Daily Reptile News

Police Find Alligator Along Road

PROVIDENCE, Ind. — A sheriff’s deputy made an unusual find in a small Johnson County town early Wednesday — an exotic reptile.The deputy said he spotted the 26-inch alligator while on patrol in Providence, just west of Franklin, at about 1 a.m.The deputy said he picked up the animal, which was in the middle of a street, and put it in an empty garbage can until Johnson County Animal Control officers arrived.

Later on Wednesday, Ryan Vaught called animal control to ask if his alligator had been picked up.He said the three-year-old gator managed to climb out of a small pond in his backyard, just down the street from where it was found.Animal control officers gave the animal back to Vaught and asked that he get a better enclosure.

Day after seizure, wildlife board member says the snakes caught are not venomous

Ludhiana A day after five persons were arrested with two snakes, Dr Sandeep K Jain, member of the Punjab Wildlife Board, said the snakes appeared to be of ‘redsand boa’ variety, which is non-venomous.

“The statement made by the Forest inspector that snakes have venom is misleading which also shows his lack of knowledge on the subject,” said Dr Jain.

He agreed that a case needed to be registered against the persons for catching snakes without permission.

He also wrote a letter to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, complaining about the lack of knowledge of the forest staff.

However, forest inspector Balwinder Singh maintained that snakes have venom and no one should pass statements without looking at them personally.

Singh said, “They have venom which can be dangerous for the ones who are not experts. Normally, snake charmers take venom out before putting them on display for their shows. But in the case the group used to supply snakes to a tantrik based in Uttar Pradesh. We are going to investigate as the details of the tantrik and for what purpose was he using these snakes.”

But the inspector, who till yesterday evening was not even sure about the name of the variety, today agreed that it is sand boa. As per the information available with experts, most of the sand boa are non-venomous, but the forest team is maintaining that they are venomous and the same has been stated in the court.

Meanwhile, the forest

team produced the arrested persons in the court of J P S Benipal, who sent them in police remand till June 26.

Herpetologists: Hot weather is making snakes more likely to bite

GARLAND — A young child is on the road to recovery after being bitten by a snake  happened in Garland on Sunday.

The four-year-old was bitten by a Copperhead and hospitalized.

Snake bite calls have doubled this year in Tarrant County. Four were reported between May 1 and June 14 last year. Two hospitals in Fort Worth are already reporting 20 cases this season.

Dallas County numbers are not yet available.

Dan Crayton came face-to-face with a Copperhead under his house in Loving on Monday night.

“He bit me four or five times. I don’t know if they ever determined how many times he did bite. But he was a lot faster than I was,” he said.

Crayton is the eighth snake bite victim at Texas Health Fort Worth Hospital this season. The facility had 17 all of last year.

Herpetologists say the above-average temperatures have turned snakes into active hunters.

They have to keep moving to find their food and they’re more apt to attack anything that approaches.

Crayton is on an IV of expensive anti-venom.

The days of cutting the wound to remove the venom are long gone.

Doctors warn that home treatments aren’t enough for serious snake bites.

“What happens is the extremity will swell from the toxins and it will swell to the point where it cuts off its own circulation. And when that happens, you end up losing the extremity that’s affected,” said an expert.

The treatments usually take two to five days.

“I didn’t realize that a snake bite would have that much trauma, ’cause I never been snake bit before,” said Crayton.

Once Crayton is sent home, he plans on making sure he doesn’t cross paths with a snake again, unless it’s in a glass case.

Three things you can do for your backyard’s cold-blooded critters

They’re creepy (to some) and they’re crawly. They may be slimy and cold-blooded, but reptiles and amphibians are just as important to the ecosystem as furry creatures. Monroe County Conservation District naturalist Brian Hardiman said he can’t imagine a world without toads or salamanders.

“Reptiles and amphibians are incredible,” said Hardiman. “They are a fascinating group of animals to observe, and they serve as biological indicators.”

Locally, there are problems with the populations of these creatures. “Around here, there is a tremendous amount of roadkills with reptiles and amphibians. Their populations take a huge hit,” said Hardiman.

But there are simple steps you can take to help protect snakes, frogs and other cold-blooded creatures who call your neighborhood or property home. Most species are harmless, and all are beneficial — they often feed on destructive insects or rodents.

1. Begin with a chemical-free lawn. “We are so obsessed with having a perfect lawn, free of weeds, crabgrass and dandelions, but these animals have permeable skin which absorbs chemicals.”

2. You can also create a reptile resort on your property. Creating a backyard oasis for these creatures helps provide cover, a habitat for food sources, and hiding spots. “Leave stumps, rotting logs and stones, where possible, to serve as hiding spots,” said Hardiman. “Also consider leaving part of your grass uncut, planting native flowers, building a rock garden, leave leaves under trees and keeping stumps and rotting logs.”

3. Another way to attract and help reptiles and amphibians thrive on your property: Add a water source. “Build it and they will come,” said Hardiman, who added that it is important to keep ponds fish- and chlorine-free. “Fish are predators and will eat the animal’s eggs.”

Rattler Hunters Gather Snakes For NE Pa. Carnival

NOXEN, Pa. (AP) ― Some people collect stamps, some collect coins. In northeastern Pennsylvania this weekend, they’re collecting rattlesnakes.

Hunters are heading to the hills around Noxen in Wyoming County to gather specimens for the annual Rattlesnake Roundup, which started Thursday and runs through Sunday. The main attraction is the annual rattlesnake hunt and display of snakes on the carnival grounds Saturday and Sunday.

“We’re expecting about 20 to 30 hunters this year,” said organizer Matt McCormack, who added that the main focus of the weekend is education about the reptiles.

“We try to teach people a little more about their habitat and how to react if they see one,” he said. “Any landowner or homeowner will run into one at some point, and we want to educate them on what to do.”

Last year there were 20 rattlers caught, along with 28 nonpoisonous snakes.

Anyone bringing in a rattlesnake — hunters are limited to one each — will have to pay $25 for a license and adhere to Pennsylvania Game Commission restrictions on snake size at 42 inches.

This weekend also features a carnival and live entertainment both weekend nights as well as a parade of firefighters and a fireworks display.

The event is the primary fundraiser for the Noxen Volunteer Fire Company, McCormack said.

“It’s what keeps gas in the trucks,” he said.

Endangered animals rescued from Cartimar pet shops

MANILA, Philippines – Local and environmental officials raided 2 pet shops in a mall in Pasay City for selling endangered animals.

Officials from the local government of Pasay City and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) brought the rescued animals to the Wildlife Center in Quezon City.

The center’s veterinarians attempted to save the lives of 3 dehydrated Sailfin Lizards.

Seven of the 30 Sailfin lizards confiscated from the pet shops in Cartimar have died.

Aside from the lizards, 3 Tawi-Tawi brown doves, 4 hornbills, 2 owls, and 2 Burmese python are also in a bad shape.

“Kailangang bantayan yan para ma-revive yung mga naghihingalo na hayop,” said Dr. Glenn Maguad.

Authorities are regularly monitoring Cartimar where shop owners sell endangered animals at a very high price.

“Maliban sa demandang aabutin nila hindi na sila papayagang magbukas pa ulit,” said city veterinarian Dr. Ronaldo Bernasor.

Section 27 of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act prohibits the selling, buying or even collecting of animals considered as endangered.

Those caught violating the law could face a 2-year prison term and a fine of up to P200,000.

Taiwan pays residents to catch invading Cuban lizards

Taipei – A Taiwanese county on Saturday offered cash rewards for people to catch the Cuban lizard Anolis Sagrei, an invasive species threatening local fauna.The Chiayi County Government said it will pay 10 Taiwanese dollars (30 US cents) for each Anolis Sagrei, or Brown Anole, caught. The lizards can be turned in dead or alive.Brown Anole is native to Cuba and the Bahamas, but has invaded the United States, Honduras and other Caribbean islands.They were discovered in Taiwan in 2000, and have quickly multiplied in the western country of Chiayi and the eastern county of Hualien.In a similar campaign last year, Chiayi residents caught 89,752 Brown Anoles. As the Cuban lizards continue to multiply, the Council of Agriculture has allocated funds for a renewed campaign this year.”They multiply fast and eat ants, spiders and local lizards’ eggs, so they threaten local species and ecology,” Cheng Yung-hua, an official from the Chiayi County government, told the German Press Agency dpa. “The United States and Honduras have given up the fight against Brown Anole because there are too many of them. But for us, it is not too late yet, becaue the population of Brown Anole is not too large,” he said.

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