Daily Reptile News

Outback expedition hopes to find new reptiles

About 20 scientists will head into outback South Australia next week in search of threatened native animals and plants.

The good season on the former sheep station, Bon Bon Station Reserve, south of Coober Pedy, means there’ll be lush vegetation and an increase in bird, insect and wildlife numbers.

Jim Radford, from Bush Heritage Australia, says the conservation organisation bought the property in 2008, but there’s still little information about species which exist there.

He says it’s likely there’ll be new reptiles found.

“Some of the skinks, geckos and that sort of thing have a lot of cryptic species in them,” he says.

“Species which aren’t well described, and once their DNA’s taken back to the lab and analysed, it may well be that they reveal variation that are consistent with new species.”

Tips to deal with snakes

Reptile tips:

• Mow grass around your home regularly to keep it short.

• Tidy up any rubbish or wood piles where snakes may like to hide.

• If you have a bird aviary, ensure food scraps are kept off the ground. The food attracts mice, which attract snakes.

• All wildlife are drawn to water, including snakes.

• If you see a snake in the bush, the best thing to do is leave it alone – it will most likely try to get away from you.

• If a snake or lizard is indoors or in an area where it needs to be removed – call the shire, rangers, or police to get the number of an accredited reptile rescuer.

• If a snake is in a room, close the door and block any gaps so it can’t escape.

• Where possible, always watch the snake so rescuers can easily find it when they arrive.

• Most of our reptile rescuers are volunteers – please consider donating some money to help them cover expenses such as fuel.

• It is an offence to harm snakes and lizards.

• If you are bitten, immobilise, apply a pressure bandage and seek help immediately.

PETA Threatens To Pour Lizard Blood Over Victoria Beckham

PETA plans to soak Victoria Beckham in lizard blood. Sticky Vicky’s bags are made from crocodile, lizard and calf leather.

We are no great fans of Posh but finding a use for chewy lizards is admirable. Take PETA, which can only think of using dead lizards as a protest. One mooted plan is for activists to pelt crocodile feet at her when she goes to an editors’ lunch in London next month.

Posh might well scoff. Tossing feet is so ordinary. Better to fashion them into a darling purse, ball boxes for David or uses the claws a hair grips of him and for her.

But, then, the Mirror says the croc feet will be made of plastic – so making actual crocodiles yet more redundant and useless.

RISPCA seeks homes for 10 lizards

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Finding loving homes for cuddly puppies and cute kittens is hard enough.

The director of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals isn’t quite sure how he’s going to find proper homes for 10 cold-blooded lizards.

E.J. Finocchio says the lizards’ owner turned them in to the organization’s headquarters because he had lost his job and his house and could not care for them.

Finocchio tells The Providence Journal that he won’t even call the animals “pets.” He says they don’t show any affection and don’t belong in homes.

He says at least one of the lizards could grow to seven-feet in length, and three require special permits to own. He says he’ll ask area zoos and animal sanctuaries to take the creatures.

Police hunt arsonists after nature reserve in Canford Heath set alight

POLICE are hunting arsonists after a nature reserve in Poole was deliberately set alight on Sunday night.

An area of Canford Heath populated by rare birds and reptiles was torched soon after 11pm.

A member of the public raised the alarm. Four fire crews were needed to tackle the blaze.

Jez Martin, Poole council’s Nature Conservation Officer, visited the site Monday morning.

He said all six species of England’s native reptiles lived there, including ultra-rare smooth snakes and sand lizards.

“To injure any of those is a criminal offence. You need a licence from Natural England even to handle them. The police and the fire service take these things very seriously.

“We don’t always find the bodies because sometimes they are burned to a frazzle.

“It’s also possible that hibernating wildlife will have died underground.

“It’s just so unthinking. It’s bad for wildlife, and it’s bad for Poole because it creates a blot on the landscape where people go to walk their dogs,” said Mr Martin.

Police closed a section of Canford Heath Road between Tower Park and Sherborne Crescent while four fire engines dashed to tackle the blaze, which covered an area of heath land about 100 metres by 30 metres.

Fire crews returned to the scene at 7.30am on Monday to continue damping down the charred gorse and scorched trees.

Group manager, Chris Hewitt, said: “It’s very dry up there at the moment. If the wind had been up, the fire could have travelled quickly and got into houses.

“Arson is a criminal offence. It’s as simple as that. You can go to prison for it.”

A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed officers were treating the blaze as arson and called on witnesses or anyone with information about the fire to contact them on 01202 222222 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers service on 0800 555 111.

Randy Johnson Raises Money For Local Reptile Center

Former Diamondback pitcher Randy Johnson will help the Phoenix Herpetological Society raise money for increased needs, including a program for special needs children.Johnson will speak Monday at the facility in Scottsdale in honor of the fundraising event, that aims to build a new wildlife conservation and education center at the current reptile facility in North Scottsdale.The Herpetological Society is trying to build a $150,000 classroom so that it host more programs at the elementary, high school and college levels.More than 109,000 students unitized the facility in 2009.”I have learned so much about this species and other animals through my children,” said Johnson, whose son became involved with a Reptile Club at his school, provided by the society.New funds will allow for better special needs programs and the recourses needed to present animals in a safe environment, allowing children to interact with them.

Scaley, slithery visitors creep into Puyallup

Jordan Hager tugged excitedly at his father’s hand Sunday and pointed toward the large boa constrictor wrapped around a man’s arms.

“Daddy, I want a snake!” the 5-year-old Puyallup boy pleaded without taking his eyes off the boa’s black beady eyes and flickering tongue.

Jordan might not have gone home with a new pet, but he and his brother happily bounced from booth to booth at the Reptile Expo, staring at geckos and frogs and grinning when they were allowed to hold the slithering snakes.

“I don’t think we’ll be going home with a snake,” said his father, 29-year-old Eric Hager. “This is really for them to go around and be inquisitive. Let them just be boys.”

The weekend expo was billed as the largest in the Northwest and attracted 50 vendors and nearly 4,000 visitors to the Puyallup Fairgrounds, organizers said.

It’s the 16th year Giovanni and Paula Fagioli have put on the event to support local pet stores and connect breeders of exotic animals with potential customers. Packed into a large exhibit hall were vendors peddling pet supplies, jewelry and caged mice. Fans could buy a subscription to Herp Nation Magazine or look at educational displays on amphibians and reptiles. Some brought more unique items.

Jason Pierce, an Olympia man who began breeding geckos 15 years ago, had some of the rarest geckos in the country for sale.

“People pay for these before the eggs are even hatched,” he said, lifting a plastic container with a teal gecko inside.

The $350 critter comes from Namibia. And Pierce already has a waiting list for babies, even though his pair is not currently breeding.

He mostly sells geckos from word of mouth or posting on forums but decided to attend the Reptile Expo because it’s close to home and offered a chance to network and pocket about $1,000 in sales.

“You’d never find anything like this in a pet store,” Pierce said. “Probably not even in a zoo.”

Darren Meyer was offering poison dart frogs in electric yellows, blues and greens for $40-$75. He spoke passionately about the dart frogs’ diet and habitat and was careful to answer questions that children brought forward.

After her son and daughter briefly stopped by the frog booth, 33-year-old Chery Taylor commented on how knowledgeable the vendors were. It’s the third year she’d brought her children to the expo – and the third year her son has gone home with a new Kenyan sand boa.

“I think it’s really educational for them to come and see the different animals,” she said.

Join the fun now!!

Please click on the forum before you leave and join in the fun.