California Tiger Salamander

The native tiger salamander is now considered threatened in California. (News source.)

Python Season

A new season will be available to hunters for reptile of special concern in Florida state-managed areas around the Everglades. (News source.)

Florida Python Ban

Florida is trying to ban "reptiles of concern." (News source.)

Coquis and Hawaiian Farmers

The presence of coquis is troubling farmers who fear they may be quarantined. (News source.)

Fiji Green Iguanas

Apparently, there are introduced green iguanas in Fiji, and plans are underway to eradicate them. Hopefully it isn't a misidentification of the endangered Fiji iguanas... (News source.)

Python Politics Continues

An interesting business-side look at the effects of the python ban from the WSJ.

The cold snap in FL has killed off a number of pythons, apparently.

Another Article on Python Ban

From Tennessee.

Venomous News

The Maryland woman who claimed she was bitten by a loose cobra has been charged by DNR with possession of two venomous snakes. (News source.)

Utah is considering allowing residents to keep rattlesnakes. (News source.)

Australian snakebites are on the rise (News source.); a hiker in Tasmania was bitten by an unidentified snake. (News source.)

Cane Toad Update

Cane toad fighters in Australia are upset now that the government is reconsidering the legality of using carbon dioxide to kill the invasive amphibians. They are concerned that it may be cruel, in which case the fighters would have to go back to whacking them with golf clubs. (News source.)

One Australian is looking at the toads as an opportunity to sell toad poison and meat to the Chinese. (News source.)

Another Good Letter to Editor

On the proposed python/boa ban.

Fear and Loathing in LA

Bigots in Oakdale, Lousiana, are spreading rumors about a high-end python breeder who lives in the area. They tell the police that cats and dogs are missing, so it must be the python guy... Apparently, these villagers are dumb enough to think that someone with thousand-dollar boids is going to feed parasite-ridden free-roaming pets instead of quality captive-bred lab rodents. What's worse, the Allen Parish Sheriff's Office and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials don't bother pointing out the obvious flaw in such reasoning, but just imply they can't do anything about it. (News source.)

Set Up Python Capture?

USARK suspects that animal rights activists who are pushing for the ban on pythons may have set up a recent large python capture (and photo-op) in Tampa. (News source.)

Culture, Politics, and Crocodile Trappers

An interesting article here, from Nigeria.

More Python Ban Material

PIJAC and others are trying keep the Senate from banning all pythons, latest news here.

Professional herpetologists have weighed in to call the justification for such a ban unscientific.

Python Hissy Fit

A reasonable and rational article here on the Florida python situation.

HR 2711

This bill is intended to ban pythons in the US (or at least Burmese, reticulated, and African rocks). You can read more here, and here (on the 11/6 hearing). Rep. Kendrick Meek doesn't have a direct email address, but you can email his chief of staff.

On a personal note, while I understand the need to protect the south Florida habitat, the nationwide ban is ridiculous and nothing more than fear-mongering. (Not to mention a star publicity vehicle -- apparently, Meek is planning a Senate run. Any wonder he's pushing the "snakes are evil" agenda to garner votes?) If someone truly wanted to help conserve the Everglades and still protect herpetoculture, here's what I'd suggest:

1) Remove Miami as a wildlife port. Only 10 or so ports are allowed to have commercial wildlife imports, Miami is one of them. This is why so many small herps have become invasive in southern Florida: a) there is great tropical habitat, and b) there are more opportunities to escape. You're not going to have that same problem in, for example, Baltimore.

2) Ban the larger pythons in the south Florida counties. No need for a statewide ban, just enough counties to make it unlikely for anyone to just dump their snake in the Glades.

3) Enlist actual field herpers to help collect pythons from the wild. The 37 or so that the professional trappers caught during the "official" hunt were rather meager. Hobbyists are far more likely to be successful.

Python News

A 16-foot Burmese python was found in the Everglades. It will be radiotagged and released back in the wild by researchers. (News source.)

Florida legislators are considering a ban on internet sales of pythons. (News source.)

Fluffy, the reticulated python displayed at the Columbus Zoo, is a contender for the Guinness World Records. (News source.)

Northern Pine Controversy

Developers are trying to get NJ to take the northern pine snake off the threatened list. (News source.)

Ohio Town Ruled by Fear

Wilmington, Ohio, is taking a turn towards fear-based legislation, to restrict such "dangerous" exotics as boids over 3 feet in length, monitors, and tegus. (News source.)

Amargosa Toad

The USFWS will be reviewing the Amargosa toad, "found only along a 10-mile stretch of the Amargosa River in the Mojave Desert near Beatty, 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas," for inclusion on the Endangered Species list. (News source.)

Overblown Python Numbers

This really shouldn't come as any surprise, but wildlife experts are starting to question the high numbers of estimated pythons in the Everglades. (News source.)

Salamander News

Sonoma County, CA, is the center of a heated exchange over setting land aside for protection of the California tiger salamander. (News source.)

The Jefferson salamander is getting political in Guelph (Ontario). (News source.)

Axolotls can regenerate lung tissue. (News source.)

Python Banning Bill is Back

The HSUS and other anti-reptile factions are pushing for the bill to ban pythons again. More details here, and here.

Problem Gators

A SC sheriff's deputy was fired for shooting at a gator without a nuisance gator permit. (News source.)

A Florida man lost two fingers to an alligator while rescuing his dog. (News source.)

Court Ruling: Can't Sue for Utah Snake Case Deaths

The rubber boas that died due to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources negligence are a lost cause: the owner can't sue. (News here, and here.)

Turtle Legal Issues

Florida has introduced their new rules on taking freshwater turtles. (News source.)

A Maldives resort could be in trouble for their unlicensed "conservation" project with sea turtle eggs. (News source.)

A nearly $3 million "ecopassage" under a busy Florida highway is mostly to save turtles (and protect motorists), but is controversial in Congress. (News source.)

Polish customs officials arrested a Ukrainian man for smuggling tortoises. (News source.)

A Filipino man was arrested in Malaysia for smuggling/selling turtle eggs. (News source.)

Out of Place Crocodilians

A village pond in France is being drained to catch the "crocodile" said to be lurking there. (News source.)

A baby gator was caught in Trumbull Lake, in Connecticut, probably dumped due to the restrictive regulations there. (News source.)

A small alligator was seen in an Indiana lake. (News source.)

More Glades Python News

Florida wildlife officials are considering a bounty for Burmese pythons. (News source.)

Sarasota County has had a few sightings of pythons. (News source.)

Budget Cuts Mean Coqui Wins

The invasive coqui frogs in Hawaii have won for now -- economic tightening means there's no budget for fighting them. (News source.)

NC Legislation

During the "crossover deadline," North Carolina passed updated legislation for herp keepers:

"Under S307, Regulate Ownership & Use of Certain Reptiles, herpetology fans would have to make sure their snakes — particularly those that are poisonous or constrict their prey — are kept under control.
"The measure updates laws regarding the handling of venomous snakes and other reptiles, clarifying penalties for exposing others to dangerous creatures or transporting them in a negligent fashion." (News source.)

Say No: H. R. 669

Poorly drafted legislation purports to squelch the threat of invasive species, but does little more than create massive bureaucratic headaches, ignore primary invasive threats (plants, feral domestic animals) for sensationalized "exotics," and lay waste to the herpetoculture, aquaria, and aviculture trades without rational justification.

Details from PIJAC, and Kingsnake, and NoHR669.

Amphibian News

An environmental group thought they were helping salamanders that migrated across a Massachusetts road, by removing a long tube laid next to a new road. Turns out it was stopping silt from running into an important vernal pond. Actually, sounds like the group doesn't know that much about salamanders if they think a small tube is going to prevent them from moving across a road... The town wants the environmental group to pay for repairs. (News source.)

And, a profile here on a Maryland herpetoculturist who specializes in dart frogs.

On the Python Problem

A herpetoculturist's opinion on the Burmese python problem in the Everglades, here.

Turtle Conservation

Arkansas Game and Fish has turned down petitions to end turtle harvesting in that state. (News source.)

Iowa conservationists are concerned with an increase in turtle harvesting in that state. (News source.)

The Dominican Republic has cracked down on souvenirs made from endangered sea turtle shell. (News source.)

Pennsylvania to Get State Reptile?

It's about time PA gets a state reptile, but why would someone suggest an eastern box turtle? (News source.) That's already the state reptile of several other states, and not particularly representative of the Keystone state. We need something like the bog turtle...

FDA Brochure on Turtles

The FDA has put out a brochure on Salmonella infections from turtles. (News source.)

Multi-State Herp Bust

Canada and NY are pushing the p.r. on a recent illegal reptile trade bust; other state's efforts (like Pennsylvania) will probably follow soon. Aspects include smuggling massasaugas across the Canadian border, selling eastern box turtles online, and selling wild-collected snapping turtles from New York to a turtle farm in Louisiana where they were shipped to Asia mixed in with legally farmed turtles. But, of course, the publicity will focus on the "unnatural" aspects of keeping reptiles in general, the "lucrative" and implied widespread business of poaching native species, etc., rather than the very small number of people involved when considering the reptile hobby as a whole.

Details here, here, and here.

Canadian B. C. Law Hurts Boa Breeders

The B. C. Reptile Club is planning to fight the recent provincial ban of certain exotic pets, including boas and pythons. (News source.)

Call for Croc Cull

Australia's Territory Government is thinking about allowing crocodile safaris by tourists in the aftermath of the recent death of a young girl. (News source.)

Couple Pleas Out

The "python attacked their kid" couple in Nevada plead out. (News source.)

North Carolina Regs

NC may be tightening regulations for keeping crocodilians and certain large constrictors. (News source.)

California Ban Coming?

California is considering a ban on importation of live frogs and turtles for sale at live animal markets. Ostensibly, this would be to curb the poor conditions in food-oriented markets. But, I'm wondering if this will affect importation for sale at reptile shows, as well? (News source.)

PIJAC Python Ban Alert

Here's the PDF with PIJAC's alert notice on the attempt to ban pythons as injurious species.

PIJAC Battle for Pythons

The pet industry council is urging a calm and professional response to the idiotic bill introduced to ban importation and interstate commerce of the genus Python. (News source.)

Snake Charmers United

The Bedia community in Bengal, India, is prohibited from their heritage as snake charmers, but have formed a union to try and convince the government to let them work with snakes in some way (snake farms, etc.). (News source.)

Gopher Tortoise Move

The Polk County, FL, school board has OK'd @$77K to move gopher tortoises off a proposed school construction site.

"'It's not so much the cost of removing them, but finding a place to relocate them,' Murphy noted. At the cost of around $900 per turtle, certified specialists must come to the land and relocate them to privately-owned sites that have been approved by the state." (News source.)

Gila Research Reprieve

NV Dept. of Wildlife officials nearly ruined ongoing research into Nevada's gila monster population, but DoW Commissioners overturned the decision, and the research can continue. (News source.)

Turtle Issues

South Carolina is looking into legislation to protect the native turtle population from being shipped by the thousands overseas. (News source.)

A Pacific sea turtle database is being brought online. (News source.)

3000 tortoises were confiscated by Indian officials, when they were discovered being smuggled out of Uttar Pradesh. (News source.)

Customs officers at Atlanta's airport seized illegal (CITES) turtle meat and eggs from a passenger. Species not mentioned, but perhaps sea turtle? (News source.)

Python Legislation

Ignoring science for sensationalism, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is trying to ban the import and interstate transport of pythons. (News source.)

Croc Death Stirs Outrage

Aboriginal leaders in Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria want to know why a trapped crocodile was killed by police. (News source.)

Copperbelly Watersnakes

The USFWS has put together a recovery plan for the northern copperbelly watersnake. (News source.)

Frogs vs Tourism

A couple of conservation groups have forced the DFG not to stock trout in a number of California waterways due to not having filed environmental impact reports on the red-legged frog. Fishing tourism has a high likelihood of being impacted. (News source.)

Garter Protection Controversy

An eco-political group tried to get the USFWS to list the northern Mexico gartersnake as endangered, but financial problems mean the snake will continue as a "candidate" species. (News source.)

Crocodile Debate

Was the crocodile that killed a man in Australia three years ago caught-and-relocated? A whistleblower says yes, and suggests that a similar occurrence led to the death of a tourist not long ago. (News source.) The Director-General of the EPA says this is a false accusation. (News source.)

Crocodiles in the News

A couple in India was injured by a crocodile after it first attacked the woman, and was fought off by her husband. (News source.)

A tourism minister in Australia claims that urban crocs are good for tourism. (News source.)

A teenager has been arrested for killing a North American crocodile on the University of Miami campus. (News source.)

Crocodile farming is still controversial in Thailand. (News source.)

Turtle News

Mississippi researchers are studying the diamondback terrapin. (News source.)

The AVMA has an interesting article on the 4-inch turtle law debate. (News source.)

Fox Snake Status in Missouri

Missouri has removed the fox snake from the endangered species list, but keeps them on the prohibited take list. Kirtland's snake and the dusty hognose have been added to the prohibited take list. (News source.)

Turtles and Tortoises

Arizona Game & Fish is looking for people to adopt desert tortoises. (News source.)

Florida FWC is in the middle of a debate over their position regarding freshwater turtle harvesting. (News source.)

Here is a study on loggerhead sea turtle mortality off Baja California.

Venom and Politics

A Pakistani snake hunter says that foreign traders are removing one of Pakistan's treasures: the venom of snakes. He is proposing that a venom lab be built. (News source.)

CDC on the Attack Again

Lots of media attention on a new paper that has been published, warning parents not to buy exotic pets. Of course, cleanliness and good hygiene protocols would go a long way toward reducing risk, but the CDC prefers outright bans. (News source.)

Snakes in the News

Indiana conservation officers confiscated a cobra from a woman who rescued it when she applied for a permit for it. (News source.) [So, I suppose the take-home message is, if you rescue a venomous snake in Indiana, don't bother trying to get a permit. Seriously, wildlife officers should have better sense. Given that it's a non-issue, sounds like they were just shooting for cheap publicity.]

And, two Pakistani women were bitten by a venomous snake while working in the fields. (News source.)

Rattlesnake Rumors

Another round of tall tales is sweeping through a Virginia community. Southampton County residents are afraid that wildlife officials have released a bunch of rattlesnakes via helicopter... (News source.)

The same rumors of secretive predator introductions have been spread (whether of rattlesnakes, mountain lions, or coyotes) throughout North America, and even in other parts of the world ("viper introductions" in France, etc.).

Frog News

California is expanding designated habitat for the rare red-legged frog, creating issues with landowners and ranchers who point out that it could create conservation problems. (News source.)

Rough grass in golf courses might actually help northern cricket frogs: an Ohio study is setting out to investigate that claim. (News source.)

No Guns, More Crocs

Crocodiles (and crocodile attacks) have increased in the Solomons since the gun ban in 2003. (News source.)

Timor Toads are Natives

Photos of alleged cane toads supposedly introduced into East Timor (an environmental group accused Australian military forces) were examined by experts and determined to be the Asian black-spined toad, not the invasive cane toad. (News source.) The Asian black-spined toad is native to Indonesia, and is expanding its range naturally.

Turtle News (Not So Good)

A Florida turtle preserve (successful in breeding several rare species) is shutting down, due to bills, hurricane damage, and zoo politics. (News source.)

Sea turtles that reproduce on beaches near humans are less fertile. (News source.)

Snake Description Makes Waves

Some Barbados residents are upset that someone from outside their country came in and named a tiny thread snake after his wife. (News source.)

Turtle News

Indian star tortoises continue to be a prime target for smugglers. (News source.)

Politicians and scientists are arguing over the best plan for the eastern spiny soft-shell turtle in Lake Champlain. (News source.)

Tortoise Editorial

One columnist's opinion on St. Lucie County (Florida) wanting to set up a gopher tortoise sanctuary.

Snakes in the News

A Nigerian woman died after being bitten by a snake while fishing. (News source.)

University of Washington and Guam are collaborating on a brown tree snake research project. (News source.)

A UK vet is warning of an antivenom shortage for adder bites. (News source.)

The rare Tucson shovel-nosed snake may be starting a political battle soon, as the USFWS is evaluating its status. (Here and here.)

Man vs Crocodile

India's government has an effective crocodilian conservation program, leading to greater numbers of formerly endangered species, but is meeting resistance from villagers on the outskirts of sanctuaries who end up in conflict with the growing population of crocs. A number of people have been killed by the reptiles, leading to attacks on other crocodiles. (News source.)

India Snakebites

A 30-year old snake handler/rescuer was bitten by a cobra, but died due to out-of-stock antivenom at local hospitals. (News source.)

A 4-year old boy died from a snakebite. (News source.)

Another Symbol for Florida

Keep in mind Florida already has a state reptile (the alligator) and recently made the loggerhead the state saltwater reptile; now a Senator has passed classroom-based legislation making the gopher tortoise a state symbol -- the state tortoise. (News source.)

Florida Symbol

The loggerhead sea turtle has been designated Florida's state saltwater reptile. (News source.)

Iguanas vs Boca

Boca Raton is trying to get FL F&W to add iguanas to the restricted "reptiles of concern" list. (News source.)

Turtle Debate

There's some argument over the number of turtles in Georgia (between preservationists and trappers), and the best steps to protect future generations of turtles. (News source.)

Utah DWR Kills Snakes

Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources took such poor care of 65 rubber boas confiscated for alleged unlawful possession (actually based on a minor paperwork detail that is meant for livestock, trumped up when they found their original charges were baseless), that all but 3 died. The snakes' owner is suing, but hard to say if he'll get anywhere. (News source.)

Gator Politics in NC

A fight is brewing in North Carolina, between the police force in Leland and state wildlife officials, over the shooting of an 11-foot gator that was blocking a road. The police claim they had no alternative, that wildlife officers didn't bother to arrive before the next morning. A NC WRC officer says they weren't called until after the gator was dead, and the shooting was illegal... (News source.)

Cobras Loose in NC?

A flyer that states that two monocled cobras are loose in Onslow Co., NC, has local law enforcement on edge. There is speculation that the flyers are being posted by an animal-rights group that is trying to push a ban on exotic species in that state. (In which case, there may not be any loose cobras at all...) (News source.)

Turtle Rescuing is Hazardous

A Baltimore, Maryland, man who has been rescuing box turtles from roads for decades has been busted by DNR. (News source.)

A woman who rescued a nesting sea turtle from two poachers on St. Maarten was attacked and seriously injured by the two men later. (News source.)

Newt Fiasco

The great crested newt is protected in the UK, and the Leicestershire Council spent 1 million pounds protecting them in ponds near a major road construction. Turns out, though, that the newts in the ponds are common newts, not the protected species. (News source.)

Croc Attacks

The recent Palawan crocodile attack has prompted calls to curb the illegal mangrove tanbarking trade, which some say contributes to greater croc-human interaction. (News source.)

Two people were recently attacked and injured by crocodiles in Orissa, India. (News source.)

Turtle Politics in Vermont

Controversy brews as biologists disagree with the F&W commissioner's recovery plan for the eastern spiny softshell turtle. (News source.)

Coral Snake Antivenom Dwindling

Here is an article that discusses the dwindling supply of coral snake antivenom in the US (as Wyeth no longer manufactures it), and the possibility of a Mexican antivenom if the FDA would actually do something about testing it.

Florida Senator Behind Snake Ban Push

The idiot (and poorly-informed) Florida Senator behind the push to ban python imports and interstate transport is named here. Feel free to send him a note.

Colorado's Official Reptile

The western painted turtle is now Colorado's state reptile. (News source.)

SF Garter & Politics

Here's a commentary on a developer's attempt to finagle its way around its own study of a quarry's habitat potential for San Fran. garters. (News source.)

Resolution Passes in WV

The timber rattlesnake is now West Virginia's state reptile. Not that that means anything to the senator who states: "If I see one in the woods, I’ll blow its head off ... If I see one, he’s dead." (News source.)

Push for SC Turtle Regs

Turtles aren't a protected game species in South Carolina, and some conservationists are pushing for regulations, thinking the species are being exploited for the foreign food markets. (News source.)

WV Timber Status

The timber rattlesnake may become West Virginia's state reptile... (News source.)

PNG Antivenom Debacle Continues

Remarks made by a PNG pharmacy director (defending his company's sale of India antivenom for PNG species) have been ridiculed by herpetologists and toxinologists. (News source.)

Snake Charmers

Marrakesh, Morocco, snake charmers are facing calls for tourism boycotts, by a French animal rights group. The group alleges cruelty, the snake charmers claim the group is ignorant of actual practices. (News source.)

India's ban on snake charming is stirring more trouble, as native snake charmers in West Bengal (an estimated 100,000) are claimed to be on the verge of starvation, having no ration cards or voter identification cards. (News source.)

More Antivenom News

First, the Australian Broadcasting Commission will be screening a documentary on corruption and scamming in PNG, creating an illegal market for antivenom, and making it difficult to acquire legally. (News source.)

Second, the Echitab Study Group, with UK support, will be setting up an antivenom production facility in Gombe, Nigeria, with governmental approval. (News source.)

USFWS Targets Boas, Pythons, and Anacondas

You knew it was going to happen eventually. Rather than working honestly with the herpetocultural industry, the USFWS is sneaking around, trying to weasel regulations through which may very well ban pythons, boas, and anacondas as "injurious pests." Never mind, of course, that these snakes would never survive long in most areas of North America.

In their Notice of Inquiry, they start off with scare tactics: "The importation and introduction of constrictor snakes into the natural ecosystems of the United States may pose a threat to the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry; to the health and welfare of human beings; and to the welfare and survival of wildlife and wildlife resources in the United States." This is nothing more than unsubstantiated and groundless fear-mongering (pandering to a regional entity, the South Florida Water Management District). What has happened in the Everglades is tragic, but that is a very special case, and has no bearing on herpetoculture in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Utah, or wherever else. States are perfectly capable of dealing with this issue, if necessary, without Federal interference. (See, for example, the recent crackdown in Florida on boids, without outright bans.)

Public comment is being solicited, a legal requirement (though of course, there's been no active attempt to engage herpetoculture). We have until April 30, 2008, to make our case. They are only accepting comments through the Federal Rulemaking Portal, or you must mail a letter to:

Public Comments Processing,
Attn: RIN 1018–AV68,
Division of Policy and Directives Management,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
4401 North Fairfax Drive,
Suite 222,
Arlington, VA 22203

They will not accept comments through email or fax. You must include your full name, city, state, country, and zip code. They will be publishing all comments, which may include your personal information.

Now, they appear to be asking for comments on specific questions dealing with number of breeders and herp businesses in the country, state regulations, potential impact of native species, etc. Be aware that anti-herp groups may use this as an opportunity to make irrational charges about the potential impact of feral boids in regions where no boids could survive and breed.

Please take the time to read through the Notice of Inquiry and to make comment on these issues; you don't have to be a big snake owner to recognize this as an irrational and unnecessary response to an issue that requires a more serious approach.

CDC Report on Turtle Salmonella

The CDC is fighting back against proposals to allow turtle sales, recently releasing a report that points to turtles being responsible for illness in 33 states. (News source.)

Ohio Species of Concern List Revision

Five herps will be added to Ohio's species of concern list, if a revision is approved: smooth earth snake, smooth green snake, queen snake, ground skink, and Blanchard's cricket frog. (News source.)

Turtle Amendment Not Actually a Repeal

The amendment recently mentioned is not a repeal of the current ban on sales of small turtles, but could lead to that. Or, it could lead to the ban of all pet reptiles. No, not kidding here, and not an overstatement. The idiots who put together the amendment are pushing to place all pet reptiles on equal footing, which might just give the ammunition that anti-reptile groups need to stop American herpetoculture if the industry doesn't do something about it soon. They're betting everything on the salmonella-free turtes, which is fine for turtle farmers, but they shouldn't be screwing around with the rest of the reptile trade. From the Natchez Democrat:

"The U.S. Senate recently passed a farm bill with the 'Domestic Pet Turtle Equality Act' attached, which will either open the market to pet turtle sales or close the market to all reptile pet sales.
"The amendment to the farm bill was added in the Senate, however, and a joint House-Senate committee has to work out a final version of the farm bill to send to the president for signing.
"If the amendment survives the committee and the president signs the bill, within 60 days the Food and Drug Administration will be required to test all of the salmonella-related pets on the market.
"If pet turtles test within a 10 percent prevalence of salmonella among the other animals, the Secretary of Agriculture will have to conduct a study about how turtles can be sold safely as pets.
"Once that study is competed, the Secretary of Agriculture has only two options, to either lift the turtle ban or to ban the sale of other salmonella-related animals."

MD Herp Law Changes

Maryland DNR is planning some changes to the herp regs, adding 6 more turtle species to the regulated species list, with a few other herp species receiving increased protection. (News source.)

State Reptile for Colorado Coming?

Students are trying to get the western painted turtle appointed as Colorado's State Reptile. (News source.)

Red-Bellied Turtles

A state-threatened turtle in Pennsylvania, the red-bellied turtle, may hold up construction work on a new casino. (News source.)