manufactured in England. Neither Fort Dade nor Fort De Soto were ever the site of a major battle.

There are several signs you will see around the park. There are several areas where the park is restoring the natural habitat, so you will see Habitat Restoration signs around. And in fact, the park is closing down a mile of its 7- mile beach for migrating birds that use the beaches to rest on their trip back up north. In part of habitat restoration, we should mention that the park is putting G.P.S. markers on all gopher tortoise holes found and are tracking them to see where they live and what they eat. They do this by following their tracks, which is the easiest way to find where they eat and where they live. It is interesting to note that other animals have been found in the gopher tortoise, such as eastern diamondback rattlesnakes.

Another important aspect of the park is helping the sea turtles. Fort De Soto Park is considered a different site than Pinellas County, so they count the nests separately. Twenty nests were laid in the park, while 26 nests were laid in the rest of the county. Out of the twenty nests laid, 85% hatched out and made it to the water. During nesting season, Rangers patrol the beaches and follow the tracks to the nests, determine if it is a nest using a probe. If a nest is present, they put a mesh over the site . . . big enough for the babies to get out when they hatch, but small enough to keep predatory animals (a.k.a. racoons) and humans out. A sign is placed at the site, and the waiting game begins. If after 54-72 days pass and there is no sign of any hatching, the nest is dug out by hand and assistance is given to any hatchlings found. They let them loose at night, where they are washed up back on the beach several times before finally making it out to sea. The only problems that occur are if the concessionaires leave their lights on, the hatchlings may become confused and move toward the light instead of toward the water.

Other signs you will see around the park are signs explaining that nudity is not allowed on the beaches. Apparently there is a rumor that there is a nude beach at Fort De Soto Park. However, there is not. Not that it stops people, who have been known to park their bare assets right under the sign that says "No Nudity Allowed." Another sign found all over the beaches are "No Swimming - Dangerous Currents." These areas are patrolled by Park Rangers. There are plenty of swimming areas where there are life guards. Though they can't really stop anyone from going in the water, it is at the person's own risk.

Common animals found at the park . . . RACOONS! Apparently you can go in at dark and see little glowing eyes if you turn on a flashlight. Some 700 racoons have been removed by the USDA because of disease, and presumably euthanized. There are also opossums and I'm sure the normal assortment of squirrels and other small animals. Some animals that aren't found are armadillos or alligators. The alligators aren't around because there is only one fresh water pond in the park, and that pond leads into the Pinellas County water line, one of the back flow lines. There are no fish found in there either, however, some turtles have been known to frequent it.

In the water, especially around the piers, you can observe dolphins, who enjoy stealing fish off of the fishermen's lines and there are a couple of resident manatees. One animal you have to be careful of (and yes, there is a sign for them) are sting rays. Mostly these animals are reclusive and try to stay hidden in the sand. If you aren't shuffling your feet as you walk (and sometimes even if you're are doing the shuffle), you can step on their barbs. The barb is serrated, so it goes in smoothly and rips itself out. The poison that is on the barb is a protein. Also, you get the fish slime that protects fish from the water - which can be irritating. A radiating pain will shoot up your leg (or your bum, if you sit on one) and Buzz has been told by some women that it is more painful than childbirth. However, the treatment is easy . . . stick the affected area in hot soapy water for about 30 minutes. And yes, the Rangers at the park can assist you with this.

Reptiles found at the park are gopher tortoises, brown anoles, green anoles, blue-tailed skinks, snakes (most common is the black racer). A lot of reptiles are found dead on roadsides throughout the park, simply because they like to come out after a rain or when it gets dark to absorb the heat from the asphalt. Many snakes are found - yellow rat snakes, corn snakes, indigos, and the eastern diamondback are around. One venomous snake that isn't found commonly is the pygmy rattlesnake. To find these critters, follow any of the trails throughout the park and keep your eyes open, since many camouflage quite well in their natural environment. The green anoles seem to hang out by the Headquarters building. Another great herping place is Egmont Key. Take the ferry over and explore away. You will find turtles, tortoises, and snakes there as well.

For those of you interested in birds, you will find your normal shore birds. There is also a fountain that is dedicated to birds. Donated by a gentleman that used to sit on a bench, he asked that a fountain be built on that location. Ironically, in one of the power boxes is a resident king snake. And on hot summer days, he can be seen sunning himself in the fountain. This causes some bird people to freak out. Anyway, you will find anhingas, egrets, snowy egrets, WHITE pelicans (a rare sight), ospreys, American kestrels, skimmers, red-shouldered hawks, And I don't need to mention that fauna found at the park is incredible.

Finally a little note on the exotic animals found in the park. The two big ones are green iguanas and house cats. So it is time for me to step up on my soap box here. Cats are NOT outdoor animals! Besides the fact that they predate on animals they don't need to because they are being fed by their owners AND causing decreasing numbers in a number of species, there are many, many dangers out there facing them. Off the top of my head, I can come up with cars, chemicals (such as antifreeze) and pesticides, other animals (racoons, opossums, coyotes, alligators, venomous snakes, other cats), parasites, maggot infestation if they should suffer an open wound, and coming into contact with feline diseases. All a cat needs to do is come into contact with an infected cat's feces to get FIV (Feline Aids) or Feline Leukemia. Both have no reliable vaccinations and both are fatal diseases. I don't buy that cats need to go outside. I have six healthy, happy, INDOOR cats. As long as you give them attention, love, and enrichment with toys, you will have a happy, healthy cat that will live well into his or her teens, rather than under 10 years, which is how long outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats usually live. Okay . . . hopping off my soapbox now! The park is also home now to a coyote . . . who is helping with the decreasing of the kitty population. Otherwise, the cats and kittens are trapped and given to an animal shelter to be put up for adoption.

Thank you so much, Buzz, for the informative talk and all the goodies you brought along (where I got my history of the Fort from). I am definitely psyched about going there and looking around!

Michele's Musings

Feeding Your Reptile....Fireflies

Fireflies or lighting bugs are a flying beetle seen around mid-summer. They are normally black or brown with red or orange markings. They are soft bodied with leathery shells. Most fireflies are nocturnal, though there are numerous species of fireflies that are diurnal. Most diurnal species are non-luminescent. The non-flying adult females glow in order to locate the males that are flying above. The male firefly will advertise back to the female by glowing. The firefly glow also warns predators of the danger of eating the beetles. A few days after mating, a female lays her eggs on or just below the surface of the ground. The eggs hatch 3-4 weeks later and the larva feed until the end of summer. The larva, commonly called glowworms, burrows underground or under the bark of trees. They emerge in the spring. After several weeks of feeding, they pupate for 1 to 2 ½ weeks then emerge as adults. The larvae of most fireflies are specialized predators and feed on other larvae, snails and slugs. All fireflies glow as larvae.

There is a female Photuris Firefly that is known for mimicking the mating flashes of other fireflies for the sole purpose of predation. Target males are attracted to what appears to be a suitable mate and are eaten. For this reason the Photuris female is sometimes referred to as "femme fatale". And she does not get asked out for a second date. (Just kidding J)

Fireflies are capable of producing a "cold light" containing no ultraviolet or infrared rays, with a wavelength from 510 to 670 nanometers. The light can be pale red, yellow or green in color with an efficiency of up to 96%. That is amazing, a normal household incandescent bulb can convert only 10% of total energy used to create visible light, and the remainder is emitted as heat.

Through the years, lizard deaths have been reported after they had consumed fireflies. In all cases, the lizards were not native to North America or are not native to where fireflies are found. Researchers have uncovered chemicals in fireflies that are related to their luminescence. These chemicals circulate through the insect's blood stream making the entire insect toxic. Reports of toxicity and warnings started to appear in the veterinary and zoo literature in the past 5 years. Some studies say the chemical is a self-defense toxin and is not the substance that makes fireflies glow.

The signs of firefly poisoning commonly occur within 30 minutes of ingesting are: head shaking, gaping, repeated attempts to regurgitate, difficulty breathing and a darkening of the skin. Death can occur within an hour of ingestion and is due to the effect of the toxin on the heart. For many lizards, eating just one firefly can be fatal.

I did research to try to find out if the non-lighting fireflies are poisonous and I could not find any studies about that. It would be safe to assume that ALL fireflies are poisonous and never feed any of them to your pet. To prevent potential poisonings, make sure your pet does not have access to fireflies.

If you keep your reptile or amphibian outdoors, keep insect proof covers on cages and prevent flying insects from entering the pet's environment.

The one article I was reading had emergency treatment & suggests contacting your local reptile vet immediately. However, any of the treatments tried were not effective in saving the animal in time. The toxins work too quickly for any treatments to take effect.

Once you take an animal out of its native environment, it cannot distinguish between safe or harmful plants or prey. Species that are native to one part of a country cannot be expected to instinctively know what plants and prey is toxic or safe. As far as the reptile knows, anything the owner puts into their enclosure is food. If you keep species not native to where you live, you need to exercise great caution when capturing wild prey for them. For the safety of your reptiles and amphibians, when in doubt, check it out or better yet leave it out. Plus you never know what pesticides or parasites that wild insects have come into contact with. It's best to stick with crickets, mealworms and other insects that were raised specially for your pet.

References

www.peteducation.com - Pet Education by Holly Nash, DVM, MS

www.wikipedia.ord/wiki/Firefly - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

www.anapsid.org/fireflies.html - Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection "Firefly Toxicity"

www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/99/8.19.99/lizards.html - Cornell Chronicle - Poisonous Fireflies by Roger Segelken

Submitted by John Soto

The cute way to destroy an ecosystem. If you were hoping to own one of those cute little turtles with the red stripes near their ears, forget it. The state has banned the sale of red-eared sliders as pets because too many people are buying them when they were still little, then releasing them to the wild when they outgrew their cuteness. Biologists complain the invasive species has been breeding with native Florida turtle species as well as competing for food and habitat. For now, people who owned red sliders before July 1, 2007, can keep them. But the pets are not allowed to reproduce, and all the eggs must be destroyed. Most pet stores are no longer selling them. The new law will make it illegal to own any red-eared sliders smaller than four inches after July 1, 2008. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Successful Artificial Insemination in the Corn Snake Elaphe gutatta, Using Fresh and Cooled Semen.

The design and implementation of assisted reproductive technology to improve genetic diversity and augment captive populations is an important but rarely applied research field in reptiles. Using corn snake (Elaphe gutatta) as a model, the Henry Doorly Zoo recently produced offspring born as a result of artificial insemination using both fresh, diluted semen, and diluted semen stored at refrigeration for 3 days. Semen was collected noninvasively from sexually mature male corn snakes using a gentle massaging technique, extended in medium then inseminated into the oviducts of adult females. Using molecular genetic techniques to confirm or refute the success of the insemination using primers developed to the black rat snake, Elaphe obsolete, all possible parents and offspring genotypes were evaluated. A paternity-by-exclusion analysis verified that the offspring were in fact a result of artificial insemination. Zoo Biol 26:363-369, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Editor's note...I'm just curious over who was doing the "noninvasive massage technique", and what exactly would you put in those little rooms to encourage the male snake??

Submitted by Logan Randolph

Turtle Swims From Indonesia to Oregon

A leatherback turtle has been tracked swimming from the coast of the Papua province in Indonesia to Oregon, researchers said, in what may be the longest trip for marine vertebrae between breeding and feeding sites.

"This is an animal perfectly suited for doing this kind of journey," said Scott Benson, research fishery biologist for the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, who helped track the turtle and presented details of the journey at a sea turtle symposium last month.

The longest distance of nine turtles tagged in 2003, Benson said, was the leatherback that reached Oregon and then headed to Hawaii before the battery on the satellite transmitter gave out. The 12,774-mile journey took 647 days, he said. © 2008, The Associated Press

REMEMBER: SUNCOAST HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S
BIG FUND RAISING AUCTION IS
FEBRUARY 20, 2008 AT 7:00 P.M.
MOCCASIN LAKE PARK

Ciao!

Carrie

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