THE MONITOR. Volume 28 Number 5 May HHS Monthly Meeting May 17th 7:00 p.m. Holliday Park Nature Center

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 28 Number 5 May 2017 HHS Monthly Meeting May 17th 7:00 p.m. Holliday Park Nature Center Guest Speaker: Nathan Kessler, & Seth LaGrange, U. of Illinois Topic: "Bringing the Alligator Snapping Turtle Back to Illinois" May's guest speakers are Nathan Kessler and Seth LaGrange of the University of Illinois. Ethan graduated with a B. S. degree from the University of Illinois in 2011 and started his graduate studies in He began working on herps in the Illinois Natural History Survey while in school and spent years between his undergraduate and graduate work assisting with a variety of projects including statewide surveys of the herps of Illinois ephemeral wetlands, nationwide chytrid sampling on military lands, Smooth Softshell radio telemetry, and more. The graduate work centers on monitoring the reintroduction of Alligator Snapping Turtles in Illinois which began its fourth year in Seth, also an U.of I. grad, is the research technician that assists in many ways in the field work on the project. There may also be a live Alligator Snapping Turtle as part of the program! Be sure to attend this event to learn the current status and possible future of this mythical beast! 17th Annual Hoosier Herpout Has been rescheduled for June 3, Hardin Ridge, Lake Monroe

2 Indiana's Largest Snake By Ed Ferrer As I travel around the state, I am often asked "What is the largest Indiana snake?" I get different opinions from people depending largely on where they live and what their experiences have been. There seem to be three logical candidates for the title of Indiana's largest snake. They are (1.) the black rat snake, Pantherophis (Elaphe) obsoleta obsoleta, (2.) the bull snake, Pituophis melanaleucus sayi, and the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. According to the Peterson Guide of Eastern Reptiles and Amphibians the records for the timber rattlesnake is 74 1/2 in., the black rat snake is 101 in. and the bull snake is 100 in. But that includes these snakes from their total range throughout the Eastern and Central regions of the United States. Obviously these snakes may vary in size do to habitat and temperature differences. The Snakes of Indiana guide published by Purdue University states that the timber rattler is the largest snake of Indiana at 72 in. It also lists the bull snake and black rat snake as a maximum length of 72 in. According to Sherman Minton's book Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana the longest bull snake that he had seen was 73 1/2 inches. The largest black rat snake that he had witnessed was 71 1/4 inches. (Although there was a photo of a black rat snake that was supposed to be 76 1/2 inches.) The largest timber rattler that Sherman had witnessed was 57 inches long. (Although there was a photo of a timber that was claimed to be 64 inches long.) Sherman Minton concluded "that if bulk and length are considered, the bull snake is Indiana's largest snake". The bull snake is only found in the Northwestern prairie region of Indiana. There was a relic population found in Knox County in Southwestern Indiana but it is believed to no longer occur there. (The last known sighting was in 1941.) However since the bull snake and timber rattler are rare and have a limited range the largest snake most people would encounter is a black rat snake since they are found all over Indiana except for the northwestern prairie region. Bull snakes get their common name because they are usually belligerent when encountered in the field. Added to their large size, they often hiss loudly, vibrate their tails and strike if they feel threatened. Bull snakes feed on various small mammals and birds sometimes climbing trees to feed on nestlings or eggs. They are not adapt at catching prey in the open so much of their feeding is done inside the burrows and runways of rodents. I recently received a large female bull snake from my friend Robert Tyler to use in my program at the recent Greenfest in Zionsville. She worked out great during the program and Robert said I could keep it. Bull snakes are extremely strong constrictors. While I put her back in the snake bag after her part of the show I was impressed at how strong she was. I will probably make her a regular part of my programs. References: Snakes of Indiana, Purdue University, Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana, Sherman A. Minton Reptiles and Amphibians Eastern/Central North America, Roger Conant/Joseph T. Collins The Monitor is printed courtesy of: Harding Poorman 17th Annual Hoosier Herpout Saturday, June 3rd, Hardin Ridge, Lake Monroe Herp, eat, herp again!

3 Herpetology Weekend 2017 (review) By Jim Horton Another great event has passed for the year. Herpetology Weekend is over two decades old and its great event every time. This year some of our Hoosier members didn t make the trip. Rain and cooler weather wasn t the best for a high yield of herps but nevertheless, we did ok. Friday night started off with a talk by biologist, Les Meade. His talk encompassed photography using white backgrounds. He utilizes a translucent white plexi board, a flash from the back and a flash from his camera. The photos were breathtaking. Tom Maigret discussed his survey work with timber rattlesnakes in southeastern KY. His work centered around current and reclaimed coal mine areas. He found that most of the snakes strayed from the bare open areas form mining operations. However, one male timber was found on many occasions at the woodland/open areas. These areas do provided an open area for basking. After the talks, our amphibian searching started as soon as we got to the lodge. Kimberly Scott found several green frogs and spring salamanders. Kentucky spring salamander We also found a slimy salamander and a red eft on the grounds. The misty/rainy conditions provided easy observations at our footsteps. We road cruised the Red River Gorge area afterwards and found a multitude of amphibians. Seal and dusky salamanders were found close to springs along the roadsides. Large American and Fowler s toads were abundant. Spring salamanders were also easily found. Dale Schoentrup found a few northern red salamanders while cruising. Saturday was rainy most of the day but we still found herps! On our trip alone we came up with a ringneck and worm snake. Several salamanders were found as well. Three species of dusky salamanders, the seal, northern dusky, and the mountain dusky. Two-lined salamanders, a sculpin fish, and even a showy orchid were found in the light rain. This was a 49 degree rain. We skipped the afternoon hikes due to being cold and completely soaked. A warm lunch and short nap brought us up to snuff. We took a tour of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo before our traditional dinner at Migel s Pizza! The tropicals building was my favorite. This houses many venomous species, including the elapids and vipers. At the activity center, everyone gathered for the talks. Dan and Judy Dourson were selling and signing copies of their new book, Reptiles and Amphibians of Red River Gorge. An excellent field guide with plenty of beautiful, glossy photos and drawings! Kentucky State Herpetologist John McGregor s talk titled Dear sir, I found this in my garage. Is it dangerous? John had fun with this one. The talk was both comical and informative. John McGregor It was a collaboration of photos sent to him over the years of herps. Most of them were non venomous water snakes, rat snakes, and garter snakes. The Kentucky Reptile Zoo was up next with Director, Kristen Wiley. This year she presented a live animal program featuring lizards. She had a blue tongue skink, an Asian water dragon, and a large tegu. The last two were the venomous beaded lizard and a Gila monster. Kristen Wiley and assistant Kristen presented a great talk for the newcomers. After a few raffle items (HHS donated to this effort), the night had concluded. Afterwards, Dale Shoentrup, Neill Jones and me stoked up a bonfire and conversed into the night. Another great weekend, rain or shine!! I m all ready for next year!

4 17th Annual Hoosier Herpout Saturday, June 3rd - 9:00 A.M. Hardin Ridge Recreation Area (Hoosier National Forest), Monroe Reservoir, Bloomington, IN Meet at the shelter house #2 near the boat launch ramp parking lot. Rain or shine (herping is always good, even in rain) Schedule: We will leave to herp the area shortly after 9:00 a.m. and return before 12:00 p.m. for the cookout. We will herp again after lunch. Saturday evening the HHS usually presents a PowerPoint presentation of The Herps of the Hardin Ridge Area (still pending as of this printing ). Several members will be camping at Southern Point campground. This is really nice non-electric site with showers. Some members will also herp on Sunday. The herpout is a chance for our members to get out and field herp the hills of beautiful Southern Indiana. We should see a variety of herps with the possibility of venomous species. We will also be using HerpMapper to record our finds in the wild. Wear the proper gear and herp at your own risk. The ticks and bugs will be in full force. The H.H.S. assumes no responsibility for accidents or injuries. Please be careful and have fun!! The Barbeque The H.H.S. will provide the burgers and dogs. Please bring a covered dish and your own beverages. Hardin Ridge offers class A camping (showers, electrical hookup) and class B (showers) camping. For more information, call or Jim Horton (317) stardali84@hotmail.com President s message Jim Horton It s the month of May in Indy! Time for racing and herping! Our largest event, the Herpout, was postponed due to poor weather conditions (and it was graduation weekend at IU) It has been rescheduled for June 3 rd, same time, same place. It might be a good idea to reserve a campsite for that weekend. Our group usually camps in the Southern Point campgrounds. Hope to see you all there! Thanks to Mr. Andrew Ahl for his presentation of his work with the eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in Michigan last month. Good news! The Crown Hill/VA project has been rectified. Due to the work of the Indiana Forest Alliance, the urban forest has been saved! Crown Hill and the VA agreed to a land swap. Instead of building in the old growth forest, the VA will build its cremation monument on a grass area, directly east. The IFA called on the HHS for a herp survey of the proposed area. We were glad to be a part of helping to save this incredible woodland! Just another update. Our website now has an Indiana native snake ID field guide. Other native herps will soon follow. Check it out when you get a chance

5 The Midwest Worm Snake, Carphophis amoenus helenae, is a small snake that measures nine to twelve inches long and is found from southern Ohio, southern Indiana and southern Illinois to Alabama and Mississippi usually under rocks and rotting logs. They are mostly light brown on top and lighter in color on the HAND HELD HERPS Article and photo by Roger Carter underside. When they are opaque they are almost silver in color and they remind me of very tiny versions of Holly s sunbeam snakes (Xenopeltis unicolor) when they are opaque. I have found some worm snakes under small clumps of dead leaves in southern Illinois several years ago. When handled, they try to push their head through your fingers and push their tail into your fingers probably hoping that an attacker will think that the snake is stinging them. They also musk a little. They eat earthworms. I took these pictures in June 2014 somewhere in southern Indiana. This worm snake was under a small rotting log. I once found three worm snakes under the remains of half a sheet of plywood. Indiana Department of Natural Resources 2016 WILDLIFE SCIENCE REPORT Kirtland s Snake Photo Jim Horton The Kirtland s snake (Clonophis kirtlandii), best known for its red belly bordered by a row of black dots, is a small to medium-sized snake, measuring inches long. It is the only snake within its genus and has a distribution limited to Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. Kirtland s snakes inhabit the edges of streams, ditches and ponds, and are often found in association with the Eastern gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and Dekay s brownsnake (Storeria dekayi). They are also found in developed urban or residential areas, often hiding under trash or other debris. Urban populations are often destroyed during development or poached by collectors. Kirtland s snakes are currently known from 38 counties in Indiana, but a majority of the records are pre This state-endangered species has been petitioned for federal listing. Wildlife Diversity biologists conducted opportunistic surveys in 2016 within Washington, Scott, Marion, Hamilton, Lawrence, Monroe and Vermillion counties. Surveying for this species is difficult due to the snake s tendency to spend a majority of its time underground in crayfish burrows. In the future, Wildlife Diversity biologists will work with university researchers to determine if environmental DNA (edna) can be used to detect the presence of Kirtland s snakes. If successful, presence or probable absence in an area will be determined in one visit, rather than in the multiple visits it often takes during conventional surveys.

6 Indiana Department of Natural Resources 2016 WILDLIFE SCIENCE REPORT (continued) Salamander Disease Surveillance Wildlife diseases are becoming more and more prevalent. In the reptile and amphibian world, biologists deal with atrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a chytrid fungus that affects mphibians; ranavirus; and snake fungal disease. The most recent emerging pathogen is atrachochytrium salamandrivorans, otherwise known as Bsal. Bsal is a chytrid fungus that only affects salamanders. So far, it has not been found in the United States, but has caused mass die-offs in Europe. Some preliminary studies concluded that Bsal would have similarly devastating effects on certain native species of salamanders if it were to be transported to the United States. It is thought that Bd originated in Asia and was transported to Europe via the pet trade. In Asia, the fungus is native and non-lethal. European salamanders have no means of fighting the disease. To help prevent the transport of Bsal to the U.S., the USFWS published an interim rule that listed 201 species of salamanders as injurious under the Lacey Act. First passed in 1900, this Act became the first federal law to protect wildlife. The law prohibits the import and interstate trade of listed species. A species can be listed as injurious if it poses a threat to the welfare and survival of wildlife or the resources that wildlife depends upon. Species listed under the Act were found to be potential carriers of Bsal. Of those 201 species, only the Eastern newt, siren, slimy salamander, redbacked salamander, ravine salamander, and zigzag salamander are native to Indiana. In spring 2016, the USFWS and USGS initiated a Bsal surveillance program to conduct active surveillance for the presence of Bsal at certain locations, one of which is the Patoka River NWR. Wildlife Diversity biologists collected 30 samples from a combination of Eastern newts, slimy salamanders, red-backed salamanders, and two-lined salamanders even though they are not currently listed. Samples were gathered by swabbing seven different locations on each salamander. Two swabs were used on each individual and then placed in separate vials. The snout-vent length, a standard measurement for amphibians that measures the distance between the tip of the snout to the cloaca, was recorded, as was location, life-history stage, and capture technique (net, trap, etc.). All specimens were checked for the presence of lesions and released at the point of capture. This surveillance program will form a baseline for future research. To prevent the spread of disease: Do not release any pet salamander, of any species from any origin, into the wild. Do not transport and release any salamanders from one location to another. If recreating or conducting field work and you come into contact with mud or water, clean your shoes and equipment with a 3% bleach solution. Save the date! August 13 HHS Kayak/Canoe float

7 2017 HERPETOLOGICAL EVENTS May 17, 2017 HHS monthly meeting, Guest speaker: Ethan Kessler and Seth LaGrange, (Southern Illinois University), Topic: Alligator Snapping Turtle Survey. They will bring a live alligator snapping turtle to the meeting. June 21, 2017 HHS meeting. Guest speaker TBA. June 25, 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) Other show dates: August 27, November 5 July 19-22, th Annual International Herpetological Symposium, Chiricahua Desert Museum, Rodeo, NM. August 13, 2017 HHS Canoe/Kayak float trip. More info. to come. October 20-22, 2017 Midwest Herpetological Symposium. Bloomington, MN, Hosted by Minnesota Herpetological Society Your HHS Board of Directors for 2017 PRESIDENT Jim Horton (317) stardali84@hotmail.com VICE-PRESIDENT Heather White ( dogcatrvt@yahoo.com SECRETARY Holly Carter (317) drymarchonzz@hotmail.com TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP Roger Carter (317) drymarchonzz@hotmail.com SERGEANT AT ARMS Neill Jones (317) neilljones92@gmail.com EDITOR Jim Horton (317) stardali84@hotmail.com PROGRAM DIRECTOR Ed Ferrer (317) pythonpals1@msn.com WAYS AND MEANS CHAIR Angela Thomas (317) necali@comcast.net WEBSITE COORDINATOR Barbara Filtri webmaster@hoosierherpsoc.org MEMBERS AT LARGE Pat Hammond (317) gnawbone92@yahoo.com Rick Marrs rickmarrs@gmail.com Dale Schoentrup eyelashviper@hotmail.com Will Brown (765) wrbrown15@aol.com Mary Hylton (317) liblady81@hotmail.com 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 7:00 p.m. at Holliday Park Nature Center. Membership is open to all interested individuals. No venomous animals are allowed at the General Meetings.

8