New Test for Cryptosporidiosis, an Incurable Disease of Snakes and Lizards
From Frank Indiviglio's Blog That Reptile Place, 11/15/11
A decade or so ago, Cryptosporidiosis became recognized as a major concern in captive snake and lizard collections. Caused by a one-celled parasite known as Cryptosporidium varanii, the disease remains incurable to this day. At the Bronx Zoo, where I worked at the time, tests showed that many snakes already in our collection, along with wild and pet reptiles, might be harboring Cryptosporidium. But diagnosis was difficult and errors were common, resulting in the institution of expensive and time-consuming isolation protocols for new and sick animals. So I was happy to learn of a newly devised test that ensures early, accurate diagnosis of Cryptosporidium.it will surely prove useful to pet keepers and zoos alike.
Crypto and the Pet Trade
A number of factors render Cryptosporidiosis as a major concern, including the popularity of reptile pets and the fact that the parasite can be transferred to people. While not often of major concern to healthy adults, Crypto, as it came to be known, is a danger to immune-compromised individuals (please see article below). A recent survey of 672 pets revealed that 1 in 6 of the Corn Snakes and 1 in 12 of the Leopard Geckos tested harbored Crypto in one form or another.
Crypto is the most common cause of a Leopard Gecko ailment popularly known as "Stick Tail Disease". The parasite dwells in the small intestine, where it prevents proper absorption of food; various bacteria to take hold as well, due perhaps to damage inflicted on the intestinal walls. Loose stools and weakness follow, and the gecko's thick tail (which stores fat) wastes away to a mere "stick". Crypto has caused similar problems in Gila monsters, monitors, chameleons and other species.
Crypto is passed in the feces (in a form known as an oocyst) and can remain alive for years until a host is found. Oocysts are difficult to kill other than by steam, undiluted ammonia and certain disinfectants not generally available to hobbyists.
Crypto in Zoo Animals and Wild Populations
Declining populations of many snakes and lizards makes zoo-based breeding programs all-the-more vital. However, Crypto is incurable; the many zoo animals that now harbor it must be isolated, and cannot be bred as the young will likely be infected as well.
The Importance of the New Test
The first Crypto tests, based on fecal samples, were unreliable because the parasite often appeared sporadically, or in minute populations, and so was easy to miss. Also, related parasites infect the foods eaten by snakes and lizards, and distinguishing between the species of Cryptosporidium present was nearly impossible.
Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna have recently devised a DNA-based test that quickly and accurately reveals the presence of Cryptosporidium parasites (please see article below). The test also allows one to determine whether the parasite is present in the snake or lizard, or entered via the animal's food.
Caring for Crypto-Positive Reptiles
Early detection is important because there are medications, such as Paromomycin, that can keep Crypto populations low enough to allow the infected reptile to survive. However, treatment is only effective if instituted within a certain time frame.
Crypto-positive reptiles cannot be cured at this time, and will require lifelong treatment and special care. Dr. Kevin Wright of the Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital has written an excellent paper on this subject (please see below); please read it to learn more about caring for such animals and preventing Crypto transmission.
Showing posts with label reptiles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reptiles. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Ancient monster crocodile sported a shield on its skull
Excavated in Morocco, it was an enormous beast, with head size of probably 6 feet
By Stephanie Pappas
7 November 2011
LAS VEGAS — A newly described species of ancient crocodile with a strange, shield-like skull may have chowed on 13-foot (4-meter) -long fish in Cretaceous-era rivers.
The croc is known by a chunk of skull excavated in Morocco and acquired by the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada from a collector. Only now, however, have paleontologists examined the skull and determined that it belonged to a new — and enormous — species.
"It looks like the animal probably had a head size of two meters (6 feet)," said study researcher Casey Holliday, a professor of anatomical sciences at the University of Missouri who analyzed the specimen.
Even more intriguingly, Holliday said, the animal had a shield-like structure on the top of its skull that would have supported skin and blood vessels much like the frills of horned dinosaurs such as triceratops. It's likely that "shieldcroc," as the new fossil is known, would have used this structure for display, Holliday said.
Giant crocodiles
Other specimens of species closely related to shieldcroc have been described, but not since the 1920s, Holliday said. And because those specimens were found by German archaeologists, they ended up getting blown up in the bombings of World War II.
The newly surfaced chunk of crocodile skull reveals that shieldcroc was a member of a group called the eusuchians, a lineage that includes modern crocodiles and alligators. Shieldcroc, which lived about 100 million years ago in the late Cretaceous Period, is the first confirmed eusuchian ever found in Africa.
"There's an argument as to where modern crocs really evolved," Holliday said. "This kind of pulls that equation closer to the Europe/Mediterranean region."
Extrapolating from the size of shieldcroc's braincase suggests that the animal grew to lengths of 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 meters), a size that Holliday called "pretty ridiculous." More likely, he said, those proportions are off and shieldcroc was closer to 30 to 36 feet (9 to 11 meters) long.
That's comparable to another ancient African giant, " SuperCroc," or Sarcosuchus imperator, a 40-foot (12 meter) bruiser discovered in Niger.
Shieldcroc's relatively delicate, duck-like jaws were likely not equipped for any ultra-dramatic feats like fighting T. rex, Holliday said. But the crocodile was still pretty fearsome, said study researcher Nick Gardner, an undergraduate at Marshall University in West Virginia. Shieldcroc shared the river with lungfish and ancient fish called Coelacanths that could have grown to be 13 feet (4 m) long. It's very possible that shieldcroc considered these monster fish to be prey, Gardner told LiveScience.
"These (fish) are big," Gardner said. "They're not pushovers."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45193564/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.TrhKmHK0Nic
By Stephanie Pappas
7 November 2011
LAS VEGAS — A newly described species of ancient crocodile with a strange, shield-like skull may have chowed on 13-foot (4-meter) -long fish in Cretaceous-era rivers.
The croc is known by a chunk of skull excavated in Morocco and acquired by the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada from a collector. Only now, however, have paleontologists examined the skull and determined that it belonged to a new — and enormous — species.
"It looks like the animal probably had a head size of two meters (6 feet)," said study researcher Casey Holliday, a professor of anatomical sciences at the University of Missouri who analyzed the specimen.
Even more intriguingly, Holliday said, the animal had a shield-like structure on the top of its skull that would have supported skin and blood vessels much like the frills of horned dinosaurs such as triceratops. It's likely that "shieldcroc," as the new fossil is known, would have used this structure for display, Holliday said.
Giant crocodiles
Other specimens of species closely related to shieldcroc have been described, but not since the 1920s, Holliday said. And because those specimens were found by German archaeologists, they ended up getting blown up in the bombings of World War II.
The newly surfaced chunk of crocodile skull reveals that shieldcroc was a member of a group called the eusuchians, a lineage that includes modern crocodiles and alligators. Shieldcroc, which lived about 100 million years ago in the late Cretaceous Period, is the first confirmed eusuchian ever found in Africa.
"There's an argument as to where modern crocs really evolved," Holliday said. "This kind of pulls that equation closer to the Europe/Mediterranean region."
Extrapolating from the size of shieldcroc's braincase suggests that the animal grew to lengths of 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 meters), a size that Holliday called "pretty ridiculous." More likely, he said, those proportions are off and shieldcroc was closer to 30 to 36 feet (9 to 11 meters) long.
That's comparable to another ancient African giant, " SuperCroc," or Sarcosuchus imperator, a 40-foot (12 meter) bruiser discovered in Niger.
Shieldcroc's relatively delicate, duck-like jaws were likely not equipped for any ultra-dramatic feats like fighting T. rex, Holliday said. But the crocodile was still pretty fearsome, said study researcher Nick Gardner, an undergraduate at Marshall University in West Virginia. Shieldcroc shared the river with lungfish and ancient fish called Coelacanths that could have grown to be 13 feet (4 m) long. It's very possible that shieldcroc considered these monster fish to be prey, Gardner told LiveScience.
"These (fish) are big," Gardner said. "They're not pushovers."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45193564/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.TrhKmHK0Nic
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Invasive Amphibians, Reptiles in Florida Outnumber World, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (Sep. 15, 2011) — Florida has the world's worst invasive amphibian and reptile problem, and a new 20-year study led by a University of Florida researcher verifies the pet trade as the No. 1 cause of the species' introductions.
From 1863 through 2010, 137 non-native amphibian and reptile species were introduced to Florida, with about 25 percent of those traced to one animal importer. The findings appear online September 15 in Zootaxa.
"Most people in Florida don't realize when they see an animal if it's native or non-native and unfortunately, quite a few of them don't belong here and can cause harm," said lead author Kenneth Krysko, herpetology collection manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus.
"No other area in the world has a problem like we do, and today's laws simply cannot be enforced to stop current trends."
Florida law prohibits the release of non-native species without a state permit, but offenders cannot be prosecuted unless they are caught in the act. To date, no one in Florida has been prosecuted for the establishment of a non-indigenous animal. Researchers urge lawmakers to create enforceable policies before more species reproduce and become established. The study names 56 established species: 43 lizards, five snakes, four turtles, three frogs and a caiman, a close relative of the American alligator.
"The invasion of lizards is pretty drastic considering we only have 16 native species," Krysko said. "Lizards can cause just as much damage as a python. They are quicker than snakes, can travel far, and are always moving around looking for the next meal."
Defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as organisms "whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health," invasive species are a growing concern for residents and policymakers. Only three species were intercepted before reaching the wild and researchers documented 137 introductions. The study also shows no established, non-native amphibian or reptile species has been eradicated.
Floridians have experienced some of the damage these animals can cause, from iguanas that destroy cement walls to Burmese pythons released in the Everglades that eat protected species. While the impact of many of the introduced species has not been determined, the study provides new information about how, why and when they entered the state.
The first introduction in 1863 was of the greenhouse frog, native to the West Indies. One of the most easily recognized species is the brown anole, the first introduced lizard, which reached Florida from Cuba via cargo ships in 1887. Until about 1940, nearly all non-native species arrived through this accidental cargo pathway, but the boom in popularity of exotic terrarium animals in the 1970s and 1980s led to the pet trade being accountable for 84 percent of the introductions, Krysko said.
"It's like some mad scientist has thrown these species together from all around the world and said, 'hey let's put them all together and see what happens,' " Krysko said. "It could take decades before we actually know the long-term effects these species will have."
Other pathways include biological control, in which an animal is intentionally released to control a pest species, and accidental introduction through the zoo or plant trade. The study will serve as a baseline for establishing effective policies for control or eradication, said Fred Kraus, a vertebrate biologist at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu who helped establish policies for invasive amphibians and reptiles in Hawaii.
"This paper by Kenney and company I think is a good example of the approach that needs to be taken, providing the detail and being rather cautious in making immediate claims that things are established until there is evidence for it," Kraus said. "There is a lot more work going on now, but for years it was just ignored. For years, climate change was ignored, too. You know, humans just tend to ignore bad news until you can't ignore it anymore."
One of the greatest obstacles pet owners face is how to feed and house an exotic animal that has become too large or difficult to handle, Krysko said.
"The biggest example is the Burmese python," Krysko said. "It's a large constrictor and has definitely shown impact on native species, some you just can't even find anymore."
The study uses fieldwork data from 12 co-authors throughout the state and research primarily using specimens in the Florida Museum of Natural History collections.
"This is a global problem and to think Florida is an exception to the rule is silly," Krysko said. "The Fish and Wildlife Commission can't do it alone -- they need help and we have to have partners in this with every agency and the general public. Everyone has to be on board; it's a very serious issue."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915131604.htm
From 1863 through 2010, 137 non-native amphibian and reptile species were introduced to Florida, with about 25 percent of those traced to one animal importer. The findings appear online September 15 in Zootaxa.
"Most people in Florida don't realize when they see an animal if it's native or non-native and unfortunately, quite a few of them don't belong here and can cause harm," said lead author Kenneth Krysko, herpetology collection manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus.
"No other area in the world has a problem like we do, and today's laws simply cannot be enforced to stop current trends."
Florida law prohibits the release of non-native species without a state permit, but offenders cannot be prosecuted unless they are caught in the act. To date, no one in Florida has been prosecuted for the establishment of a non-indigenous animal. Researchers urge lawmakers to create enforceable policies before more species reproduce and become established. The study names 56 established species: 43 lizards, five snakes, four turtles, three frogs and a caiman, a close relative of the American alligator.
"The invasion of lizards is pretty drastic considering we only have 16 native species," Krysko said. "Lizards can cause just as much damage as a python. They are quicker than snakes, can travel far, and are always moving around looking for the next meal."
Defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as organisms "whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health," invasive species are a growing concern for residents and policymakers. Only three species were intercepted before reaching the wild and researchers documented 137 introductions. The study also shows no established, non-native amphibian or reptile species has been eradicated.
Floridians have experienced some of the damage these animals can cause, from iguanas that destroy cement walls to Burmese pythons released in the Everglades that eat protected species. While the impact of many of the introduced species has not been determined, the study provides new information about how, why and when they entered the state.
The first introduction in 1863 was of the greenhouse frog, native to the West Indies. One of the most easily recognized species is the brown anole, the first introduced lizard, which reached Florida from Cuba via cargo ships in 1887. Until about 1940, nearly all non-native species arrived through this accidental cargo pathway, but the boom in popularity of exotic terrarium animals in the 1970s and 1980s led to the pet trade being accountable for 84 percent of the introductions, Krysko said.
"It's like some mad scientist has thrown these species together from all around the world and said, 'hey let's put them all together and see what happens,' " Krysko said. "It could take decades before we actually know the long-term effects these species will have."
Other pathways include biological control, in which an animal is intentionally released to control a pest species, and accidental introduction through the zoo or plant trade. The study will serve as a baseline for establishing effective policies for control or eradication, said Fred Kraus, a vertebrate biologist at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu who helped establish policies for invasive amphibians and reptiles in Hawaii.
"This paper by Kenney and company I think is a good example of the approach that needs to be taken, providing the detail and being rather cautious in making immediate claims that things are established until there is evidence for it," Kraus said. "There is a lot more work going on now, but for years it was just ignored. For years, climate change was ignored, too. You know, humans just tend to ignore bad news until you can't ignore it anymore."
One of the greatest obstacles pet owners face is how to feed and house an exotic animal that has become too large or difficult to handle, Krysko said.
"The biggest example is the Burmese python," Krysko said. "It's a large constrictor and has definitely shown impact on native species, some you just can't even find anymore."
The study uses fieldwork data from 12 co-authors throughout the state and research primarily using specimens in the Florida Museum of Natural History collections.
"This is a global problem and to think Florida is an exception to the rule is silly," Krysko said. "The Fish and Wildlife Commission can't do it alone -- they need help and we have to have partners in this with every agency and the general public. Everyone has to be on board; it's a very serious issue."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915131604.htm
Monday, August 22, 2011
Snakes and toads in London
Help record sightings of London's amphibians and reptiles August 2011. Londoners are being urged to record amphibian and reptile sightings across London as part of a new project to raise awareness of the frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards that all call the capital their home.
9 reptiles and amphibians recorded in London
Life isn't easy for reptiles and amphibians in London so the CLARE project has been set up to lend a helping hand. London has a superb diversity of wildlife. Nine of the thirteen British native amphibians and reptiles occur naturally in the capital, and there are even other species (some of which are not naturally found Britain) thriving in small pockets of land in London. Surprisingly, though, information about the distribution of most of these species in London is very poor and this is hampering efforts to conserve them.
This is why Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, has teamed up with the London Wildlife Trust, Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL), London Amphibian & Reptile Group (LARG) and London, Essex & Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Trust (LEHART) with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project will be raising the awareness of amphibians and reptiles in London through a series of events - the first of which is taking place this Sunday at Hutchinson's Bank Local Nature Reserve as part of the Old Surrey Downs.
Sophie Hinton the CLARE Project Officer says: "Amphibians and reptiles are a key part of London's ecosystem but are disappearing from the capital due to the loss of habitats they depend on. Like humans, amphibians are dependent on clean, fresh water and so the declines in their populations reflect the damage we are doing to our environment and should act as a warning to our own survival.
We don't yet know enough about where amphibians and reptiles are living in London and it's only once we've found out where, that we can then identify key areas for their conservation."
Record your sightings
So if you've spotted an amphibian or reptile within Greater London, whether it was in your garden, a park, in the street - the CLARE project partners want to know what, where and when.
Go to www.arc-trust.org/CLARE to find out how to identify amphibians and reptiles and to record your sightings.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/london-reptiles.html
9 reptiles and amphibians recorded in London
Life isn't easy for reptiles and amphibians in London so the CLARE project has been set up to lend a helping hand. London has a superb diversity of wildlife. Nine of the thirteen British native amphibians and reptiles occur naturally in the capital, and there are even other species (some of which are not naturally found Britain) thriving in small pockets of land in London. Surprisingly, though, information about the distribution of most of these species in London is very poor and this is hampering efforts to conserve them.
This is why Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, has teamed up with the London Wildlife Trust, Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL), London Amphibian & Reptile Group (LARG) and London, Essex & Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Trust (LEHART) with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project will be raising the awareness of amphibians and reptiles in London through a series of events - the first of which is taking place this Sunday at Hutchinson's Bank Local Nature Reserve as part of the Old Surrey Downs.
Sophie Hinton the CLARE Project Officer says: "Amphibians and reptiles are a key part of London's ecosystem but are disappearing from the capital due to the loss of habitats they depend on. Like humans, amphibians are dependent on clean, fresh water and so the declines in their populations reflect the damage we are doing to our environment and should act as a warning to our own survival.
We don't yet know enough about where amphibians and reptiles are living in London and it's only once we've found out where, that we can then identify key areas for their conservation."
Record your sightings
So if you've spotted an amphibian or reptile within Greater London, whether it was in your garden, a park, in the street - the CLARE project partners want to know what, where and when.
Go to www.arc-trust.org/CLARE to find out how to identify amphibians and reptiles and to record your sightings.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/london-reptiles.html
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Man Living With 154 Reptiles Arrested After Snake Bites Him
A North Carolina man's mobile home was so crowded with reptiles that it could have been called "Jurassic Trailer Park."
Authorities found 154 snakes and lizards, including venomous cobras, vipers and Gila monsters inside the home of Walter Kidd, according to The Raleigh News and Observer.
Kidd's home was part zoo and part decrepit museum exhibit. About 60 of the animals were alive while many of the dead creatures were frozen or rotting, according to an earlier News and Observer report.
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office raided Kidd's trailer after he was bitten by a venomous snake, according to TV station WSPA.
Kidd was arrested on Aug. 15 and slapped with dozens of charges of owning exotic and protected reptiles without a permit, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.
http://www.aol.com/2011/08/16/man-living-with-154-reptiles_n_928691.html?ir=Weird+News#s331924&title=Dolphin_Flip
Authorities found 154 snakes and lizards, including venomous cobras, vipers and Gila monsters inside the home of Walter Kidd, according to The Raleigh News and Observer.
Kidd's home was part zoo and part decrepit museum exhibit. About 60 of the animals were alive while many of the dead creatures were frozen or rotting, according to an earlier News and Observer report.
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office raided Kidd's trailer after he was bitten by a venomous snake, according to TV station WSPA.
Kidd was arrested on Aug. 15 and slapped with dozens of charges of owning exotic and protected reptiles without a permit, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.
http://www.aol.com/2011/08/16/man-living-with-154-reptiles_n_928691.html?ir=Weird+News#s331924&title=Dolphin_Flip
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Crocodiles in bedroom shock police team
London, June 8 : A team of policemen on a routine visit to a suburban home in south London had the shock of their life when they found four crocodiles in a bedroom.
The officers had visited the semi-detached house on an unrelated matter but made the surprise discovery of the reptiles in a bedroom, Daily Mail reported.
The West African dwarf crocodiles were crammed into makeshift tanks in the spare bedroom of the house in Waddon, Croydon, South London.
The largest of the reptiles, measuring over four feet, was in such a bad condition that it died soon after being transferred. The other three smaller female crocodiles were found in cramped and dirty pond liners.
The police called council licensing officers, who came to seize the crocodiles.
Rob Quest, manager of the London Animal Health Service, said he was shocked to discover it was rescuing crocodiles.
He said: "We were very surprised to get the phone call and to discover there were West African Dwarf Crocodiles.
"We are usually called in to collect venomous snakes."
The animals have since been transferred to Birdworld in Surrey where they are being fed on white mice and are happily sharing a large pond with terrapin turtles.
The owner of the protected animals did not have a licence for them and is expected to be charged with four counts under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and faces a substantial fine.
--IANS
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-3234.html
The officers had visited the semi-detached house on an unrelated matter but made the surprise discovery of the reptiles in a bedroom, Daily Mail reported.
The West African dwarf crocodiles were crammed into makeshift tanks in the spare bedroom of the house in Waddon, Croydon, South London.
The largest of the reptiles, measuring over four feet, was in such a bad condition that it died soon after being transferred. The other three smaller female crocodiles were found in cramped and dirty pond liners.
The police called council licensing officers, who came to seize the crocodiles.
Rob Quest, manager of the London Animal Health Service, said he was shocked to discover it was rescuing crocodiles.
He said: "We were very surprised to get the phone call and to discover there were West African Dwarf Crocodiles.
"We are usually called in to collect venomous snakes."
The animals have since been transferred to Birdworld in Surrey where they are being fed on white mice and are happily sharing a large pond with terrapin turtles.
The owner of the protected animals did not have a licence for them and is expected to be charged with four counts under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and faces a substantial fine.
--IANS
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-3234.html
Monday, June 6, 2011
Did you get some good holiday snaps? Hunt is on for two alligators spotted lurking in fishing lake - in NORFOLK
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:43 PM on 4th June 2011
A holidaymaker claims to have spotted two alligators lurking in a lake - in East Anglia.
He called the police after catching sight of the reptiles in the water at a holiday park in Wortwell, Norfolk.
Police confirmed they are investigating the sighting but despite scouring the park, neither creature has been found.
Visitors to the 60-acre Waveney Valley Lakes are keeping their eyes peeled for the pair - and are giving the fishing lakes a wide berth.
Park manager Dave Potter, 58, told The Sun: 'It has caused quite a stir.
'We have 90 plots for caravans and lodges, so there are a lot of people here.
'The police had a good look around but didn't find anything.'
Norfolk Police confirmed a member of the public called to report he had seen the alligators and officers informed the park's owners.
Alligator expert Dr Laura Brandt said it was possible the alligators had been released or found their way to the water.
She warned: 'They will eat anything that moves.'
Native to the U.S. and China, the alligator is notorious for its bone-crushing bites and has existed for 200million years.
A large American alligator can weigh 800 pounds and can grow to more than 13 feet long. Their average lifespan is 50 years.
The park's website said the lakes at Waveney - about 15 miles south of Norwich - were excavated in 1942 to provide the materials for the construction of many local airfields for the Allied Air Forces war effort.
The fishery originated in the 1960s when thousands of carp, tench and bream were introduced to the lakes. It now attracts anglers from miles around.
The website states the park is a 'natural haven for wildlife' including kingfishers, herons, grebes and three species of bats.
Meanwhile, police shot a concrete lawn ornament in the shape of an alligator in the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri, this week after thinking it was real.
The drama began when a neighbour who had not seen the fake alligator before called 911 to report that his children had spotted it while playing in some nearby woods.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393797/Alligators-spotted-Norfolk-Did-good-holiday-snaps.html
Last updated at 12:43 PM on 4th June 2011
A holidaymaker claims to have spotted two alligators lurking in a lake - in East Anglia.
He called the police after catching sight of the reptiles in the water at a holiday park in Wortwell, Norfolk.
Police confirmed they are investigating the sighting but despite scouring the park, neither creature has been found.
Visitors to the 60-acre Waveney Valley Lakes are keeping their eyes peeled for the pair - and are giving the fishing lakes a wide berth.
Park manager Dave Potter, 58, told The Sun: 'It has caused quite a stir.
'We have 90 plots for caravans and lodges, so there are a lot of people here.
'The police had a good look around but didn't find anything.'
Norfolk Police confirmed a member of the public called to report he had seen the alligators and officers informed the park's owners.
Alligator expert Dr Laura Brandt said it was possible the alligators had been released or found their way to the water.
She warned: 'They will eat anything that moves.'
Native to the U.S. and China, the alligator is notorious for its bone-crushing bites and has existed for 200million years.
A large American alligator can weigh 800 pounds and can grow to more than 13 feet long. Their average lifespan is 50 years.
The park's website said the lakes at Waveney - about 15 miles south of Norwich - were excavated in 1942 to provide the materials for the construction of many local airfields for the Allied Air Forces war effort.
The fishery originated in the 1960s when thousands of carp, tench and bream were introduced to the lakes. It now attracts anglers from miles around.
The website states the park is a 'natural haven for wildlife' including kingfishers, herons, grebes and three species of bats.
Meanwhile, police shot a concrete lawn ornament in the shape of an alligator in the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri, this week after thinking it was real.
The drama began when a neighbour who had not seen the fake alligator before called 911 to report that his children had spotted it while playing in some nearby woods.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393797/Alligators-spotted-Norfolk-Did-good-holiday-snaps.html
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Kansas Police Open Fire At Lawn Ornament, Mistaking It For An Alligator
First Posted: 06/ 2/11 01:53 PM ET
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Police responding to a rare alligator sighting in suburban Kansas City took quick action to dispatch of the beast, shooting it in the head, as instructed, while it lurked menacingly in the weeds leading down to a pond.
It wasn't until a second rifle shot bounced off the reptile's head that the officers realized they had mortally wounded a concrete lawn ornament.
A resident of a subdivision near the pond called police Saturday evening to report that his children spotted the alligator while they were playing in some nearby woods.
After consulting a conservation agent, who told them to kill the gator if they felt it posed a danger, one of the officers shot it twice in the head before realizing something was up, said Tom Gentry, an Independence police spokesman.
"It didn't move," Gentry said. "They inched up closer and closer and discovered it was a mock-up of a real alligator made to look like it was real."
In the officers' defense, it was growing dark when they shot the fake gator and it was partially submerged in the weeds.
The property owner told police that the gator was meant to keep people off his property, Gentry said. Officers told him a no-trespassing sign would have been wiser.
"Now he'll have to patch up his alligator," Gentry said.
Conservation agent Derek Cole said the department has received calls in the past about alligators that had been set free in populated areas, so there was no reason to believe the Saturday sighting wasn't valid.
"The department doesn't get involved in something like that," Cole said. "They asked if they could go ahead and dispatch it if it was a danger, and I said there's a kill shot on alligators, a small kill shot on the head. I said if they can get a shot like that, go ahead."
http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/06/02/kansas-city-police-alligator_n_870428.html
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Police responding to a rare alligator sighting in suburban Kansas City took quick action to dispatch of the beast, shooting it in the head, as instructed, while it lurked menacingly in the weeds leading down to a pond.
It wasn't until a second rifle shot bounced off the reptile's head that the officers realized they had mortally wounded a concrete lawn ornament.
A resident of a subdivision near the pond called police Saturday evening to report that his children spotted the alligator while they were playing in some nearby woods.
After consulting a conservation agent, who told them to kill the gator if they felt it posed a danger, one of the officers shot it twice in the head before realizing something was up, said Tom Gentry, an Independence police spokesman.
"It didn't move," Gentry said. "They inched up closer and closer and discovered it was a mock-up of a real alligator made to look like it was real."
In the officers' defense, it was growing dark when they shot the fake gator and it was partially submerged in the weeds.
The property owner told police that the gator was meant to keep people off his property, Gentry said. Officers told him a no-trespassing sign would have been wiser.
"Now he'll have to patch up his alligator," Gentry said.
Conservation agent Derek Cole said the department has received calls in the past about alligators that had been set free in populated areas, so there was no reason to believe the Saturday sighting wasn't valid.
"The department doesn't get involved in something like that," Cole said. "They asked if they could go ahead and dispatch it if it was a danger, and I said there's a kill shot on alligators, a small kill shot on the head. I said if they can get a shot like that, go ahead."
http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/06/02/kansas-city-police-alligator_n_870428.html
Foreclosing on a Bunch of Snakes
by Al Lewis
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Commentary: Oh, serpents! Thought you said it had servants
They say there are snake pits on Wall Street.
Chase has learned there are snake pits on Main Street too.
Last year, the J.P. Morgan Chase banking unit foreclosed on a home near Rexburg, Idaho, that is infested with garter snakes.
They slide through the yard, the crawl space, the walls, the ceilings, even across the floors. Sure, they're harmless, but there are perhaps thousands of them. They give off malodorous secretions when alarmed, and can even leave the well water tasting a bit like the way they smell.
Two families have fled the house in scenes reminiscent of horror-film classics. One turned to a local TV station in 2006 to document the infestation, complaining of not being able to sleep at night. The video is still available on YouTube and is doing absolutely nothing for sales. Watch the video on snakes in the house.
The next family appeared on TV's "Animal Planet" earlier this year. They said they were told the previous owners came up with the snake story to explain why they stopped paying their mortgage. But, it turns out, the story was true.
Search "Idaho snake house" on the Internet and several intriguing posts emerge. Zillow.com offers a sales description that mentions "a large kitchen with center island," but nothing about snakes on the kitchen floor.
The house, built in 1920 and remodeled about five years ago, has somehow become a hibernaculum, where snakes gather en masse for winter. It's so famously infested that Chase has taken it off the market.
Earlier this year, the five-bedroom home at 675 W. 5000 North was listed for $109,200. That's about $66,000 below its market value. But somehow there were no takers, even in a region known for its Snake River.
Chase is now in the unenviable position of having to be delicate with snakes that continue to live in the home despite a defaulted mortgage. Once a house has been featured on "Animal Planet," you can't just burn it down or otherwise slaughter its reptilian residents. You have to be nice to snakes. It's just good business.
"We have contracted to have the snakes trapped and released," said Darcy Donahoe-Wilmot, a Chase spokeswoman in Seattle.
"We plan to seal the foundation and install a barrier around the foundation to help prevent future access," she said. "A report will be issued by the contractor to be provided to any potential buyers."
Possible buyers might include some guy with a flute and a turban, or maybe a slippery salesman looking to replenish his line of proprietary oil. More likely, though, Chase is going to be stuck with the Idaho snake house for a long time.
Protesters recently appeared in Ohio at the annual meeting of Chase's parent, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., to complain about the company's foreclosure practices. There have been similar protests at all major banks, as if these institutions actually love foreclosing on homes.
Banks currently have about 1.9 million homes on their books or in foreclosure proceedings, according to RealtyTrac, a real estate market researcher.
Imagine all the disrepair, the pet-fouled carpets, the mold, the bugs, the rats and the snakes.
Foreclosures have slowed in recent months, but that trend is largely attributed to legal delays, including banks' dubious use of "robo-signers" on court documents.
Yes, major banks have major problems. But they're still swamped with more foreclosures than they can handle, and Americans are still slithering away from their homes like it's not a snake-like thing to do.
The Mortgage Bankers Association recently reported that about 8.3% of homeowners missed at least one mortgage payment in the January-March quarter. In a healthy market, that figure holds at about 1.1%.
Foreclosed homes made up 28% of all U.S. home sales in the quarter, according to RealtyTrac. And 2011 is on track to be another record year, with about 1.2 million foreclosures expected. This dashes any hope for a housing market recovery any time soon.
The snakes are just starting to awaken at the Idaho snake house. Chase can't chase them out just yet.
"Hopefully, in a few weeks," Donahoe-Wilmot said. "The contractor feels there is not yet enough activity to perform the capture."
http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/article/112850/idaho-foreclosure-snake-home
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Commentary: Oh, serpents! Thought you said it had servants
They say there are snake pits on Wall Street.
Chase has learned there are snake pits on Main Street too.
Last year, the J.P. Morgan Chase banking unit foreclosed on a home near Rexburg, Idaho, that is infested with garter snakes.
They slide through the yard, the crawl space, the walls, the ceilings, even across the floors. Sure, they're harmless, but there are perhaps thousands of them. They give off malodorous secretions when alarmed, and can even leave the well water tasting a bit like the way they smell.
Two families have fled the house in scenes reminiscent of horror-film classics. One turned to a local TV station in 2006 to document the infestation, complaining of not being able to sleep at night. The video is still available on YouTube and is doing absolutely nothing for sales. Watch the video on snakes in the house.
The next family appeared on TV's "Animal Planet" earlier this year. They said they were told the previous owners came up with the snake story to explain why they stopped paying their mortgage. But, it turns out, the story was true.
Search "Idaho snake house" on the Internet and several intriguing posts emerge. Zillow.com offers a sales description that mentions "a large kitchen with center island," but nothing about snakes on the kitchen floor.
The house, built in 1920 and remodeled about five years ago, has somehow become a hibernaculum, where snakes gather en masse for winter. It's so famously infested that Chase has taken it off the market.
Earlier this year, the five-bedroom home at 675 W. 5000 North was listed for $109,200. That's about $66,000 below its market value. But somehow there were no takers, even in a region known for its Snake River.
Chase is now in the unenviable position of having to be delicate with snakes that continue to live in the home despite a defaulted mortgage. Once a house has been featured on "Animal Planet," you can't just burn it down or otherwise slaughter its reptilian residents. You have to be nice to snakes. It's just good business.
"We have contracted to have the snakes trapped and released," said Darcy Donahoe-Wilmot, a Chase spokeswoman in Seattle.
"We plan to seal the foundation and install a barrier around the foundation to help prevent future access," she said. "A report will be issued by the contractor to be provided to any potential buyers."
Possible buyers might include some guy with a flute and a turban, or maybe a slippery salesman looking to replenish his line of proprietary oil. More likely, though, Chase is going to be stuck with the Idaho snake house for a long time.
Protesters recently appeared in Ohio at the annual meeting of Chase's parent, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., to complain about the company's foreclosure practices. There have been similar protests at all major banks, as if these institutions actually love foreclosing on homes.
Banks currently have about 1.9 million homes on their books or in foreclosure proceedings, according to RealtyTrac, a real estate market researcher.
Imagine all the disrepair, the pet-fouled carpets, the mold, the bugs, the rats and the snakes.
Foreclosures have slowed in recent months, but that trend is largely attributed to legal delays, including banks' dubious use of "robo-signers" on court documents.
Yes, major banks have major problems. But they're still swamped with more foreclosures than they can handle, and Americans are still slithering away from their homes like it's not a snake-like thing to do.
The Mortgage Bankers Association recently reported that about 8.3% of homeowners missed at least one mortgage payment in the January-March quarter. In a healthy market, that figure holds at about 1.1%.
Foreclosed homes made up 28% of all U.S. home sales in the quarter, according to RealtyTrac. And 2011 is on track to be another record year, with about 1.2 million foreclosures expected. This dashes any hope for a housing market recovery any time soon.
The snakes are just starting to awaken at the Idaho snake house. Chase can't chase them out just yet.
"Hopefully, in a few weeks," Donahoe-Wilmot said. "The contractor feels there is not yet enough activity to perform the capture."
http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/article/112850/idaho-foreclosure-snake-home
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Gunman Barricades Himself on Farm Full of Snakes
By Kyle Munzenrieder, Thu., Mar. 31 2011
At Tom Crutchfield's Reptile Farm in Homestead, you can find deadly creatures such as Chinese bamboo vipers, Mojave rattlesnakes, black Pakistan cobras, and, apparently, right now, a man with a gun. Yes, according to reports, a man has barricaded himself inside a building on the property after shooting another man.
Reports are sparse, but the Miami-Dade Police Department's Special Response Team has arrived at 35000 SW 212nd Ave. to deal with the gunman. The site is listed online as the address of the Tom Crutchfield Reptile Farm, and CBSMiami says video shot from a helicopter shows the property is dotted with numerous cages and sheds.
The farm's Facebook page, which lists its address in Homestead, was updated Monday.
WSVN reports the incident was set off after an altercation between two men on the property. One man was lightly grazed by a bullet and is expected to recover. The other guy is now boarded up in a building on the property.
This is the real-life sequel to Snakes on a Plane we've been waiting for: Snakes on a Farm, But With Guns!
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/03/gun_man_barricades_himself_in.php
At Tom Crutchfield's Reptile Farm in Homestead, you can find deadly creatures such as Chinese bamboo vipers, Mojave rattlesnakes, black Pakistan cobras, and, apparently, right now, a man with a gun. Yes, according to reports, a man has barricaded himself inside a building on the property after shooting another man.
Reports are sparse, but the Miami-Dade Police Department's Special Response Team has arrived at 35000 SW 212nd Ave. to deal with the gunman. The site is listed online as the address of the Tom Crutchfield Reptile Farm, and CBSMiami says video shot from a helicopter shows the property is dotted with numerous cages and sheds.
The farm's Facebook page, which lists its address in Homestead, was updated Monday.
WSVN reports the incident was set off after an altercation between two men on the property. One man was lightly grazed by a bullet and is expected to recover. The other guy is now boarded up in a building on the property.
This is the real-life sequel to Snakes on a Plane we've been waiting for: Snakes on a Farm, But With Guns!
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/03/gun_man_barricades_himself_in.php
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The monster of Billings Dam
 |
| The plate warns: Warning. Anaconda. Traffic Interrupted. Photo: Ernesto Rodrigues/AE |
Ṣo Paulo state РIn the metropolitan area of Grajau, Parque Residencial Lagos (Residential Park Lakes), on the banks of the Billings reservoir a snake more than 5 meters in length is scaring the 1,2 thousands of families living on site. The monster, an "Anaconda", better known in English as "Anaconda"(probably a Eunectes murinus) is considered one of the largest and most robust amid all snakes in the world.
For now, she only managed to attack animals from small to medium size, such as capybaras, chickens and ducks, but nothing prevents that she can to capture a human being, especially the smaller, such as children and adolescents.
President of the Association of Friends of the Park, Mrs. Vera Lucia baseline, 61 years (in 2011) account: This is a monster. It sticks his head out of the water and then, dives, lifting gigantic tail. Even a dog, she eaten. In the main pier of the park, a plate that was placed warns РDanger: Anaconda. Herself Basali identified the animal: I was born in Mato Grosso. This snake appears there only in the Amazon ... (but this is the anaconda pilgrim of Graja̼ ...).
For unknown reasons, far from its original environment, the Anaconda found a home in Billings Dam and nobody knows how the animal got there. Amid the mystery surrounding the origin of the creature, have appeared different versions of its presence in the area.
The tongue of the people puts the blame on an unidentified Japanese. He would have taken the snake to Grajaú and began to create it. Finally, he decided to put it in the pond. The time of appearance of the snake in the water is also controversial: the majority says that it appeared about 20 days but Mrs. Janet Marques da Silva, 53, says: There is talk on this snake since 2003. Mrs. Silva believes that the snake has even some offspring: Ten, at least, the oldest to have about ten years now.
The young marketer Elanes Santos Moreira, 16, was almost a victim of the monster. Even alerted he gone to fish in the Dam. He reports: Suddenly, it appeared, put his head above water. I felt blood to fled of my face.
Mrs. Basali even tells that tried to photograph the creature but complains of fatigue, because of the vigil, day and night. Still not got the picture and describe: She's too ugly. His head has the size of a ball handball. Informed, the firemen were on standby to try to capture the animal. But the beast is unpredictable and only with a patient ambush, will can surprise the creature. Let us follow the case and await a flagrant photo of the monster of the Billings Reservoir.
SOURCE: SAMPAIO, Paulo. Grajaú tem também seu monstro do lago Ness.IN Estadão/SP, published in 05/01/2011
[http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20110501/not_imp713261,0.php]
[http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20110501/not_imp713261,0.php]
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Rare croc lays dozens of eggs at St. Augustine Alligator Farm
Fertile ones will hatch in a few months; fewer than 1,000 exist now.
Posted: April 15, 2011 - 12:00am
By Marcia Lane
St. Augustine Record
ST. AUGUSTINE - Officials at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park know just how those women feel who deliver babies all the while protesting they weren't even aware they were expecting.
"We didn't know she was pregnant," said John Brueggen, director of the popular tourist exhibit.
"She" is a 15-year-old gharial crocodilian named Karma, an India native who on Thursday presented the zoological park with a clutch of 41 eggs. Those eggs are the first since a group of juvenile gharials was brought into the United States about 15 years ago in an effort to help preserve the critically endangered species. There are fewer than 1,000 in the world.
The eggs count as "a very big deal," Brueggen said.
Keepers found 30 eggs in the pond that's part of an exhibit housing two females and one male gharial, a species losing its habitat and lives to habitat destruction and over-fishing. As the day progressed, Karma laid another 11 in the pond.
Normally the mother would have dug a hole in a sandbank in which to lay her eggs; the pond delivery was her way of telling the staff they hadn't provided a good place for her to give birth.
"We thought we had years," Brueggen said of the gharials, who at 15 are still considered juveniles.
Normally when the male is sexually mature a large node grows on the tip of its long narrow snout. That node is known as a ghara, and the source of the animal's name. The male at the Alligator Farm has developed a small ghara, but nothing like that found on gharials in the wild.
Then those eggs appeared. Keepers rescued the eggs from the water. If they had left them, water would have seeped inside drowning the embryo. The thick mucus around each egg protected them.
Jen Walkowich, a reptile keeper at the facility, cleaned off the eggs, measured them and marked them with a pencil. From there they were put in plastic containers filled with a vermiculite mix (yes, like the stuff used in gardening).
"It keeps the moisture. You need close to 100 percent humidity," Brueggen said.
One of the eggs was broken during the transfers from outside to inside.
The remaining eggs are now divided among three incubators in order to eliminate the risk of mechanical failure. The gharials are temperature dependent for sex determination, and the incubators are set at 89 to 92 degrees.
Within a few days, park officials should know which of the eggs are fertile.
The clue will be a dark band that develops around the egg. After that happens the eggs can't be turned since the young develop from the top down and turning could kill them.
"Once we know they're fertile, everything is in our hands," Brueggen said.
In about two months the gharials should hatch, and then the Alligator Farm can start handing out the cigars.
Protecting the species
Fifteen years ago the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park joined with others to help the Indian gharial.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the number of gharials has declined 96 to 98 percent since 1946. In the 1970s the gharial was considered on the brink of extinction and is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
It's estimated the wild population is now down to several hundred and the total population including captive animals is less than 1,000.
These days 15 of the animals are in six institutions in the United States.
"We knew we had to start breeding some sort of as an insurance colony," said Brueggen. "They're a very rare species in the wild."
The facility's three gharials - Raj, Karma and Sutra - came to the facility 15 years ago as young animals only a couple of feet long.
These days they're 11 feet plus in length. Raj is one of only three males in the United States.
"What's endangering [the species] the most is mostly habitat destruction, polluted rivers, over fishing and, oddly enough, the mafia in India. They steal sand for construction purposes. The animals need pristine sand beaches along the river to lay their eggs," Brueggen said.
Unlike alligators that mound their nests out of vegetation and lay their eggs, the gharials are like sea turtles and dig holes in the sand in which to lay their eggs. They don't lay where the sand is disturbed.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-04-15/story/rare-croc-lays-dozens-eggs-st-augustine-alligator-farm
Posted: April 15, 2011 - 12:00am
By Marcia Lane
St. Augustine Record
ST. AUGUSTINE - Officials at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park know just how those women feel who deliver babies all the while protesting they weren't even aware they were expecting.
"We didn't know she was pregnant," said John Brueggen, director of the popular tourist exhibit.
"She" is a 15-year-old gharial crocodilian named Karma, an India native who on Thursday presented the zoological park with a clutch of 41 eggs. Those eggs are the first since a group of juvenile gharials was brought into the United States about 15 years ago in an effort to help preserve the critically endangered species. There are fewer than 1,000 in the world.
The eggs count as "a very big deal," Brueggen said.
Keepers found 30 eggs in the pond that's part of an exhibit housing two females and one male gharial, a species losing its habitat and lives to habitat destruction and over-fishing. As the day progressed, Karma laid another 11 in the pond.
Normally the mother would have dug a hole in a sandbank in which to lay her eggs; the pond delivery was her way of telling the staff they hadn't provided a good place for her to give birth.
"We thought we had years," Brueggen said of the gharials, who at 15 are still considered juveniles.
Normally when the male is sexually mature a large node grows on the tip of its long narrow snout. That node is known as a ghara, and the source of the animal's name. The male at the Alligator Farm has developed a small ghara, but nothing like that found on gharials in the wild.
Then those eggs appeared. Keepers rescued the eggs from the water. If they had left them, water would have seeped inside drowning the embryo. The thick mucus around each egg protected them.
Jen Walkowich, a reptile keeper at the facility, cleaned off the eggs, measured them and marked them with a pencil. From there they were put in plastic containers filled with a vermiculite mix (yes, like the stuff used in gardening).
"It keeps the moisture. You need close to 100 percent humidity," Brueggen said.
One of the eggs was broken during the transfers from outside to inside.
The remaining eggs are now divided among three incubators in order to eliminate the risk of mechanical failure. The gharials are temperature dependent for sex determination, and the incubators are set at 89 to 92 degrees.
Within a few days, park officials should know which of the eggs are fertile.
The clue will be a dark band that develops around the egg. After that happens the eggs can't be turned since the young develop from the top down and turning could kill them.
"Once we know they're fertile, everything is in our hands," Brueggen said.
In about two months the gharials should hatch, and then the Alligator Farm can start handing out the cigars.
Protecting the species
Fifteen years ago the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park joined with others to help the Indian gharial.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the number of gharials has declined 96 to 98 percent since 1946. In the 1970s the gharial was considered on the brink of extinction and is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
It's estimated the wild population is now down to several hundred and the total population including captive animals is less than 1,000.
These days 15 of the animals are in six institutions in the United States.
"We knew we had to start breeding some sort of as an insurance colony," said Brueggen. "They're a very rare species in the wild."
The facility's three gharials - Raj, Karma and Sutra - came to the facility 15 years ago as young animals only a couple of feet long.
These days they're 11 feet plus in length. Raj is one of only three males in the United States.
"What's endangering [the species] the most is mostly habitat destruction, polluted rivers, over fishing and, oddly enough, the mafia in India. They steal sand for construction purposes. The animals need pristine sand beaches along the river to lay their eggs," Brueggen said.
Unlike alligators that mound their nests out of vegetation and lay their eggs, the gharials are like sea turtles and dig holes in the sand in which to lay their eggs. They don't lay where the sand is disturbed.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-04-15/story/rare-croc-lays-dozens-eggs-st-augustine-alligator-farm
Girl recovering after snake bite
pa.press.net, Updated: 24/04/2011 03:24
A nine-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after being bitten by a snake.
Tyler Butcher was walking with her family in the New Forest, Hampshire, on Friday when she was bitten by an 18-inch-long adder.
Her father, Kenny Butcher, called 999 and she was taken to the intensive care unit at Southampton General Hospital.
Mr Butcher said his daughter was in "absolute agony" as her leg went black as she suffered an allergic reaction to the bite.
He said that doctors decided to give her antivenom as the bruising got worse and she was transferred to a general ward.
Mr Butcher told Sky News: "We went up to the New Forest for a walk with some friends, we were literally walking back to the car when my daughter gave out a yelp.
"I thought she had stood on a nettle but when I looked down I saw the snake slithering away and saw the puncture marks on her foot.
"She literally lifted her leg off the the ground, standing on one leg, you can tell when your children are in pain and she was in absolute agony."
He said that he dialled 999 and she was taken by ambulance to hospital.
Praising the emergency services and the medical staff, he added: "They didn't mess around, they were absolutely first class."
http://news.uk.msn.com//uk/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=157158427
A nine-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after being bitten by a snake.
Tyler Butcher was walking with her family in the New Forest, Hampshire, on Friday when she was bitten by an 18-inch-long adder.
Her father, Kenny Butcher, called 999 and she was taken to the intensive care unit at Southampton General Hospital.
Mr Butcher said his daughter was in "absolute agony" as her leg went black as she suffered an allergic reaction to the bite.
He said that doctors decided to give her antivenom as the bruising got worse and she was transferred to a general ward.
Mr Butcher told Sky News: "We went up to the New Forest for a walk with some friends, we were literally walking back to the car when my daughter gave out a yelp.
"I thought she had stood on a nettle but when I looked down I saw the snake slithering away and saw the puncture marks on her foot.
"She literally lifted her leg off the the ground, standing on one leg, you can tell when your children are in pain and she was in absolute agony."
He said that he dialled 999 and she was taken by ambulance to hospital.
Praising the emergency services and the medical staff, he added: "They didn't mess around, they were absolutely first class."
http://news.uk.msn.com//uk/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=157158427
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Illinois Residents Report Large Snake on the Loose
Posted: Monday, April 18th
BUSH -- People in Bush are begging for help after reports began circulating that there is a large snake on the loose in their neighborhood.
The animal was first spotted about a week ago Residents believe it is a boa constrictor or a python, possibly someone's pet that was released into the wild. Experts say that's not necessarily the case.
"It's the whole talk of town. Every body's scared to death. Afraid to let their kids out or their dogs," said Bush resident Lester Taylor.
"The kids are always inside. They are never let out here by themselves," Misty Gurley told News Three.
Residents say the snake is preying on animals in their neighborhood, and they want it caught before it kills again.
Most of the reported snake sightings have been in an area near 6th Street. Rumors circulated that the animal killed a large German Shepard-mix dog that lived at one home.
Lester Taylor says he spotted the snake in the alley behind his house. He describes it as about 6 inches in diameter and 12 feet long.
Taylor tried to trap the animal.
"I got a stick I pick up trash with, it has a nail in it," he said, "I poked the snake in the tail and was trying to hold it until somebody come to help me. He just ripped it out and went on in the tree."
Neighbors contacted Hurst police for help. Chief Ron Harvel spent several hours looking for the animal in the alley that runs behind 6th St. Harvel did see a snake. He calls it dark brown in color.
"The snake I saw was not a python, was not an anaconda, was not a boa constrictor," Harvel said.
Neighbors snapped two pictures of the animal. SIU ecologist Brooke Talley and Department of Natural Resources Herpetologist Scott Ballard analyzed them. Both insist the snake in the photos is not an exotic reptile
"It's not a boa or a python. What we actually have is a black rat snake, and those get really large, they go to five or six feet," Talley said.
Black rat snakes are common in Illinois. Talley says they are not dangerous to humans or pets.
She explains it's possible someone released a pet boa or python into the wild. But even then, she says it's unlikely that it killed a dog, cat or even ducks
"That would not happen," she said, "That's way too big for what they would prefer to eat."
Some people think that a neighbor released two pet snakes. Police tell News Three they don't have any reports of missing snakes. Authorities recommed that if you see the snake, call 911 right away and they'll come check it out.
Experts also encourage residents to leave the animal alone. Some of the people that live near the area where the snake has been spotted set up traps in their yards. Talley explains that this time of year is breeding season for snakes. The reptiles more active during that time, and that's likely why people have spotted them.
By: Emily Finnegan
efinnegan@wsiltv.com
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=12928&type=top
(Via Chad Arment)
BUSH -- People in Bush are begging for help after reports began circulating that there is a large snake on the loose in their neighborhood.
The animal was first spotted about a week ago Residents believe it is a boa constrictor or a python, possibly someone's pet that was released into the wild. Experts say that's not necessarily the case.
"It's the whole talk of town. Every body's scared to death. Afraid to let their kids out or their dogs," said Bush resident Lester Taylor.
"The kids are always inside. They are never let out here by themselves," Misty Gurley told News Three.
Residents say the snake is preying on animals in their neighborhood, and they want it caught before it kills again.
Most of the reported snake sightings have been in an area near 6th Street. Rumors circulated that the animal killed a large German Shepard-mix dog that lived at one home.
Lester Taylor says he spotted the snake in the alley behind his house. He describes it as about 6 inches in diameter and 12 feet long.
Taylor tried to trap the animal.
"I got a stick I pick up trash with, it has a nail in it," he said, "I poked the snake in the tail and was trying to hold it until somebody come to help me. He just ripped it out and went on in the tree."
Neighbors contacted Hurst police for help. Chief Ron Harvel spent several hours looking for the animal in the alley that runs behind 6th St. Harvel did see a snake. He calls it dark brown in color.
"The snake I saw was not a python, was not an anaconda, was not a boa constrictor," Harvel said.
Neighbors snapped two pictures of the animal. SIU ecologist Brooke Talley and Department of Natural Resources Herpetologist Scott Ballard analyzed them. Both insist the snake in the photos is not an exotic reptile
"It's not a boa or a python. What we actually have is a black rat snake, and those get really large, they go to five or six feet," Talley said.
Black rat snakes are common in Illinois. Talley says they are not dangerous to humans or pets.
She explains it's possible someone released a pet boa or python into the wild. But even then, she says it's unlikely that it killed a dog, cat or even ducks
"That would not happen," she said, "That's way too big for what they would prefer to eat."
Some people think that a neighbor released two pet snakes. Police tell News Three they don't have any reports of missing snakes. Authorities recommed that if you see the snake, call 911 right away and they'll come check it out.
Experts also encourage residents to leave the animal alone. Some of the people that live near the area where the snake has been spotted set up traps in their yards. Talley explains that this time of year is breeding season for snakes. The reptiles more active during that time, and that's likely why people have spotted them.
By: Emily Finnegan
efinnegan@wsiltv.com
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=12928&type=top
(Via Chad Arment)
Fossil from 275 million years ago shows oldest abscess
19 April 2011
The Labidosaurus hamatus fossil, whose detailed analysis using X-rays is described in Naturwissenschaften journal, shows signs of an abscess.
The animal was among the first to have just one set of teeth, rather than continuously replacing them.
The adaptation to a plant-based diet would have made them more susceptible, as humans are, to tooth decay and loss.
The find predates the previous earliest-known example of tooth decay by some 200 million years, and also represents the oldest-known infection in a terrestrial vertebrate.
L hamataus was one of the first fully terrestrial reptiles, and with the evolution from a watery to land-based life came a change in diet.
For millions of years, the animal's predecessors had teeth that continuously replaced themselves; new teeth grew into the inner side of the jaw and, when the loosely-connected outer teeth fell out, rose up to take their place.
However, the diet of tough plant matter that land-based reptiles began to eat did not lend itself to weak teeth, so animals like L hamatus over millions of years evolved more deeply-anchored teeth.
Robert Reisz and colleagues from the University of Toronto Mississauga obtained a L hamatus fossil recovered in what is now Texas. Using a commercial computed tomagraphy machine - which provided detailed X-ray data - they were able to image the interior of the fossil's jaw.
They found evidence of a long-lasting bacterial infection and tooth loss - an abscess.
It seems that in animals without the continuous replacement of teeth, oral infections caused by bacteria - which had long since evolved to take up residence in reptiles' mouths - were likely to get worse, rather than be pushed out along with old teeth.
The authors speculate that "our own human system of [having two sets of teeth through life], although of obvious advantage because of its precise dental occlusion and extensive oral processing, is more susceptible to infection than that of our distant ancestors that had a continuous cycle of tooth replacement."
That is, humans have upper and lower teeth that neatly interlock, making it easier to chew, but it is our reptilian forebears' change to firmly fixed teeth that makes us prone to cavities.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13131533
(Via Dawn Holloway)
The first-known occurrence of an oral infection has been found in a 275-million-year-old fossil.
The animal was among the first to have just one set of teeth, rather than continuously replacing them.
The adaptation to a plant-based diet would have made them more susceptible, as humans are, to tooth decay and loss.
The find predates the previous earliest-known example of tooth decay by some 200 million years, and also represents the oldest-known infection in a terrestrial vertebrate.
L hamataus was one of the first fully terrestrial reptiles, and with the evolution from a watery to land-based life came a change in diet.
For millions of years, the animal's predecessors had teeth that continuously replaced themselves; new teeth grew into the inner side of the jaw and, when the loosely-connected outer teeth fell out, rose up to take their place.
However, the diet of tough plant matter that land-based reptiles began to eat did not lend itself to weak teeth, so animals like L hamatus over millions of years evolved more deeply-anchored teeth.
Robert Reisz and colleagues from the University of Toronto Mississauga obtained a L hamatus fossil recovered in what is now Texas. Using a commercial computed tomagraphy machine - which provided detailed X-ray data - they were able to image the interior of the fossil's jaw.
They found evidence of a long-lasting bacterial infection and tooth loss - an abscess.
It seems that in animals without the continuous replacement of teeth, oral infections caused by bacteria - which had long since evolved to take up residence in reptiles' mouths - were likely to get worse, rather than be pushed out along with old teeth.
The authors speculate that "our own human system of [having two sets of teeth through life], although of obvious advantage because of its precise dental occlusion and extensive oral processing, is more susceptible to infection than that of our distant ancestors that had a continuous cycle of tooth replacement."
That is, humans have upper and lower teeth that neatly interlock, making it easier to chew, but it is our reptilian forebears' change to firmly fixed teeth that makes us prone to cavities.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13131533
(Via Dawn Holloway)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Lake legend spawns mystery creature
 |
| Members of a rescue team stand around a giant freshwater turtle after successfully capturing it in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake last Sunday (April 3). The state established a team of animal experts, veterinarians and conservation workers to capture the rare turtle and administer treatment. |
Experts pooh-pooh claims of another animal spotted in Hoan Kiem Lake
Controversy has given way to mystery following the capture of the turtle with legendary status in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake last Sunday.
It is said that while they were trying to capture the ailing turtle, workers spotted another giant creature surface several times, but foreign experts have expressed strong skepticism about the possibility, calling it “wishful thinking.”
As medical treatment gets underway for the captured turtle, scientists say the only hope of sustaining the species – and the legend – is to have a male turtle in another lake west of Hanoi be taken to China where it can mate with the only female alive.
Most experts believe the Hoan Kiem turtle belongs to a species called Rafetus swinhoei - of which only four members are believed to be left in the world. One lives in the Dong Mo Lake in the west of Hanoi, while two others are being raised in captivity in China.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, general director of KAT, a local company hired to capture the Hoan Kiem turtle, told the media this week that his workers had seen another giant creature surfacing at different places.
“Thinking that there is another [giant turtle] in the lake is just wishful thinking,” said Douglas Hendrie, an American technical advisor from Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV), the country’s largest conservation group. “Some people may want to believe so badly that there is another… in the lake, that they actually convince themselves there is.”
“If there is another animal there [in Hoan Kiem Lake], my first question is: how did it get in the lake?” said Timothy McCormack, a coordinator with the Asian Turtle Program. McCormack said that the turtle rescued last Sunday has been photographed for a number of years and it is quite easy to distinguish it because of many injuries found on its head, legs, and elsewhere.
“If there is a new animal in there, I find it very hard to believe it has been hiding for ten, twenty or forty years and just shows itself now. It is more likely that [it] was just recently put in the lake.”
Under treatment
Last Sunday, it took at least 50 people, including members of special forces, two hours to net the turtle which was later put in a cage and pulled to a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake. Veterinarians have carried tests to ascertain what is ailing the creature at a makeshift hospital in the lake that was recently expanded and equipped with a small holding tank.
A steering committee has been set up to make decisions about the turtle, believed to be more than a hundred years old, and which weighs around 200kg. The results of the examination are not known.
“Overall, the turtle is doing very well now,” said KAT’s Khoi.
“I think we’ll have to wait and see how serious the injuries are. It looks like a lot of treatment has dealt with the external and visible injuries,” McCormack said. “It would be interesting to know if there are any other internal infections.”
In recent months the giant creature has made both international and local headlines by surfacing almost twice as frequently as in previous years. Injuries and lesions on its carapace, neck, and legs have been photographed and experts have blamed the lingering pollution and illegal fishing at the lake for the turtle’s ailments.
“I really hope that [the treatment] is successful. I hope they will find exactly what is wrong with the turtle,” said McCormack.
Both McCormack and ENV’s Hendrie concurred that the Hoan Kiem turtle, whose sex is yet to be determined, was too sacred for any kind of breeding program. They pointed instead to the male turtle of the same species living in Dong Mo Lake west of Hanoi.
“Looking at the international breeding program, the animal from Dong Mo would be a perfect candidate. It’s quite strong,” said McCormack. “Of course people wouldn’t want the legend to leave the [Hoan Kiem] lake.”
The legend goes that in the 15th century, the turtle handed Emperor Le Loi a magic sword that he used to repel a Chinese invasion. After his victory, Le Loi returned the weapon to the turtle that dived back into the lake with the blade clutched in his mouth. Hoan Kiem literally translates as the “Lake of the Returned Sword.”
“For people of older generations like us, the cultural and historical significance of the Hoan Kiem turtle is irrefutable,” said Le Chuc, a prominent Hanoian actor and stage director. Chuc said since the turtle was captured, he has dropped by the Hoan Kiem Lake between three to four times everyday to check on it.
“I cannot imagine the day the turtle is not there anymore. Hoan Kiem would be just a lake with water,” Chuc said.
“As the world goes through tough times, I pray for the wellbeing of the turtle that is a shining light in this material world.”
http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20110409160731.aspx
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Deadly Egyptian cobra missing from Bronx Zoo
By Deborah Brunswick, CNN
March 27, 2011 -- Updated 1625 GMT (0025 HKT)
New York (CNN) -- A venomous Egyptian cobra went missing from New York's Bronx Zoo, prompting the closure of the zoo's reptile house until further notice.
Staff was alerted Saturday that the adolescent Egyptian cobra was missing from an off-exhibit enclosure, according to a statement from the zoo. Staff members closed and secured the reptile house.
Zoo officials said they are confident the 20-inch-long snake is contained in a nonpublic, isolated area of the building.
"Based on our knowledge of the natural history and behavior of snakes, we know they seek closed-in spaces and are not comfortable in open areas," the zoo statement said.
The Egyptian cobra is most commonly found in North Africa. Its venom is so deadly that it can kill a full-grown elephant in three hours -- or a person in about 15 minutes, according to wildlife experts. The venom destroys nerve tissue and causes paralysis and death due to respiratory failure.
Scholars believe the Egyptian cobra was known in ancient times as the asp. Legend has it that Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian queen, used an asp to commit suicide.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/03/27/new.york.missing.cobra/index.html?hpt=T2
March 27, 2011 -- Updated 1625 GMT (0025 HKT)
New York (CNN) -- A venomous Egyptian cobra went missing from New York's Bronx Zoo, prompting the closure of the zoo's reptile house until further notice.
Staff was alerted Saturday that the adolescent Egyptian cobra was missing from an off-exhibit enclosure, according to a statement from the zoo. Staff members closed and secured the reptile house.
Zoo officials said they are confident the 20-inch-long snake is contained in a nonpublic, isolated area of the building.
"Based on our knowledge of the natural history and behavior of snakes, we know they seek closed-in spaces and are not comfortable in open areas," the zoo statement said.
The Egyptian cobra is most commonly found in North Africa. Its venom is so deadly that it can kill a full-grown elephant in three hours -- or a person in about 15 minutes, according to wildlife experts. The venom destroys nerve tissue and causes paralysis and death due to respiratory failure.
Scholars believe the Egyptian cobra was known in ancient times as the asp. Legend has it that Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian queen, used an asp to commit suicide.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/03/27/new.york.missing.cobra/index.html?hpt=T2
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Prehistoric reptile skin secrets revealed in new image
23 March 2011
By Mark Kinver
Science and environment reporter, BBC News
The infra-red picture reveals the chemical profile of the skin, offering an insight into how it was preserved.
A team of UK scientists say the sample was so well preserved that it was hard to tell the difference between the fossil and the fresh samples.
The details appear in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
"It is a relatively new technique - I think we are the first people to apply it to palaeontology," said co-author Roy Wogelius, a geochemist from the University of Manchester, UK.
He told BBC News that the technology allows non-destructive analysis, meaning that it could be used on rare, valuable museum specimens.
"Now we can apply this organic technique [it] means that there is an awful lot of material that we can analyse in ways people did not realise were possible."
Possible specimens could include invertebrates, marine creatures and plant material, Dr Wogelius said.
He explained that the the infra-red mapping technique worked in a manner that was similar to a record player.
"What you do is you take something that transmits light, so if you take a very small needle - about the size of an old phonograph stylus - and make it so it can transmit light," he revealed.
"You can shine light down through the needle and then when the needle is in contact with the specimen's surface, a little of that light will be absorbed - that is the signal that we use.
"When there is a little more absorption at a certain frequency, that is a fingerprint for a particular organic compound."
Dr Wogelius explained that the team of UK and US researchers had attempted to use the technology before, on a sample from a sample known as "dino-mummy", a 67-million-year-old fossil that still had much of its soft tissue intact.
"This was one of the best preserved dinosaurs discovered, and we were able to show that there was organic compound from the skin remaining (on the fossil)," he observed.
"The problem was that the (sample) fell apart so easily, we could not map anything. So while we were confident that what we had was skin residue, we just could not see if there was any biological structure there."
Prehistoric 'whiff'
With the latest sample, Dr Wogelius said that the preservation was both remarkable and, perhaps more importantly, solid.
"It was also flat which made it very, very convenient to map it," he added.
"So we took this new technology... and the detail of what we were able to reveal was quite striking."
Using the infra-red technique, as well as a series of X-rays, the team were able to confirm that soft tissue was present on the fossil.
They were also able to offer a hypothesis on how the tissue had survived for 50 million years.
The details from the study suggest that when skin's organic compounds began to break down, they formed a chemical bond with trace metals that, under certain circumstances, then go on to build a "bridge" with the surrounding minerals.
A result of this process meant that the skin and remaining soft tissue was protected from further decomposition or further erosion.
"These new infra-red and X-ray methods reveal intricate chemical patterns that have been overlooked by traditional methods for decades," Dr Wogelius explained.
"We have learned that some of these compounds, if the chemistry is just right, can give us a bit of a whiff of the chemistry of these ancient organisms."
He went on to say that the team's findings had offered an insight into a number of area.
"By doing the infra-red analysis, we get some detail about the soft tissue that remains," he said.
"In fact, the chemical remains - in terms of the organic compounds - very closely resemble what we get when we look at modern gecko skin. That means that some of the organic components have been conserved over that period of time.
"Some of the trace metal chemistry is also original to the organism, and that give us hope in terms of understanding some bio-metallic complexes, in particular understanding the colouration and pigmentation of the skin.
"It is very exciting because we can start to pull out more detail."
Dr Wogelius said that this sort of information could unlock a better understanding of a range of research avenues, including prehistoric creatures' diets.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12816862
By Mark Kinver
Science and environment reporter, BBC News
A unique image, for the first time, has mapped organic compounds that are still surviving in a 50-million-year-old sample of reptile skin.
A team of UK scientists say the sample was so well preserved that it was hard to tell the difference between the fossil and the fresh samples.
The details appear in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
"It is a relatively new technique - I think we are the first people to apply it to palaeontology," said co-author Roy Wogelius, a geochemist from the University of Manchester, UK.
He told BBC News that the technology allows non-destructive analysis, meaning that it could be used on rare, valuable museum specimens.
"Now we can apply this organic technique [it] means that there is an awful lot of material that we can analyse in ways people did not realise were possible."
Possible specimens could include invertebrates, marine creatures and plant material, Dr Wogelius said.
He explained that the the infra-red mapping technique worked in a manner that was similar to a record player.
"What you do is you take something that transmits light, so if you take a very small needle - about the size of an old phonograph stylus - and make it so it can transmit light," he revealed.
"You can shine light down through the needle and then when the needle is in contact with the specimen's surface, a little of that light will be absorbed - that is the signal that we use.
"When there is a little more absorption at a certain frequency, that is a fingerprint for a particular organic compound."
Dr Wogelius explained that the team of UK and US researchers had attempted to use the technology before, on a sample from a sample known as "dino-mummy", a 67-million-year-old fossil that still had much of its soft tissue intact.
"This was one of the best preserved dinosaurs discovered, and we were able to show that there was organic compound from the skin remaining (on the fossil)," he observed.
"The problem was that the (sample) fell apart so easily, we could not map anything. So while we were confident that what we had was skin residue, we just could not see if there was any biological structure there."
Prehistoric 'whiff'
With the latest sample, Dr Wogelius said that the preservation was both remarkable and, perhaps more importantly, solid.
"It was also flat which made it very, very convenient to map it," he added.
"So we took this new technology... and the detail of what we were able to reveal was quite striking."
Using the infra-red technique, as well as a series of X-rays, the team were able to confirm that soft tissue was present on the fossil.
They were also able to offer a hypothesis on how the tissue had survived for 50 million years.
The details from the study suggest that when skin's organic compounds began to break down, they formed a chemical bond with trace metals that, under certain circumstances, then go on to build a "bridge" with the surrounding minerals.
A result of this process meant that the skin and remaining soft tissue was protected from further decomposition or further erosion.
"These new infra-red and X-ray methods reveal intricate chemical patterns that have been overlooked by traditional methods for decades," Dr Wogelius explained.
"We have learned that some of these compounds, if the chemistry is just right, can give us a bit of a whiff of the chemistry of these ancient organisms."
He went on to say that the team's findings had offered an insight into a number of area.
"By doing the infra-red analysis, we get some detail about the soft tissue that remains," he said.
"In fact, the chemical remains - in terms of the organic compounds - very closely resemble what we get when we look at modern gecko skin. That means that some of the organic components have been conserved over that period of time.
"Some of the trace metal chemistry is also original to the organism, and that give us hope in terms of understanding some bio-metallic complexes, in particular understanding the colouration and pigmentation of the skin.
"It is very exciting because we can start to pull out more detail."
Dr Wogelius said that this sort of information could unlock a better understanding of a range of research avenues, including prehistoric creatures' diets.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12816862
Monday, March 14, 2011
Alligator Found Guarding Southern California Pot Farm
Mar 9, 2011 – 1:50 PM
Tori Richards
Contributor
HEMET, Calif. -- When police raided a pot farm in this Southern California desert community, they found an unusual watchdog -- a 4-foot alligator named Wally.
The 55-pound American alligator was found lounging Monday night in a black cement mixing tub located in the back area of a house where 2,285 plants were growing, police said. One man was arrested, and Wally was taken to an animal sanctuary, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.
The marijuana was valued at $1.5 million.
The raid happened after anonymous tips were given to police about a possible drug-dealing operation at this suburban tract home. Police visited the house and discovered the marijuana, then returned with a search warrant.
Resident John Nathan Donna, 29, was arrested on suspicion of possession of concentrated cannabis and cultivation of marijuana for sale, the Press-Enterprise reported.
As for Wally, he was turned over to the California Department of Fish and Game, which found a good foster home -- Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, which rescues captive-bred animals such as big cats, reptiles and birds. It is illegal to own alligators in California.
Wally is the same type of alligator found in the Florida Everglades.
"He was extremely healthy -- a little too well taken care of," said Joel Almquist, who runs the sanctuary. "It's still an alligator; some are pretty mellow, but if you get bit by a 3-footer, you're going to remember it for a long time. It's kind of like being bit by a vise with teeth. It's not a pleasant experience."
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/09/alligator-found-guarding-southern-california-pot-farm/
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Man pleads guilty to taking protected species from N.C. refuge (Via Herp Digest)
Man pleads guilty to taking protected species from N.C. refuge
By Lauren King, The Virginian-Pilot
February 28, 2011, NEW BERN, N.C.
A 60-year-old Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the taking of a protected species from the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.
Kenneth Dobis of Woodlyn, Pa., also pleaded guilty to trespassing on a wildlife refuge. He was sentenced to three years probation and fined $10,000 in federal court, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
On May 21, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge officers observed Dobis and his son, Keith, carrying pillowcases and snake sticks along a roadside adjacent to the wildlife refuge, the news release said. The officers, with help from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, conducted surveillance on the two for the next few hours in and around the Mattamuskeet and Swan Quarter National Wildlife Refuges.
The next morning, officers continued their surveillance of the pair at their hotel and saw Keith Dobis leave his hotel room carrying what appeared to be a snake in a pillowcase. Dobis placed the pillowcase inside the trunk of a vehicle, and the two men left the hotel together in the vehicle.
The officers stopped their vehicle and received consent to search the vehicle. They found a quantity of marijuana and an Eastern Pigmy Rattlesnake, a protected species under North Carolina law, the news release said. Officers also found two copperhead snakes, a rat snake, two worm snakes, three turtles, 11 frogs, a skink and equipment used to collect reptiles and amphibians.
By Lauren King, The Virginian-Pilot
February 28, 2011, NEW BERN, N.C.
A 60-year-old Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the taking of a protected species from the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge.
Kenneth Dobis of Woodlyn, Pa., also pleaded guilty to trespassing on a wildlife refuge. He was sentenced to three years probation and fined $10,000 in federal court, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
On May 21, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge officers observed Dobis and his son, Keith, carrying pillowcases and snake sticks along a roadside adjacent to the wildlife refuge, the news release said. The officers, with help from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, conducted surveillance on the two for the next few hours in and around the Mattamuskeet and Swan Quarter National Wildlife Refuges.
The next morning, officers continued their surveillance of the pair at their hotel and saw Keith Dobis leave his hotel room carrying what appeared to be a snake in a pillowcase. Dobis placed the pillowcase inside the trunk of a vehicle, and the two men left the hotel together in the vehicle.
The officers stopped their vehicle and received consent to search the vehicle. They found a quantity of marijuana and an Eastern Pigmy Rattlesnake, a protected species under North Carolina law, the news release said. Officers also found two copperhead snakes, a rat snake, two worm snakes, three turtles, 11 frogs, a skink and equipment used to collect reptiles and amphibians.
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