THE MONITOR. Volume 23 Number 9 September Welcome back members! RENEWALS Jerry Zimmerman (Sustaining membership) Bill Hodapp

Transcription

1 THE MONITOR NEWSLETTER OF THE HOOSIER HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY A non-profit organization dedicated to the education of its membership and the conservation of all amphibians and reptiles Volume 23 Number 9 September 2012 Welcome back members! RENEWALS Jerry Zimmerman (Sustaining membership) Bill Hodapp NEW MEMBERS Andrea Quigley Nikki Shonk Jacob, Charlotte, and Paul Ray HHS Monthly Meeting 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 19th Guest Speaker: Dr. P. David Polly, Indiana University Topic: "Hip Deep in Giant Snakes: The Discovery and Reconstruction of Titanoboa" Room #150, Pharmacy Building, Butler University Paleontology, the study of prehistoric fossils, has always fascinated the public as best indicated by the enormous success of the Jurassic Park movies. This month's guest speaker, Dr. P. David Polly from Indiana University, was one of the scientists to discover and reconstruct the fossil bones of the largest snake in history in the coal fields of Columbia, South America. Named Titanoboa, this snake was over 45 feet in length and weighed around 1,000 pounds when alive. This discovery was featured in a recent article in the Smithsonian magazine as well as being seen on television news and the internet. Besides his power point program, Dr. Polly will also show casts of some of the bones and describe how they were able to reconstruct this amazing fossil find. Be sure to attend this unique program and venture into the geologic past!

2 The First Time I Brought home a snake by Barbara Filtri I was born in Turin, Italy, a long time ago. We lived downtown but, when I was nine, we moved to the developing outskirts where we were finally surrounded (although not for long) by vegetable gardens instead of houses. I began having a life, running around, snatching lizards and water snakes from the hands of other kids. I would race on my bike, one hand on the bar and the other holding the critter, to a small creek where I thought they would all be safe. I wasn t old enough to realize there were kids living over there as well Then one day I found the most beautiful snake of them all: solid black with a bright green line on his back. I had to have it. I went home, one hand behind my back, my precious find tightly coiled in the palm. My mother figured it out immediately. She would have kicked me out if that hadn t meant to be close to me. She searched me, carefully, when I got back. She tried hard to convince me of the dangers tiny snakes pose to humans. It didn t take. So many things I learned from my mother. From how NOT to cook chicken to how NOT to be afraid of everyone and everything, dead or alive, which in due time led me to a fascinating life of travels and discoveries. I had to be away from that all, so many years later, in another country, to have my first very own snake at home. She is still with me, Drowa the red Amazon Tree boa (*). But that s another story. (*) Yes, that was my first snake. Kids, don t try it, please read the Buyer s Guide in the herp section of our website first! The Monitor is printed courtesy of: The Harding Poorman Group Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge By Rick Marrs As part of my efforts to encourage more people to get outside and see reptiles, amphibians and other natural wonders, this article is the first in a series about places in Indiana where herps can be observed. An hour s drive from Indianapolis will take you to this 7724 acre refuge just two miles east of Seymour. Admission is free and its open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Of great interest to herpers is that MNWR has a sizeable population of copper-bellied watersnakes. These attractive, state endangered reptiles can be seen from April to about mid-october, with late April to mid-may offering the best opportunities. I ve seen them in nearly every body of water and occasionally in the wooded areas. Another state-endangered species I frequently come across is the Kirtland s snake. Flipping logs along the grassy borders of marshes can be productive, as well as looking under the few remaining cover boards remaining from some past biological project.

3 Eastern ribbon snakes, eastern garter snakes, banded watersnakes, southern black racers, midland brown snakes, and black kingsnakes are fairly common at MNWR, and on rare occasions I have found rough green snakes, eastern hog-nosed snakes, black rat snakes, eastern milk snakes and northern ring-neck snakes. As for lizards, I have only spotted five-lined skinks, but board-headed skinks and fence lizards might be found in the wooded areas. Midland painted turtles abound on the refuge and can be seen in all suitable bodies of water. On sunny days form late March to early May, hundreds can be seen basking, sometimes two or three deep. Snapping turtles and stinkpots are common but they are most frequently met as they cross the gravel roads bordering the lakes and marshes. A walk along the banks of the Muscatatuck River may possibly provide a glimpse of map turtles, red-eared sliders, and spiny soft-shelled turtles. As expected in an area full of wetlands, frogs are abundant. Southern leopard frogs by the dozens leap into the water as you walk along the water s edge. Bullfrogs and green frogs call from among the cattails, and gray treefrogs make their presence known during summer showers. Other Hylids present are cricket frogs, spring peepers, and chorus frogs. Both American and Fowler s toads can be seen hopping about. The only tailed amphibians I ve seen are small mouthed and zig-zag salamanders, but a diligent and lucky herper might add others. Besides herps, MNWR offers excellent bird-watching opportunities. The best birding I ve had is during the annual spring migration from late winter to the first half of May. Every spring they celebrate Wings Over Muscatatuck, which is an enjoyable and entertaining way to spend a spring day. Speaking of entertaining, MNWR is the best place I know to watch those lovable clowns of the animal world, river otters. It was here that in 1995 the reintroduction of otters began. After generations of successful breeding and dispersal, otters are seen at the refuge in good numbers. Winter is a good time to observe them as they devour fish on the iced-over ponds, but being active year-round, otters can be spotted any season. Fishing is permitted at several of the ponds and lakes, and non-motorized boating is allowed on Stanfield Lake. The nature center has restrooms with running water (in case pit toilets just aren t your thing) and educational display s, a bird-viewing room and a gift shop possessing one of the best nature-related book selections I ve ever seen (Dr. Sherman Minton s Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana is almost always available). Whether you re new to field-herping, or just want to enjoy your federal tax dollars at work, I recommend a visit to Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. President s message Jim Horton I want to thank our members who went that extra mile at the Midwest Herp Show last month. Will Brown and his son Max arrived early to set up and stayed all day till the end to help out. Dale Shoentroupe took the time to pick up about 40 orphaned axolotls for re-homing. These animals were grown for study at a local university and they would have been euthanized if he hadn t received them. Dale brought them to the show and helped sell them at a generous HHS funding fee of $10 each. They went like hotcakes. Pat Hammond and Roger and Holly Carter also manned the HHS information booth for the day. Another example of our members going above and beyond. Don t forget our upcoming exhibits at Garfield Park and Eagle Library. We need member participation Thanks!

4 HHS Canoe Trip 2012 Review By Jim Horton Cool temperatures and the lack of rain hindered our annual kayak/canoe trip plans. A short rain a few days before and a sunny forecast changed our minds. These cooler/sunny conditions brought out the basking herps. A group of HHS members took part in this trip and kept a good count on the turtles that we were spotted while maneuvering down the stream. All of us had kayaks and a few Hoosier Herper s were first-timers on the personal watercraft. During past trips we ve been keeping count of the turtles that we find. This time we counted 171 turtles with four species in a 7-mile stretch! That s a record for us (The past largest count was 138). Most were map turtles and smooth softshell turtles. A few midland painted and red-ear sliders were spotted too. We also saw kingfishers, northern water snakes, an osprey, green herons, blue herons, and a host of other fish, bird, and insect species. Another great HHS trip in the books! I m ready for next year! Smooth Softshell turtle Common Map turtle HHS members in action. EVENTS September 19, 2012 HHS Monthly Meeting, Guest Speaker, David Polly (Indiana University), Topic: Hip Deep in Giant Snakes, Titanoboa. October 5-7, 2012 Midwest Herpetological Symposium, Sponsored by the Nebraska Herp Society. Speakers, Banquet, Auction, Reptile Breeders Expo, Tour of Henry Doorly Zoo. Executive Inns and Suites, 72 nd and Grover, Omaha, NE. October 7, Indiana Reptile Expo, Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 10am-4pm, $6.00 admission October 17, 2012 HHS Meneral Meeting Guest Speaker, Tim Paul, DVM, Topic: Common Health Problems of Herps, Symptoms and Solutions. October 20, 2012 Live HHS herp display at Garfield Park Conservatory, 10AM-1PM November 10, 2012 Lizards and Turtles and Snakes, Oh My! HHS live animal display at Eagle Library, (3325 Lowry Rd. Indpls). 1:00 4:00PM November 11, Midwest Reptile Show, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Southwest Pavilion, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. $5.00 admission, reptiles, amphibians, books, cages, feeder animals, and other supplies. Sell your herps and dry goods free of charge at our H.H.S. information booth (HHS members only)

5 KNIVES AND HERP ART Photos & text by Roger Carter This is one of my favorite knives. This was made by the Franklin Mint, the company that makes collectables like scale model cars, etc. This is a purely decorative knife without a cutting edge. This is the kind of knife that couldn t slice through warm butter. This knife is fourteen and one/half inches long with a blade that is nine inches long from the point to the guard and is two and three/eighths inches wide. The snakes head is five and one/half inches from the base of the guard and is coiled back as if it is preparing to strike. The blade is probably stainless steel. The guard is a gold color and the handle that the snake is attached to is a dark brown. The display plaque is wood and the small plaque at the bottom says THE SIOUX SNAKE KNIFE BY BEN NIGHTHORSE. There is a small label on the back of the display plaque that says CRAFTED IN MALAYSIA and on the back of the knife is a small label that says MADE IN CHINA. Searching for "Oscar", the "Beast of Busco" by Ed Ferrer Last January I wrote an article about the alligator snapping turtle, Macroclemys termminckii, and wondered if this largest fresh water in the world still survived in Indiana. While I was researching the article, I came across the legend of "Oscar, the Beast of Busco" that was reported to be an alligator snapping turtle. I decided to look into this story further this summer. I was scheduled to do a snake program for the Public Library's summer reading program in Churubusco so I looked up some old newspaper articles while I was in town. As I arrived in Churubusco, I noticed a sign that proclaimed "Welcome to Turtle Town U.S.A." As I drove through the center of the town there was a statue of a large turtle in the town square. Many cartoon drawings of the turtle could be found in many of the stores' windows. Clearly this legend was thoroughly ingrained in the culture of this charming, small town. According to the newspapers, on July 27th, 1948 two men were interrupted from their fishing by a huge turtle that surfaced along the side of their boat. They said "Its back was bigger than their boat and its head was as large as a child"! They named it Oscar after the original owner of the Lake. In the first week of March 1949 "Oscar" was seen again and a group of townspeople sought out to capture it. According to newspaper reports, they actually had the turtle in a trap consisting of stakes and chicken wire but Oscar broke through and escaped. One man climbed a nearby tree and took a film of it as it swam just under the surface of the water and it seemed as huge as the original report. Unfortunately the film was sold and was not available (and probably lost by now). On March 7th, the Columbia City newspaper ran a story on the turtle claiming it was "as big as a dining room table top." After the article appeared, a firm from Cincinnati, Ohio placed a prize of $1,800 for its capture. The story was then sent out over the wires and then it became front page news in papers all across the country! On March 10th some people made hooks to catch the beast and another man flew over the lake in an airplane looking for the 'monster". On March 12th some 200 people trekked out to the lake hoping to catch a glimpse

6 of Oscar and perhaps be a part of history. Throughout the weekend planes flew overhead and cars moved bumper to bumper, tying up traffic in Churubusco. Another trap was made but it couldn't hold Oscar either. March 14th saw three thousand visitors to the town and members of the Cincinnati Zoo said they spotted Oscar by using a periscope. For the next two weeks several traps were constructed but none were successful in catching the elusive beast. Some people used diving suits to try to find the beast but the cold, murky water made visibility very difficult. Professional trappers came from Tennessee but had little luck. In April two men from Indianapolis thought they would cash in on the publicity and the prize money, now $5,000. They ordered a 208 pound sea turtle from Miami, took it to Fulk's lake and "captured" it. However, it was exposed as a fake! Oscar was again spotted coming up for fish in about 40 feet of water. A large net was thrown over it but it tore a hole through it and escaped once again. In May, a 200 pound female sea turtle was put in the lake in hopes that it might "lure" Oscar out. But that tactic didn't work either. During the summer of that year interest in the turtle waned. However, in September the interest in this legend was revived. Gail Harris, in an all out effort to capture the Beast, attempted to drain the lake! Seventy million gallons of water was pumped out of the lake into a nearby ditch. He used 2,000 gallons of gas that reduced the seven acre lake to one acre! For the first time he charged admission to help defray the cost of draining the lake. Two thousand people gathered on weekends to watch the drama hoping to witness history. Once Oscar didn't disappoint them. On Sunday morning October 13th, 200 people said they saw Oscar leap out of the water to feast on some live ducks that were set on top of a trap as a lure. But by October 21st Gale Harris began running into several problems. The soft, mushy bottom started to cave in limiting the amount of pumping that could be done. The pump wore out and the tractor broke down. One reporter from Chicago fell into one of the crevices and almost drowned. For two months they pumped and struggled and in December it was all over. Harris had an attack of appendicitis and when he got out of the hospital rain had filled up the lake. However the legend of the "Beast of Busco" lives on to this day. Every July there is a festival honoring Oscar with many activities including a turtle race. Mostly Reptiles Von cowper Ruth Cowper cvon24@hotmail.com cowperra@yahoo.com Snakehead Ed Ferrer Live hands-on snake programs Have snakes, will travel ph cell: The Hoosier Herpetological Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of its membership and the conservation of all reptiles and amphibians. General monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Butler University, Pharmacy Building, Room #150. Membership is open to all interested individuals. No venomous animals are allowed at the General Meetings. Indianaturtlecare.com

7 The Nebraska Herpetological Society proudly hosts the 2012 Midwest Herpetological Symposium HerpIn In the new MIllennIuM Schedule of Events Friday, October 5 th : Registration 3:00 pm to 6:00pm; Ice Breaker at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo with 2 guided tours and 1 un-guided tour 7pm-10pm Saturday, October 6 th : 8 to 10 speakers 8am-5pm Banquet/Keynote Tom Crutchfield 6pm-10pm late night Auction 10pm till??? Sunday, October 7 th : Nebraska Reptile Breeders Expo and/or Herping field trip weather permitting 10am-4pm The Midwest Herpetological Symposium will be held at Omaha Executive Inn and Suites: Rate $59 night, 1-4 people/room 3650 S. 72 nd Street Omaha, Nebraska Nebraska Herpetological Society Black Magic Reptiles Hoosier Mouse Supply frozen/live rodents Chris Young (317) (Delivering to HHS meetings Pre-order only) BlackMagicReptiles@gmail.com (812) Your HHS Board of Directors for 2012 PRESIDENT Jim Horton (317) Cell stardali84@hotmail.com VICE-PRESIDENT Ed Ferrer (317) Cell pythonpals1@msn.com SECRETARY Holly Carter (317) drymarchonzz@hotmail.com TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP Dave Mitchell (317) turtlelovin@att.net SERGEANT AT ARMS Will Brown (765) wrbrown15@aol.com Appointees for 2012 EDITOR Jim Horton (317) Stardali84@hotmail.com PROGRAM DIRECTOR Ed Ferrer (317) pythonpals1@msn.com WAYS AND MEANS Angela Thomas (317) necali@comcast.net WEBSITE COORDINATOR Barbara Filtri webmaster@hoosierherpsoc.org Hoosier Herpetological Society

8 MEMBERSHIP FORM New Member Renewal Name Date Address City State Zip Code Phone Address Individual/Family Membership $15.00 Sustaining Membership $25.00 or more Herpetological Interest(s) Hoosier Herpetological Society P.O. Box Indianapolis, Indiana, Dated Material Enclosed Address Correction Requested If this area is checked, it s time to renew your membership!