Another Python has been found but this one dead in S. Carolina. Apparently the manager of a car wash found the body while making a check of the property. He claims to at first think it was just a snake skin but shortly there after realized it was the real deal. The Department of Natural resources believe its an escaped pet released pet and says people should remember this story when considering a Pet Python.
Posted in Amphibians, Conservation, Lizards, Reptiles, Snakes, Turtles, U.S. News
Leave a comment
The Chicago Herpetological Society will host its 18th annual ReptileFest at the University of Illinois Chicago Physical Education Building on April 9 and 10. This family-friendly educational event will include hundreds of snakes, lizards and much more, and will take place between 10 AM and 5 PM on both days. Admission to mingle with the cold-blooded collection of creatures is priced at $10 for adults and $7 for children ages 3 to 11.
ReptileFest is North America’s largest and most dynamic gathering of reptiles and their fans, and includes participation from dozens of animal conservation groups and private collectors who put their amazing animals on display.
Highlights of ReptileFest include:
For more information about ReptileFest, including exhibitor and vendor registration and a discount coupon for admission, visit www.ReptileFest.com. Ample parking is available in UIC’s public lot immediately across Roosevelt Road.
No live animal sales are allowed at ReptileFest.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-chicago-herpetological-society-announces-18th-annual-reptilefest-113905674.html
RIVERSIDE — Authorities are trying to verify a report of two alligators spotted at a slough in Riverside.
“We are looking to see if the report of two alligators at a slough near River Bend Apartments is true,” Riverside Police chief Rick Oliver said.
Oliver said a River Bend Apartments resident called the police department Friday to report the gator sighting.
“We called Game and Fish (the Alabama Department of Conservation Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries) and they came out Friday,” he said.
Oliver said Riverside police officers and the Game and Fish officials searched the slough all day Friday.
“One of our officers, Wayne Knight, observed something that could have been an alligator,” he said.
Oliver said officials were waiting on another sighting, and would continue searching for the gator.
“I haven’t personally seen the alligator, so I can’t say if it is the same alligator from back in May,” he said.
Last May, an estimated 6-8 foot alligator appeared in the slough at Riverside Landing. Numerous passers-by stopped and watched as the gator swam in the slough all day.
Game officials attempted to capture the reptile that night with a limb line, but were unsuccessful as it moved out of the slough to a new location, appearing in the slough near River Bend Apartments the next day.
Game officials again attempted to capture the gator, but were unsuccessful. The alligator disappeared and no further sightings were reported.
River Bend Apartments issued a letter to all residents Friday informing them of the alligator sighting and urging caution with children and pets. Residents were advised to stay away from the slough.
Game officials urge residents not to feed alligators, so the reptiles do not become accustomed to humans. Residents should not attempt to capture the gator or antagonize it.
Anyone who sees an alligator should call the Alabama Department of Conservation Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries District 2 office 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 256-435-1642 or after hours call the game watch number at 1-800-272-4263.
Oliver said individuals may also call Central Dispatch at 205-884-3333 to report any alligator sightings.
Posted in Amphibians, Conservation, Foreign News, Herp Attacks, Laws, Lizards, Reptiles, Snakes, Turtles, U.S. News, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Here is a good one for you. A man from Michigan’s upper peninsula reported his snake stolen, the unusual part is he claims his snake was stolen in November 2009. He claimed to know who stole it but when asked why it took him 14 months to report it he only said at the time he was doing some bad stuff with bad people. Police questioned the woman that he claims stole the snake but of course she denied it and stated he more than likely misplaced the animal. There are currently no leads in the case.
Well looky what we have hear, another orange Alligator. This one was found in Texas. This one in particular was using an old rusted culvert as a home which explains the orange coloration. It is suspected the one found last week also lives near a similar culvert but experts are for the most part still out.
There was mention last week that Orange is one of the UOF team colors and their mascot happens to be an Alligator but there have been several explanations come across the board, so far the jury is still out however this rusty culvert story is starting to sound good.
In the annals of smuggling, Los Angeles International Airport has seen it all — lizards in luggage, songbirds strapped to a passenger’s legs, boxes of tarantulas and two pygmy monkeys hidden in a traveler’s pants.
Now, officials said, they have recorded another milestone in the animal kingdom — smuggled turtles.
Authorities said two Japanese men were arrested with more than 50 live rare turtles, from Chinese big-headed turtles to Indian Star tortoises, packed neatly inside snack food boxes.
On Monday, Atsushi Yamagami, 39, and Norihide Ushirozako, 49, were charged in a two-count criminal complaint alleging that they illegally imported wildlife into the United States, a smuggling offense that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and one count of violating the Endangered Species Act, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
Federal officials, who arrested the men Friday, said the suspects had 55 live turtles sealed inside snack boxes of cookies and crackers.
Authorities said their investigation began a year ago, when U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents learned of a smuggling operation that was illegally bringing turtles into the United States.
They said they infiltrated the ring over the summer in an investigation known as “Operation Flying Turtle,” which included the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement‘s Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
After U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents arrested one of Yamagami’s associates at Honolulu International Airport trying to smuggle more than 40 turtles in a package, the man told them that Yamagami had paid him about 100,000 yen or about $1,200 and travel expenses to smuggle the reptiles, authorities said.
“The plundering and smuggling of rare plants and animals to satisfy the desires of hobbyists is not only shameful, in some circumstances it can pose a threat to public safety and the environment,” said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles.