#reptile conservation

[hope-for-the-planet]

From the article:

“As bullfrog presence declined, we started to hear other native frogs call and see native salamanders walking around,” Woodruff said of their field work. “It’s nice to be able to go back to these sites and hear a chorus of native frogs calling again that previously would not have been heard.”

Bullfrogs are a particularly nefarious invasive species because they will eat basically anything that can fit into their mouth, and even as tadpoles they have pretty enormous mouths. You can see in the picture below the comparison of an older bullfrog tadpole and a juvenile pond turtle (as hatchlings they are even smaller, roughly the size of a quarter).

The enormous endeavor of removing bullfrogs from ponds has led to not only the return of the western pond turtle (California's only native turtle species), but also of native frogs and salamanders that were also being picked off by bullfrogs.

(Image Source)

[pocketcrowleyadventures]

tiney pocket crowley is exploring a hibernaculum! This is a much more established version of what we have been building before; this one is made of bricks with the holes used to provide very effective little entrances, and we even found a slow worm in one!

[iravaid]

On conservation and survival

[frnwhcom]

Mark O'Shea: Pioneering Conservation and Enlightenment in the World of Reptiles

Mark O’Shea, a British herpetologist, author, lecturer, and television personality, has significantly impacted animal science, particularly in the study of reptiles. His work has spanned several decades, encompassing research, conservation efforts, and public education, making him a prominent figure in the field. This article delves into how O’Shea has influenced animal science through his…

[rebeccathenaturalist]

So--long story short, a FedEx driver killed a rattlesnake that happened to be on someone's porch, not causing any immediate problems. This is an all too common practice here in the United States, where a significant portion of the population has the backwards idea that "the only good snake is a dead snake" and that the only way to deal with a venomous snake in the proximity of a house, or people in general, is to kill it. Never mind that snakes tend to move on if left alone, and that there are numerous entities that can be contacted to move the snake safely to another place if so desired, and that most bites occur when someone is harassing, handling, or trying to kill the snake.

Dr. Emily Taylor of California Polytechnic State University (@snakeymama on Twitter) has requested that people contact FedEx about their recent commercial glorifying the killing of the snake, which you can view here. I've included both her and my letters to the appropriate folks at FedEx. There are options for both email and snail mail correspondence, and the more people FedEx hears from about this appalling matter, the better.

It's 2024, almost 2025. We have tons of information on rattlesnake behavior and best practices in coexisting with them (to include training your dogs in snake avoidance). We know plenty about the importance they have in local ecosystems, and the devastation that has been done through people slaughtering them, sometimes in the thousands (I wrote about the ongoing problem of rattlesnake roundups and their inherent cruelty here.) There are multiple rattlesnake species that are endangered or otherwise threatened with extinction.

The vast majority of encounters with venomous snakes are benign, and the vast majority of bites come from someone (person, dog, etc.) confronting the snake that was just trying to defend itself. We've spent a lot of time in this country defaulting to killing anything that inconveniences us, but there are better ways to live safely in proximity to wildlife that don't involve violence. It just takes a little more effort and awareness, and most importantly a significant attitude change that no longer vilifies native wildlife simply trying to live their lives.

As Dr. Taylor mentioned, if you want to contact FedEx, here are your options:

"You can help by reposting this or by emailing to express your concern about the commercial: mediarelations@fedex.com and to the CEO at FWSmith@fedex.com. Or send letters to: Fred Smith, CEO Brie Carere, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Ryan Kelly, Vice President of Marketing FedEx Corporation 942 South Shady Grove Road Memphis, TN 38120 USA"

[unbfacts]

Henry, a 124-year-old Nile crocodile, lives at South Africa's Crocworld Conservation Centre. He is over 5 meters long, has fathered more than 10,000 crocodiles since 1985, and was captured in 1903. Henry is still active, strong, and healthy.

[nohiketoosmall]

Do you live in Illinois? Please read <3

The Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) is a Midwestern snake that lives in wetlands and grasslands. It is threatened, endangered, or extirpated (locally extinct) throughout its range. The species was rejected from "endangered species" status but will be reconsidered in the next two years.

Photo credit x

The Kirtland's Snake has been found in a preserve in Will County, Illinois (just south of Chicago), but a permit filed by the County indicates they plan to pave a trail straight through its critical wetland habitat.

Figure 2 from here showing untouched habitat they will be paving through. This is from the Incidental Take permit.

The "Incidental Take" refers to the individuals that will die as a result of this plan. The "Incidental take" in this case is estimated to be 3 snakes because they found 3 in the planned construction zone, but this does not consider 1. the small gene pool/population size 2. the loss of prey from damage to the wetlands (from wetland pollution and soil compression) and 3. overall habitat decreasing and 4. direct injury from human persons ie being run over by bikes or stepped on.

Photo from IDNR fact sheet, source

If you are a nature lover please consider emailing DNR.ITACoordinator@Illinois.gov , the Department of Natural Resources Incidental Take Authorization coordinator, and ask them to reconsider and strengthen protections for threatened species like this!

[herpsandbirds]

Turtle Survival Alliance:

Have you always dreamed of working with turtles?

If you are in the North Florida area, there are open opportunities for you to gain hands-on experience working with the only freshwater turtle to live in brackish and saltwater environments, the Diamondback Terrapin!

Join Team Terrapin in our Internship or Volunteer positions:

Terrapin Stewardship Technician Internship

The Stewardship Technician will assist in the management of natural resources in Northeast Florida for the Florida Park Service and Turtle Survival Alliance. Primary responsibilities center around monitoring a nesting population of Diamondback terrapins, and will include extensive monitoring, predator control, data management, and support of a volunteer team.

Team Terrapin Volunteer

Join Team Terrapin as a Volunteer and help enable the Florida Department of Environmental Protection/Florida State Parks and the Turtle Survival Alliance Volunteer Science Program to have a better understanding of Diamondback Terrapin conservation in our region by conducting regular monitoring of a nesting population around North Florida. Our work provides robust, comprehensive data to continue decades of research on a large, imperiled Diamondback Terrapin population.

To apply, contact: Tabby Hootman at thootman@turtlesurvival.org.

More information here: https://turtlesurvival.org/careers/

Pictured: Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) photos by Sierra Perry (1), Tabby Hootman (2-4)

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

[todaysbird]

another call for a weird interview!

I’m doing a piece for Modern Farmer on python farming as a proposed solution for more carbon-friendly farming than traditional livestock, and why some people are advocating for pythons as a food source despite the ‘ick’ factor. i’m looking for a range of viewpoints, so I’d love to talk to people who:

have any knowledge about python farming

have worked extensively with pythons in a research setting

have hunted pythons where they are invasive (like the Everglades)

have eaten python/have cooked with it

have pet pythons (I’d love to hear what pros and cons you find in python farming!)

if your experiences are different but you think you could be a good interviewee, please still reach out!

DM me directly with your experience if you’d like to be interviewed. Please contact me by 8/2/2024 to be considered!

[reasonsforhope]

"In Cambodia, 60 eggs were found in the nest of one of the world’s most endangered large reptiles, which after hatching set a new record for an international conservation effort to save them.

It was believed the Siamese crocodile, with the distinctive bony crest running down its skull, was extinct in the wild until it was rediscovered in 2000. Almost all of the 400 animals remaining live in Cambodia.

A network of private-public partnerships have been organizing conservation measures to protect the species, including captive breeding and reintroduction programs, and village patrols to ensure their nests and habitat are not tampered with.

In May [2024], locals in the Cardamom Mountains found a nesting site in an area that crocodiles hadn’t been released, suggesting they are expanding and breeding under their own powers: a tremendous sign for the species’ recovery.

“The hatching of 60 new crocodiles is a tremendous boost,” said Pablo Sinovas, who leads the Cambodia programme of conservation group Fauna & Flora International, which has been running a captive breeding program since 2012.

They’ve successfully reintroduced 196 crocs back into the wild, and it was they who deployed a team of conservationists to the nest site found in May for round-the-clock care and observation until every last one of the 60 eggs hatched, bringing their precious cargo into the world.

Generally speaking for crocodile species, the mothers are very attentive beasts, and even the fathers will help raise young if the mother isn’t around. When hatching, the little crocs emerge from the creche of eggs chirping, calling the mother in who then excavates the nest and takes any unhatched eggs in her mouth, rolling them around to speed up the hatching process.

The young are carried to the water in the mother’s mouth, where she will watch over, feed, and care for them until the next mating season."

-via Good News Network, July 19, 2024

[typhlonectes]

Scientists develop groundbreaking method for detecting DNA of invasive snakes in Florida

Scientists at the University of Florida have developed a pioneering tool to bolster Florida's defenses against invasive species: a DNA-based environmental monitoring test that can pinpoint where they've been, aiding eradication efforts.

Once a nonnative species gets into an environment, it is often too late to get rid of it, and the focus shifts to containment or long-term management. Both approaches come with heavy costs concerning native wildlife and funding, explained Melissa Miller, lead author on the study and an invasion ecologist at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC). "We hope this novel eDNA sampling tool we have designed will help increase efficiency in invasive species management, allowing for early detection and rapid removal of nonnative species," she said...

Read more:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241122130344.htm

[vintagewildlife]

Leatherback sea turtle hatchlings By: Ken Scriven From: The World Conservation Yearbook 1976

[kafkasapartment]

The leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtle is the largest sea turtle species, known for its soft, leathery shell. It can grow to over 7 feet- 2.1m & weigh up to 2,000 lbs- 901kg. They migrate great distances, feed on mostly jellyfish 🪼 and they’re critically endangered.

[animaloftheweek]

Fun Fact Friday: West African Slender-Snouted Crocodile

Image Credit: San Diego Zoo

Fun Fact! West African Slender-Snouted Crocodiles(Mecistops cataphractus), despite their unnerving appearances, can be amazing parents. The mothers will guard their nests until the eggs hatch. She will then dig up the nest and very gently help the remaining unhatched babies to hatch by carefully cracking their shells. The mother and sometimes the father will then protect the young until they become independent.

[mindblowingscience]

A group of 60 rare Siamese crocodiles have hatched in Cambodia, boosting hopes for one of the world's most endangered reptiles, conservationists said Thursday. Five Siamese crocodile nests were discovered in Cambodia's Cardamom National Park in mid-May, the country's environment and agriculture ministry said in a joint statement with conservation group Fauna and Flora. The nests contained 106 eggs, of which 66 were fertilized, and a total of 60 Siamese crocodile eggs successfully hatched between June 27 and 30, the ministry said.

Continue Reading.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Island ecosystems are always more vulnerable than those on larger continents. Less space means fewer resources, which leads to each species having a smaller population. For endemic species that can't fly or otherwise get to another island or mainland, once that one island's ecology is disrupted significantly enough, the risk of extinction becomes very real.

Sombrero Island is no exception, having been completely deforested and torn up for mining. Invasive mice put further pressure on native species. With the mice eradicated, native plants can once again thrive, and the Sombrero ground lizard is less likely to see its eggs or young eaten by hungry mice, and its population has risen from fewer than 100 individuals in 2018 to over 1600 today.

This is yet another example where removing invasive species and restoring habitat with and for native ones can help an ecosystem and its inhabitants recover. The more biodiversity we preserve on our planet, even in these seemingly tiny, isolated places, the better equipped all of us will be to weather the years to come.