Reptile & Amphibian News Blog
Keep up with news and features of interest to the reptile and amphibian community on the kingsnake.com blog. We cover breaking stories from the mainstream and scientific media, user-submitted photos and videos, and feature articles and photos by Jeff Barringer, Richard Bartlett, and other herpetologists and herpetoculturists.
Wednesday, January 12 2011
Like a thorn in the herp community’s toe, the effort to add nine species to the Lacey Act just won't go away.
The January 8 New York Times features kingsnake.com member Jeremy Stone. The article itself was fair and well rounded, giving all sides the chance to speak:
But it is the first time the government has tried to list animals so widely held as pets. Roughly one million Americans are believed to own snakes of the types listed by the Interior Department, according to the United States Association of Reptile Keepers, and 31,000 were imported in 2008, the most recent year for which the government has data. Trade in these species is big business: more than $100 million annually. Those with rare colors can fetch upward of $75,000.
The move to ban the snakes has set off a swell of anger among aggrieved snake owners and breeders, who have the most to lose financially, as well as a smattering of academic herpetologists, zookeepers and representatives of international conservation groups. When the regulations came up for public review, they flooded the government with objections.
At the heart of their arguments is a critique of the emerging science of invasive species risk assessment. And their response has highlighted the challenges that the government faces as it increasingly moves to protect native flora and fauna not just from current invasive species but also from future threats.
Next up was a New York Times article on the Lacey Act;
Though it is more than a century old, the Lacey Act is neither a well-known nor a well-liked statute. It was passed in 1900 mainly to preserve the native species and plants from overfishing and excessive hunting, but it has since been amended to address imports of non-native species that are either endangered in their own countries or would prove invasive here.
To some critics, the Lacey Act is hopelessly reactive. Others fault it because it has failed to prevent a spectacular number of exotic plants and animals from entering the United States, including the large and hungry Asian carp, which poses a threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Closing out the article was Kristina Serbesoff-King from the Nature Conservency, who basically said these animals should be looked at as guilty until proven innocent. There were also comments from Lyle Vos, who apparently is a Democratic candidate for the Presidency; while I don't think he's anyone we'll be hearing about much, he is very anti-snake (among other things of note found in a quick google search). It's always good when they show us their hand in advance.
Finally, the New York Times followed up today with an article from the perspective of United States Geological Survey scientists Gordon Rodda and Robert Reed, who started this process with their much-disputed risk assessment report:
But the scientists also defend their climate models. They emphasize that the models are not meant to factor in every variable that would affect the ability of the species to thrive, like the availability of prey and human development of the land. In other words, a climate model is not a prediction that the animal will spread to those areas, but an outline of the limits of the areas where they can survive the cold and dryness.
They also argue that scientists who did the alternative climate model incorporated too many variables, far more than standard practice would dictate was necessary, in assessing risk — and that this led them to underestimate the area through which the snake species might spread.
While some pythons have died in winters to the north of the Everglades, Dr. Rodda and Dr. Reddy say, their fate does not necessarily reflect the survival capacity of the species as a whole. Pythons learn adaptive behaviors early in their life cycle, they note, whereas the ones taken from the Everglades had matured without exposure to the cold and therefore might not have known how to protect themselves.
While we may dispute things in each article, this is probably the most encompassing reporting on these issues.
As always, we'll keep watching for further developments.
Press coverage of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has died down, but the effects of the spill remain.
A recent report on the Huffington Post had this update:
BP cleanup crews returned to work Monday after a 10 day break, WKRG reports, and they seem to have their work more than cut out for them. Tarballs have been washing up all along the shores of Alabama's Fort Morgan beach.
According to the Press-Register, they range in size from as small as a nickel to as large as a person's palm. The tarballs are so plentiful on the beach that they are seldom more than an inch apart from each other on shore.
In a BP press release, the company says, "We've stated all along that we expect the beaches to be clean by spring break 2011 tourism season. That's been our goal and commitment all along and we are making steady progress towards meeting that goal."
For more information as well as a video, click here. Tarball photo are from National Geographic.
Tuesday, January 11 2011
A Venice, FL grandmother has spotted and photographed the first known orange alligator.
From Treehugger.com:
She was returning from work on Thursday when she drove by the gator and promptly had to back up for a double-take. Luckily, Sylvia wasn't frightened enough to miss out on a great photo opportunity. "I thought this is great...I'm going to snap a picture and send it to my grandkids so they think I'm one of the coolest grandmas in Florida," she said.
....
After sending the picture to her local news station she also contacted a biologist who believes the gator is really just half-albino. That said, he says he has never seen or heard of one. But Gary Morse from Florida Fish and Wildlife feels the orange color might be from some environmental element.
Regardless, the University of Florida Gators might have a new mascot.
Reptile genetics are a fun thing -- only imagine what this would make in a breeding program.
Sunday, January 9 2011
Here is the text of the newly-written ban on exotic animals in the state of Ohio. This ban is already law, but it was passed by emergency order of the outgoing governor and as such expires on April 6. The incoming governor is leaning towards making it permanent, but has indicated he's willing to consider other action.
Please take the time to read this carefully, and, if you're in Ohio, please use the contact information included at the end to make your feelings known.
Those of us with pit bulls are well aware of just how bad the state of Ohio can be on writing sensible, humane legislation about animals. Please don't assume this problem will go away on its own; your action is, your input, is needed. This is especially critical for anyone doing rescue or public education for these species.
Here is the text of the current law:
From the Register of Ohio, Filed on January 6, 2011
(3) Class reptilia:
(a) Order crocodylia: all species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and
gharials.
(b) Order squamata:
(i) Family atractaspidae: all species, such as mole vipers.
(ii) Family boidae: anaconda (Genus eunectes), Burmese python
(Python molurus), reticulated python (Python reticulatus),
amethystine python (Morelia amethistinus), scrub python
(Morelia kinghorni), northern African python (Python sebae),
southern African python (Python natalensis).
(iii) Family colubridae: boomslang (Dispholidus typus), twig snake
(Genus thelotornis).
(iv) Family elapidae: all species, such as cobra, mamba, and coral
snakes.
(v) Family hydrophiidae: all species, such as sea snakes.
(vi) Family viperidae: all species, such as rattlesnakes, pit vipers, and
puff adders.
John Kasich, the new governor, will take office Monday January 10. What better way to welcome him to work with letters and emails on this topic? There is currently no email address listed for him, however, a contact form for the Governer can be found here.
Email is great, but letters sent via the postal service make a far larger impact, so do both.
Letters should be mailed to:
Governor John Kasich
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
You can also call and fax as well at these numbers:
Phone: (614) 466-3555
Fax: (614) 466-9354
If this draconic ban becomes permanent, it will cause major issues nationwide as we continue to try to fight to keep our reptiles. One state enacting such a ban will only help bolster national legislation. Ohio residents, please act now.
In an emergency order issued Thursday, exiting Ohio Governor Ted Strcikland did what the state was working on doing all year. He temporarily banned the ownership of exotic pets with support from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
From NBC4I:
The order fulfills Strickland's end of a deal brokered by his administration with the Humane Society of the United States, other animal rights groups and Ohio's agribusiness industry. The agreement prompted the Humane Society to withdraw a ballot issue containing a litany of restrictions on pet ownership and treatment and livestock care.
In a statement, he said the agreement "will keep Ohio's vital agriculture industry profitable while appropriately updating animal care standards."
"This rule will help protect Ohioans from deaths and serious injuries caused by attacks from dangerous wild animals held in private ownership," he said.
[....]
"Dangerous wild animals do not belong in the backyards and basements of private citizens," he said. "It's bad for the animals and dangerous for people. This emergency order is good for Ohio, and we look forward to seeing it implemented in the months ahead."
As an emergency measure, Strickland's order is temporary, running through March 6. However, (incoming governor) Kasich said Thursday that he supports the ban in concept.
"We don't want exotic animals here where somebody's bringing something in and then some neighbor gets hurt. So we'll look at it," he said during a news conference announcing three new cabinet directors. "It sounds reasonable, but just let me take a look at it. I would be inclined to say we should continue it."
So what animals are actually at risk with the proposed law? What can or can't be done? The emergency executive order is located here.
Continue reading "The Ohio exotics ban: What it means"
Saturday, January 8 2011
Two recalls that may effect our reptile community were issued recently by the FDA. Metronidazole (Flagyl) and Triad alcohol products were both recalled.
First up, Teva's Metronidazole recalled for underweight tablets:
Underweight tablets may not contain the full amount of active ingredient within a single tablet, a consumer may not receive the prescribed dose. This may cause the infection the drug was intended to treat to worsen or recur, which could be life-threatening when treating severe infections. To date, Teva Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. has not received any adverse events associated with the use of this product lot.
Wholesalers and retailers have been previously notified of this recall via overnight notification on 10/25/10 and are in the process of returning this product lot. Consumers who have lot 312566 in their possession are instructed to cease using the product and return it to their pharmacy. Wholesalers and retailers should cease distribution and examine their inventory immediately.
Next, Triad Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs, and Alcohol Swabsticks recalled due to microbial contamination:
Hartland, Wisconsin, Triad Group, a manufacturer of over-the-counter products has initiated a voluntary product recall involving ALL LOTS of ALCOHOL PREP PADS, ALCOHOL SWABS, and ALCOHOL SWABSTICKS manufactured by Triad Group but which are private labeled for many accounts to the consumer level. This recall involves those products marked as STERILE as well as non-sterile products. This recall has been initiated due to concerns from a customer about potential contamination of the products with an objectionable organism, namely Bacillus cereus. We are, out of an abundance of caution, recalling these lots to ensure that we are not the source of these contamination issues.
Use of contaminated Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs or Alcohol Swabsticks could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in at risk populations, including immune suppressed and surgical patients. To date we have received one report of a non-life-threatening skin infection.
Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs and Alcohol Swabsticks are used to disinfect prior to an injection. They were distributed nationwide to retail pharmacies and are packaged in individual packets and sold in retail pharmacies in a box of 100 packets. The affected Alcohol Prep Pads, Alcohol Swabs and Alcohol Swabsticks can be identified by either “Triad Group,” listed as the manufacturer, or the products are manufactured for a third party and use the names listed below in their packaging:
Cardinal Health
PSS Select
VersaPro
Boca/ Ultilet
Moore Medical
Walgreens
CVS
Conzellin
These products were distributed in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Each product has detailed instructions on what to do if you have them. Now I am off to call Triad.
Wednesday, January 5 2011
In perhaps the most unusual wedding of 2011, two pythons promised for better or worse in a ceremony with hundreds of onlookers.
Cambodia has a heavily Buddhist population and they believe that the gods can inhabit anything, a belief called animism. The pair of pythons are believed to be magical, bringing peace and prosperity.
From WFTV9:
"We married these pythons to ask for health and prosperity in our village," said 41-year-old Neth Vy, owner of female python named Chamrouen.
"We were told (by fortunetellers) that the two pythons are husband and wife and they need to live together, and if we don't marry them we will meet bad luck," said Neth Vy, who found the then-tiny python while fishing 16 years ago.
He said since the snake became part of the household, the family's living conditions had steadily improved and no misfortune had befallen them.
The male python, named Kroung Pich, was caught 12 days ago by Hin Mao, a 44-year-old, childless woman who said she regarded it as her son.
For the original AP article with more photos, click here.
Monday, January 3 2011
It was the case that started the laws: A young child was killed by the family pet Burmese Python.
The 8-foot snake, owned by Jason Darnell, was not properly fed or housed. An aquarium with a quilt as a cover is by no means a proper enclosure, and at a mere 13 lbs, we all knew the animal was underweight. Members of the reptile community all screamed, "The snake was starved, the owners were bad," and although we're being proven right as more information comes out about the case, the backlash still falls on us.
From Tampa Bay Online:
According to a death investigation by the Department of Children and Families, Jaren Hare's mother, Sheryl, was concerned about her daughter's ability to care for the python and a smaller snake.
Sheryl Hare told a DCF investigator that a week before the attack, she offered to buy rats for the snakes because the couple had neither jobs nor money. She said she also offered to get sealed containers for the snakes and to keep the snakes at her home.
Both offers were rejected, she told investigators.
[....]
Darnell recalled how the python snatched a roadkill squirrel from his hand about a month before the attack.
Improper care, not the python were to blame here. This article hits the press just as the 111th Congress is being seated -- a whole new crop of legislators coming to the house. I strongly suspect the ember is still burning in the woodpile beneath the federal legislation, and we had best not let our guard down for one moment.
Sunday, January 2 2011
Good news: The highly endangered Southern Bell Frog may be returning to Australia.
From ABCNews:
(Department of Environment Conservation Officer James Maguire) said the flooding of the Murrumbidgee River is the most likely cause of the frog's resurgence and said there is really only one way to ensure the frogs do not disappear again.
"It's all about the water really," he said.
"If we can get environmental water back into these wetland systems annually or every second year, then we'd be looking pretty good to their population there.
"Also vegetation wise, we need to be managing the systems so they're well vegetated so the frogs have a good habitat to hide and lay eggs in."
Mr Maguire said monitoring of the Murrumbidgee's wetlands will be stepped up, following the discovery.
With all that is happening worldwide to amphibian populations, this is wonderful news.
Thursday, December 30 2010
Having lived through more than 170 bites from a variety of venomous snakes, Bill Haast can only be described as a medical miracle.
The former head of the Miami Serpentarium, Bill grew up in a different era. There was no real research into antivenom and medical uses, but Bill saw through this lack of information. Inspired by comparison of Polio's nerve effects and that of a cobra bite, he had a dream to cure the disease with cobra venom. Progress was being made, but research halted with the vaccine release.
The question of Bill's use of self-immunization is a hot one. But no matter what side of the fence you stand on, the fact that transfusions of his blood helping snake bite victims can not be overlooked. In his heyday, he was flown to donate blood to snake bite victims and saved many a life.
Controversies aside, Bill is still an inspiration to many, from visitors to the Serpentarium to a child in the Midwest who got a gift from someone Bill knew from the war, to the folks at Venom 1. More stories can be read on both his facebook fan page and Dan Boyd's PBase site, and basically every reptile site around today.
Bill is someone who inspires with his passion for doing what he lives, standing by what choices he made and showing no regret for how he lived. Happy Birthday, Bill. I have never met you, but will raise a toast in your honor today.
Continue reading "100 years and kicking: Happy Birthday, Bill Haast"
Wednesday, December 29 2010
In an effort to protect Brazilian wildlife diversity and resources, including many reptiles, the nation plans to stop companies that produce products using their rare animals without compensation.
From ABCNews.com:
Brazil has levied more than 100 million reais ($59 million) in fines since July on companies charged with not paying fair compensation for the use of genetic material native to Brazil, said Bruno Barbosa, who heads inspection for the environmental oversight agency Ibama.
Next year, officials will begin pursuing companies that did not notify the government of their use of local species to create products such as pharmaceuticals, as required by law, meaning fines will likely go up.
[....]
Barbosa says examples of biopiracy abound, such as the development in the 1970s of the hypertension medication captopril from a snake venom that indigenous groups used on arrowhead tips.
Pharmaceuticals companies also used the yellow-and-green Kambo frog, found in Brazil's Amazon state of Acre, to create anti-inflammatory drugs without distributing benefits to local residents, he said. Many of these incidents came before a 2001 decree that created the current rules governing species use.
While some may feel the laws are overly restrictive, this measure may result in the preservation of what's left of Brazil's native flora and fauna.
Tuesday, December 28 2010
News reporters like to make much ado about a venomous snake bite, be it a native or exotic species, but Janaki Lenin has her own take. Of course she also shares it with her husband Rom Whitaker of the Madras Croc Bank.
From The Hindu:
If a snake catcher gets bitten by a venomous snake, it is his own fault. He was careless, most probably trying to show off, and wasn't paying attention. That was the motto of Rom and his snake-hunting buddies in the U.S. during the 1960s, and it still holds to this day. In keeping with that philosophy, anyone who got bit was teased mercilessly. (Non-snake hunting civilians bitten accidentally were exempt, of course.) There is no doubt that this tradition of peer-admonition has kept these men, most of them, alive to this day.
In India, however, numerous snake-catchers, invariably young men, brag about their various snakebite “exploits”.
One bright spark bagged a cobra in a flimsy translucent bag. When he moved in closer to knot it, the snake nailed him on the hand through the cloth.
He was in hospital for a few days, and in the Indian tradition, the entire neighbourhood visited him to express their concern. Basking in all this attention, our man never once paused to think why the incident had occurred. When he bragged about it numerous times, Rom asked him: “Whose fault was it?” The young man didn't seem sure, but it was certainly not his fault, he declared. Rom countered: “If you had used a proper bag to begin with you wouldn't have been bit, right? So tell me now whose fault was it?” The reply was silence.
The blame lies with the keeper. In this day and age, however. one careless keeper can spark problems for 100 good keepers. Please be careful; I agree with Janaki that we do not need more Darwin Award winners.
Monday, December 27 2010
When the Gulf Restoration Network and Center for Biological Diversity threatened legal action earlier this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stepped forward with a proposal to save the Mississippi Gopher Frog, to the tune of around $100,000.
From the Associated Press:
Most of the land is owned by the federal government; 96 acres are owned by the state and 470 acres are privately owned.
Mississippi gopher frogs once lived in longleaf pine forests from western Alabama to southeast Louisiana. Timbering all but eradicated those forests.
They now live in only a few spots in south Mississippi.
Scientists believe fewer than 100 mature adults live in the wild. Five zoos — in Detroit, New Orleans, Memphis, Miami and Omaha, Nebraska — have been breeding or raising them.
If this impacts you, the agency is taking comments until January 11, 2011.
Sunday, December 26 2010
Israeli airplanes are causing an unnatural mating season for crocs.
From Treehugger.com:
While the animals may very well be delighted that love seems to be in the air more than usual lately, crocodile handler David Golan believes the jet inspired drive to matie is cause for concern. The crocs, which normally perform mating rituals in a particular part of the year, are having their biological clocks thrown off by all the unnatural noise.
To make matters worse, the crocodiles are none the more satisfied by the mating call confusion. The crocs have been observed bellowing back their own song, but for some reason they never seem to partner up with any mate -- as if it's just the jet overhead that has won them over, though it never ceases to play hard-to-get.
The good news is that this is a nursery and not wild animals, but it also makes you wonder what might be happening to other species.
After the bump, video from St. Augustine when I visited this summer and the gators were calling!
Continue reading "Sonic boom romance for crocs"
Friday, December 24 2010
Researchers are floored by the pH levels in the springs in Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve, located along the Wenlock River in Cairns, Australia.
There, the rain has made lakes so acidic, native fish can no longer tolerate the water.
The scientists, however, have suggested animals and plants living in the natural springs have adapted to the toxic conditions.
Exactly how, though, remains unexplained, according to UQ team leader Prof Craig Franklin.
"Would I swim in it? I wouldn’t drink it, let’s put it that way," Prof Franklin told The Cairns Post.
The springs flow into the Wenlock River.
Researchers had observed many of the saltwater crocodiles in the Wenlock with stained and weak-looking teeth.
Prof Franklin said this may be related to the acidic spring water.
To read the full article, click here.
Thursday, December 23 2010
An insurance company in Shawno, Wisc., wants to hire alligators as sales reps. From Fox11:
The classified ad is titled "Alligators." It starts out saying "two weeks ago we found one alligator. We're still looking for two more alligators to fill the two positions that are open." The ad goes on several more lines but closes asking interested applicants to call Mr. Alligator.
“It's something to catch people's eyes,” said Peebles. “The actual ad I didn't write. I don't want to take credit for that, but it's kind of funny.”
“Someone asked me, 'is Mr. Alligator there?' and I was pretty shocked,” said Jeremy Peebles, Dan’s son and an agent at the insurance company. “I thought it was a prank at first because they never told me about it.”
Here I got all excited that some of our rescue animals could pay their own way in an insurance advertisement. Alas, the description of alligators in the ad was actually probably the most benign I have ever seen, "semi-obnoxious and pushy." I spose that I can live with.
Thursday, December 16 2010
A federal judge ruled that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife study on protection of the Delta Smelt was "sloppy science" -- the same thing we've been saying about their justification for trying to restrict interstate trade of pythons and boas.
From NYTimes.com:
"The public cannot afford sloppy science and uni-directional prescriptions that ignore California's water needs," the judge wrote, adding that the state Legislature had failed "to provide the means to assure an adequate water supply for both the humans and the species dependent on the delta."
Moreover, in a remarkable side note that cuts to the heart of the many stresses in the Northern California region, Wanger appeared to suggest he does not see a legal avenue for finding a solution for the many interests, farms, wildlife and urban consumers that rely on the delta's water.
"The law alone cannot afford protection to all the competing interests at stake in these cases," Wanger said.
He pushed the study back into the hands of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, who say it may take up to 9 months to edit and recompile the data.
This is something very important to all in the herp community, because it is a battle we may yet need to wage. With the push to pass S373 through during the lame duck congress, we need to be prepared for future battles.
A CareerBuilder survey run by Harris Poll shows we herpers are in the big money.
The study broke down all demographics of pet owners and what they more likely do for a living and earn. From CareerBuilder:
Key findings include:
Workers with dogs were more likely to report holding senior management positions (CEO, CFO, Senior Vice President, etc)
Workers with snakes/reptiles were the most likely to report earning six figures.
Workers with birds were the most likely to report being satisfied with their jobs.
In terms of career paths, owners of certain pets were more likely to report being drawn to certain professions:
Dog owners were more likely to be professors, nurses, information technology professionals, military professionals and entertainers
Cat owners were more likely to be physicians, real estate agents, science/medical lab technicians, machine operators and personal caretakers
Fish owners were more likely to be human resources professionals, financial professionals, hotel and leisure professionals, farming/fishing/forestry professionals and transportation professionals
Bird owners were more likely to be advertising professionals, sales representatives, construction workers and administrative professionals
Snake/Reptile owners were more likely to be engineers, social workers, marketing/public relations professionals, editors/writers and police officers
Oddly enough, I was part of the Harris Poll pooling group and I participated in this survey, but at last check I didnt make a six-figure pay check. Umm, yeah, Jeff; can we talk?
Wednesday, December 15 2010
Every year I have the same discussion with at least one person: "What do you do with those animals when people come over?"
Thankfully my husband and I work odd hours. We usually do not entertain a whole lot, but when we do, they are folks who either like our dogs and reptiles or at least understand why we have them. My mother-in-law is still a bit nervous to hit the bathroom, usually asking if anything is in there before she enters. (She happened to pop over once just after I got in from Animal Control, and the wiggling bag in the sink bothered her.)
I am a reptile person, so yes, you may well find a frozen rodent in my fridge, along with a huge array of veggies. I have a chest freezer, but I do tend to keep some items upstairs for easy access. Much as in this discussion on our forums, it happens in my world. And my house is my world.
My house isnt teeming with snakes rolling around the floor, but even in the best of times, you will find proof they live there. The excess pillowcases on my couch, ready for a run to pick up the next rescue; feeders in my freezer; possibly a snake in quarantine in my bathroom. But I go so far as allowing my dogs on the couch as well! My cat, well, he eats on the kitchen table because it is one place I can make sure he, and not the dogs, gets his food.
So each year, when the discussion arises, I proclaim proudly, "My house is that of a proud animal owner. If folks don't like animals, they really wouldn't like my house." How do holidays go for other herp keepers?
kingsnake.com BFF Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry is still playing with his goannas, but now he is learning that the venom of the big daddy monitor lizard, the Komodo Dragon, may play a very important role in helping with heart disease.
From Australian Geographic:
FROM THE DEEPEST REACHES of the Australian desert to the cloud forests of Mexico, the University of Melbourne's Dr Bryan Fry has been on the trail of a group of lizards - and, more specifically, their venom.
One of the key results of his team's study of so-called 'anguimorphs' - which include monitor lizards and the komodo dragon - is the discovery of three toxins that lower blood pressure. The team hopes this could one day lead to new drugs to treat people.
It was only four years ago that the same international team reported finding that venom is widespread in lizards, not restricted to a few species, as had been thought. In a bid to find out more, the researchers extracted and analysed venom from 23 different lizards.
One side note that Bryan has always stressed is there is a vast difference in venoms and many are not considered medically significant. However for heart patients, Komodos may save your future.
Continue reading "Healing lizards: Regeneration and the heart"
Tuesday, December 14 2010
The most important item in your snake bite emergency kit may well be your cell phone. In a recent medical journal article, Dr. Cyrus Rangan, director of toxics and epidemiology at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, tells snake bite victims to skip icing, tourniquets, sucking venom and all the other old wives' tales. A call to 911 will be your best bet.
In women, such bites are mostly on the foot, the result of accidentally stepping on or near the snake. "Ninety percent of the time men get bitten on the hand because they're doing something dumb," said Dr. Rangan. He told the story of a man who kissed a rattler on the mouth – and got bitten – in two separate incidents.
[....]
Besides calling a pharmacy to make sure it has the appropriate antivenom in stock, Dr. Rangan said, appropriate first aid includes immobilizing the patient and elevating the bitten extremity above the heart.
[....]
Surgical intervention is rarely needed. Some necrotic tissue debridement might be called for, but fasciotomy is rarely indicated and is the largest contributor to comorbidity, he added.
For the full article, click here.
I'm interested to hear what the experts in treating these injuries say. I know the Florida Snakebite Institute is very vocally against fasciotomy.
Sunday, December 12 2010
When I think of salamanders, I think dark caves, deep burrows and mud. But apparently they are more in touch with the sun than previously thought.
The Common Spotted Salamander has been discovered to be the first photosynthetic vertebrate, a title previously left to plant life, bacteria and a few inverts. From MNN.com:
t turns out that researchers just weren't looking closely enough. While studying a batch of salamander embryos, scientist Ryan Kerney of Dalhousie University saw something different than the prevailing dogma would suggest — a bright green color coming from inside their cells.
That color usually indicates the presence of chlorophyll, which is the light-absorbing green pigment that makes photosynthesis possible.
"On a lark, I decided to take a long-exposure fluorescent image of a pre-hatchling salamander embryo," said Kerney. After backing that experiment up using transmission electron microscopy, he confirmed his suspicion. There were algal symbionts located inside the salamander cells.
In fact, the symbiotic partners were often found bordering mitochondria, organelles responsible for generating a cell's energy. Thus, it's likely that the mitochondria were taking direct advantage of the oxygen and carbohydrate, byproducts of photosynthesis that were generated by the algae.
To read the full article, click here.
Friday, December 10 2010
Regulars to our chats and forums know Vegasbilly for his love of rear-fanged snakes and hitting the field when out working. When I was out in Vegas, who better to meet than Billy himself, and his group of critters?
Now I had an additional reason to visit. I was going through dog withdrawal. My senior bulldog is not doing well, and I just needed some fur to help the homesick blues. I got to see Billy's Scrubs, who were both in shed, so there are no pics.
Bill has such an excitement for his reptiles. He shared stories about each one and where it came from. His desire to herp and stories about catching just the perfect time were infectious. Des and I were almost late for our dinner date, we were having so much fun. I do thank him for having us in his reptile room, much like myself, we maneuver in such a small area but make the most of the space allotted. It was especially nice to get a chance to see the herps since Billy had been out of town for the week on work before we got there. It can be hard while getting things ready for their winter nap and rearranging the room to have guests over.
Oh, yeah, and Billy? I remember herper rules, I won't tell the wife on ya!
After the bump, herp photos. I just couldn't resist leading in with his hunk of an American Bulldog.
Continue reading "A visit with Vegasbilly"
Thursday, December 9 2010
When I went to Vegas to speak there were only two touristy things I wanted to do. Watch the water show at Bellagio and hit the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. I fell in love with the water show during my honeymoon (to the point of insanity with my new husband) and we missed the reef when we were out there.
Both items checked off, I was a happy girl. But what is even cooler is we got a behind the scenes tour to boot! When Desiree Wong and I were preparing to go in the morning she said the magic words "I think they have a Komodo," thus launching me off into a new form of Tourette's where the only word from my mouth was "Komodo." It probably didn't help that our hotel coffee shop at the bottom of the stairs was closed and I had to stand in a gawd awful long line at the Starbucks, causing me to double up on our order. Thankfully I grabbed breakfast for us with the coffee and we were set. Desiree was just happy the coffee fairy had arrived.
On the tram ride over, I had flashbacks to my favorite Discovery show, “Dirty Jobs,” where Mike Rowe was trapped in the traps banging his head repeatedly while cleaning. Yep, I was gonna see what Mike cleaned.
Continue reading "Behind the scenes at Mandalay Bay"
Wednesday, December 8 2010
Staten Island Zoo used to have the most complete rattlesnake collection in the world, but times changed and they lost the title. Now a change is in the works to regain that title, and in doing so they are putting safety first.
From the NY Daily News:
Once home to the most complete rattlesnake collection in the world, the zoo is trying to make a comeback one slithery reptile at a time.
And for every new species it acquires, it must have the right anti-venom - costly but essential should anyone be bitten by the deadly creatures.
"This vial alone was over $1,000," said Matt Lanier, who manages the zoo's snake collection, holding a tiny bottle of white powder.
It can take more than two dozen vials to counteract a bad bite - and the antidote must be administered within minutes.
There are alarm buttons between every padlocked exhibit, and a lightup panel shows which one was hit so staffers can secure the snake and grab the right antidote.
Car keys hang from magnets on the fridge door, ready for a dash to Richmond University Medical Center - which sent staffers to tour the zoo.
"From the time I hit that alarm button we are at the door to the emergency room in under seven minutes," Lanier said.
Very cool that they are planning for safety first, but even cooler that they are building the collection again. If a member pops out I would love to see photos.
Sunday, December 5 2010
In Daytona this year, Kim Foose talked me into actually putting myself forward to talk about the women in the reptile community.
I have blogged already about preparing the talk, reaching out to folks on the site for their feedback on how things were for them, coming up and getting started. I researched women historically and interviewed many women currently working in the field. I was still a total ball of nerves when it came time to actually give a talk on the subject, this time to the Southern Nevada Herp Society in Las Vegas. (An audio of my talk will be available soon for those who can't believe I finally pulled it off)
I sit on the board of directors of the Chicago Herp Society, and it was great to see another group in action. Kim and Ken are really big driving forces of the organization and are really reaching out. My favorite of their programs is the Junior Herpers Club. It touches the same topics most herp societies do, but is specifically aimed at training and grooming kids. How cool is that?
The holiday meeting was much like the Chicago Herp Society's, featuring a potluck party with a fabu raffle. Tickets were sold for big items, and then those were tossed into a large bag for smaller fun things. Ken Foose was the raffle ring leader and amused everyone present.
But I'm leaving out that they did it only the way Vegas can. Yep, they had a showgirl, or more appropriately a belly dancer,who has performed all over Vegas. That's right, Neferteri the Snake Goddess joined us along with her albino green Burmese, Seiti. Of course we have video of that coming, too.
I enjoyed meeting all the folks out there, who were kind and welcoming. I'm glad to have gotten the talk out, and hope to be expanding the talk in the future.
I also can't thank Desiree Wong enough for doing my PowerPoint presentation. I am not familiar with that program, and I am so pleased to have had her in my corner. Also, good luck to the new board of the Southern Nevada Herp Society! Hope you have a great year!
And of course, photos after the bump!
Continue reading "Talking women in herps with the Southern Nevada Herp Society"
The most unusual of the Crocodilian group is gaining a foothold on their native lands. The wild Gharial is making a comeback in a big way.
From the Times of India:
They have been spotted in numbers that are larger than had been expected when the reptiles were spotted after a gap of 60 years in downstream Hooghly two years ago. Now, a team of researchers has identified a breeding group at Purbasthali in Burdwan which signals that the gharials are finally multiplying.
A young gharial, about three feet in length, was trapped in a fishing net at Purbasthali on Saturday. About a half-a-dozen more followed it into the net. They were all pulled up, examined and released back into the river. "By last count, the number of gharials had shot up to around 180. Now, it seems the number is actually more than 250 since they are breeding. We have spotted even smaller ones, new-born gharials merely six inches long. This is great news for conservation since the reptile was taken to be extinct in eastern India for six decades," said Tanmoy Ghosh, president of iRebel an NGO that has been researching on gharials with support from the West Bengal Bio-Diversity Board and the Hooghly Zilla Parishad.
Gharials are some of the most Amazing animals I have ever been near. The story photo is from St. Augustine Alligator Farm this year.
To read the entire story, click here.
Friday, December 3 2010
Just because I never did well climbing the rope doesn't mean I don't find it fascinating how a snake does it. And I'm not the only one.
From Science Daily:
[University of Cincinnati] researchers sent the snakes climbing up varying widths and tensions of ropes as they explored snake movement in relation to their musculoskeletal design and variation in their environment.
They found that regardless of diameter or flexibility of the rope, the snakes alternated curving between left and right as they climbed the ropes. On the thicker ropes, they were able to move greater portions of their bodies forward as they climbed. As the ropes became thinner and more flimsy, the snakes used more of their bodies -- including their back, sides and belly -- to manipulate the rope for climbing.
"Despite the likely physical and energetic challenges, the benefits of the ability to move on narrow and compliant substrates might have large ecological implications for animals," write the authors. "Arboreal organisms must often feed or hunt in the terminal branch niche, which requires the ability to move safely on narrow and compliant substrates."
Of course, now I want to get some rope and head into the reptile room.
Fossils and dinosaurs enthrall us herpers, and they hold the key to a variety of questions -- such as, "When did fangs develop?"
Jon Mitchell, a Chicago Paleontologist has found the answer to that question. From New Scientist.com:
A SET of 200-million-year-old teeth from a beast related to dinosaurs and crocodiles has shed light on how snake fangs evolved. They support the idea that venom canals inside fangs evolved from grooves on the tooth surface.
The late Triassic reptile Uatchitodon is known only from its teeth, which resemble tall, serrated crocodile or dinosaur teeth. Several have been found, and the two youngest ones, dating from 220 million years ago, have what look like venom canals. An older set have grooves of different depths but no canals. Until now it was unknown whether the variations reflected evolutionary changes, different stages of tooth development, or even teeth from different positions in the mouth.
Yet another cool discovery on our cold-blooded friends.
Monday, November 29 2010
I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but please oh please, can the Sea Turtles catch a break?
First the BP oil spill devasted the turtles. Now they're being rushed to the New England Aquarium suffering from cold waters. From NCEN:
The endangered reptiles washed up on the beaches of Wellfleet late Wednesday night. They'd come north to feed on crabs over the summer and got stuck in the chilly waters of Cape Cod Bay.
LaCasse says "September first it's 70 degrees, October first, it's 60 degrees, November first it's 50 degrees and at that point they're really just floating out in the water."
"This group as a whole really concerns me," says Rescue Rehab Director Connie Mergio.
She and the other biologists at the Aquarium's newly opened Animal Care Center say all of these turtles are suffering from hypothermia. Many of them have bacteria and algae growing on their bodies. Most are also dehydrated and will likely be diagnosed with pneumonia.
"When you pick them up they should flap their flippers around they should take a good breath," says Mergio. "We're really not seeing a lot of that."
The video is after the bump, but if Santa exists, can he cut the Sea Turtles a break for one year for my gift?
Continue reading "More troubles for Sea Turtles"
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