Salmonella In Reptiles
 

 Federal Four Inch Regulation

 Why Snakes Shed

Creatures at my feet poem
 

PA State Regulations

 Flight Of The Tortoises

Little Things Are Special Too
 

Run!!  
Its a Snake!!

In Honor
of
Trailing Star

Deadly Giants???
 

So You Want a Pet Reptile
 

 Tiny Little Town

Gone Hunting ...
Again!!
 

A fall Hike 
(And Other Poems)

My Best Friend
Belle

Flying Trip to
Sea Isle City, NJ
July 2005

Turtle Maze Page
 

Toxic & Edible
Plant List

Pennsylvania
Reptiles
(An On-line Field Guide to PA reptiles)
 

Native American
Pow  Wow

Want To Build
A Turtle Pond?

How Many Dogs Does It Take
To Change A Light bulb ?

Kids Fun Page

Conservation Articles

Robert Frost

Two Look At Two

Poem lyrics of Two Look At Two by Robert Frost.

Love and forgetting might have carried them
A little further up the mountain side
With night so near, but not much further up.
They must have halted soon in any case
With thoughts of a path back, how rough it was
With rock and washout, and unsafe in darkness;
When they were halted by a tumbled wall
With barbed-wire binding. They stood facing this,
Spending what onward impulse they still had
In One last look the way they must not go,
On up the failing path, where, if a stone
Or earthslide moved at night, it moved itself;
No footstep moved it. 'This is all,' they sighed,
Good-night to woods.' But not so; there was more.
A doe from round a spruce stood looking at them
Across the wall, as near the wall as they.
She saw them in their field, they her in hers.
The difficulty of seeing what stood still,
Like some up-ended boulder split in two,
Was in her clouded eyes; they saw no fear there.
She seemed to think that two thus they were safe.
Then, as if they were something that, though strange,
She could not trouble her mind with too long,
She sighed and passed unscared along the wall.
'This, then, is all. What more is there to ask?'
But no, not yet. A snort to bid them wait.
A buck from round the spruce stood looking at them
Across the wall as near the wall as they.
This was an antlered buck of lusty nostril,
Not the same doe come back into her place.
He viewed them quizzically with jerks of head,
As if to ask, 'Why don't you make some motion?
Or give some sign of life? Because you can't.
I doubt if you're as living as you look.'
Thus till he had them almost feeling dared
To stretch a proffering hand -- and a spell-breaking.
Then he too passed unscared along the wall.
Two had seen two, whichever side you spoke from.
'This must be all.' It was all. Still they stood,
A great wave from it going over them,
As if the earth in one unlooked-for favour
Had made them certain earth returned their love.

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Guidelines to Building an Outdoor Turtle Pond

So you want to move your aquatic turtles outside?   Good idea!   There is nothing that can beat an outdoor environment providing the needs of the occupants are satisfied.   It is difficult at best, to duplicate Mother Nature but often an outdoor pond can be very close as well as being very beneficial to the turtles.    Each outdoor enclosure is unique to the builder and the location being built.   There are many different items available to allow someone with a little imagination to build an outdoor pond suited for them and their turtles.  Here we offer a few guidelines to assist anyone in building a suitable outdoor pond for turtles.     We can not give specific directions as how to build YOUR pond but we can offer some suggestions as to how to go about it.

 Escape Proof:

Animals in general are great escape artist and despite how well we care for them, they always seem to think the “grass is greener on the other side of the fence”!    Believe it or not, turtles are no exception and some are excellent climbers!   I have picked North American Wood turtles (Clemys insculpta) off of a six foot fence!    Unless your fence is solid and high or has an apron on the inside, they will climb it and often successfully escape.   If using wire or lattice or similar type of material, create an “apron” around the top.    With wire fence, we simply have about 6 inches of the top overhang parallel to the ground.    When a turtle does climb the fence they reach the “apron” and can not go upside down to climb around it.   Works similar to a cat and squirrel guard on a bird feeder.    They also will dig.   Some turtles (and most tortoises) are very adept at digging and can quickly create an escape hole that would be the envoy of any prisoner.    This can be prevented in several ways.   You can bury fencing under the entire enclosure or bury a two foot section around the entire edge.    You can also create a concrete barrier similar to footer for a foundation.    This “footer” can be made of poured cement or out of cinder block.    It should be deep enough that they can not bury under it.    All our aquatics have cinder block barriers buried around the edges.   The cement or cinder blocks should be level with the surface and the fence should rest on the “footer”.    If it sticks up too high it may erode away the turtles shell from them rubbing against it.   If it is too low the turtles may force their way between the fence and the “footer”.    If you are looking to move something that can be “hazardous to ones health” like a snapping turtle, you should also design the enclosure so that neighborhood children and pets can not get into the pen.

Make The Pond Specie Specific:

 Every turtle has specific needs.    Some are similar and can be housed together without any problems (i.e.: red ear sliders and painted turtles).    Determine the specific needs of your turtle(s) (fully aquatic like the soft-shell turtles; deep water turtles like some of the map turtles; semi aquatic like painted turtles; brackish water such as the diamond back terrapins; and so on).    After determining the needs of your turtle it is as simple as including all of that into the building of the enclosure.    Shade and sunny spots are a must.    Remember all reptiles are cold blooded and rely on the environment to maintain their body temperatures and functions.    How much of each will depend upon the species.

 The Pond:

 Here is a wide open topic!    Our “old pond” has been set up for over a decade and is in great shape with out any repair.    The pond is made of a stainless steel basin with a hole in the bottom.   We first dug a hole and lined it with block (no mortar) and created a sis trine.    The basin then sits on top of this and every thing was leveled.    We then poured a cement ring around the edge of the basin.    This was to hold the basin in place as well as to prevent the turtles from digging underneath the basin itself.    Then we simply back filled the hole and landscaped the surface.    

Another “pond” is simply a plastic tub.    We didn’t even sink it into the ground.    It has a floating platform to permit the turtle to bask in the sun if so desired.    Other than that it is bare!   Shade is also provided.   We keep our soft-shells in these tubs.    They seldom climb out of the water any way and it provides them plenty of swimming room.    These “tubs” can be plastic wading pools; cattle feed and water troughs, large barrel basins and so on.    Be sure there are no residual chemicals or other contaminates in them.   The size of the tub would depend on the size of the turtle(s) that you intend to house in them.    A word of caution on plastic tubs:  when it rains the water level raises and if it gets high enough they may be able to reach the edge and climb out or simply GET washed out!    These are sometimes best used as temporary enclosures.      We also use these to winter turtles over in.    To drain a tub you can use a siphon, sump pump or the dip method.   

 I have seen some turtles kept in “natural ponds” as well.     This should only be done with turtles that are native and can winter over in the pond itself.   Often to try and catch a turtle from such ponds can be difficult to say the least!    Natural ponds still need to meet the specific needs of the turtles as well having sufficient hibernaculums.   You may also have to check with ordinances and the state if you are to build a natural pond.    Depending on size and location there may be regulations governing building a natural pond.   Garden pond liners can be used but be prepared to make minor repairs from time to time.  

 Other items can be used as well.    Cement can be erosive to the turtles shell so should be used only if well coated and sealed.   What ever material you use, remember to be sure the needs of the inhabitants are met – sun; shade; depth; access in and out of the water; temperatures; and so on.     It is also important that the water remain clean.    This is a chore sometimes!    Algae will grow quickly and normally means you have a healthy pond.   Once the water turns green it may not be as detrimental to the turtle(s) as it is to your ability to enjoy them.    The water should be changed on a regular basis despite its clarity.    Remember the turtles will be drinking that water and they also do “other stuff” in it as well!    The more turtles kept in a pond the more often it will need to be changed.   Filters although ok, can be labor intensive and expensive seeing how often they may need changed in some instances.     Even with a filter, the water still should be changed every so often.   

 Ornaments and Plants:

 First and foremost, remember to consider the turtle’s safety.    Anything that can be moved by the turtle should not be included within the enclosure.    The same applies to anything that may be toxic if eaten.   Murphy’s Law comes into play way to often when working with animals!    Be sure any heating devises are grounded and associated wires are out of the reach of the turtles.   Look for abrasive materials and either remove them or make them so a turtle can not rub against it.    Keeping this all in mind, then … GO WILD!!!     You can decorate as much or as little as you wish.    I have seen ponds where it was like a huge rock garden setting with chairs and so on.    On the other hand there are those plastic tubs!    Our outdoor enclosures are made safe, simple and aesthetic – in that order.

 As long as you research your turtles needs; use a little imagination; willing to put some $$ and sweat into it, you will be able to build an outdoor enclosure that will make your turtle(s) happy and healthy and provide you with days of enjoyment!     Good luck!

 If you have specific questions feel free to drop us an e-mail and we will try to help.  

Snake Harvest Threatens Cambodian Lake
Saturday, August 19, 2006 3:36 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By DENIS D. GRAY

PREK TOAL, Cambodia (AP) — Deep inside a flooded forest oozing with wildlife, Ly Vy pries another struggling creature from a gill net, whacks its head against the side of his skiff and adds it to a coiled heap that will add to the world's largest snake harvest.

A day later and across the Tonle Sap, the vast lake that is Cambodia's most vital ecosystem, it's not a very pretty sight. Bucketfuls of lifeless water snakes are tossed into algae-green pools and pits seething with crocodiles, which gulp them down in a few power-packed bites.

Some of the farm's 2,000 crocs fall back into their almost continual sleep with bits of snake still dangling from their clamped jaws.

"They prefer snakes over fish. They have red blood and good protein," says Sen Rith, owner of one of Cambodia's 900 or so crocodile farms, which are growing increasingly dependent on snakes as stocks of fish are depleted in the Tonle Sap's once bountiful waters.

Researchers for the Wildlife Conservation Society estimate nearly 4 million snakes are plucked out each year, and fear that number can't sustain the snake population. That raises concerns among both the thousands who make their living off the catch and environmentalists monitoring the fragile and already battered lake.

"The snakes have got to be rated as forming one of the most important components of the ecology of the Tonle Sap," says Joe Walston, who heads the New York-based society's operation in Cambodia.

"They are an important predator, but also an important food source for large raptors, wild crocs (and other animals). If they were to decline the effects would be devastating on some of the world's most important colonies of water birds and other wildlife."

Ly Vy, who has been catching the nonpoisonous snakes for eight years, says there are far fewer these days, and worries both about future catches and possible government controls on the harvest. This year, he has been catching about half the number over last season, which peaks between June and September.

During these months of the monsoons, he lives with his wife and two young boys aboard a cramped, open-decked 14.7-foot boat deep inside the humid, insect-ridden forest. He and other snake hunters, among the nation's poorest folk, spend the rest of the year as fishermen on the lake in northwestern Cambodia.

"During this season we can't catch a lot of fish so we try to catch a lot of snakes," the 26-year-old hunter says as he finishes the morning's inspection of his 437-yard net strung along a narrow water channel. The 50 animals collected, the endemic Tonle Sap water snake among them, will fetch him about $1, he says.

"It's difficult to live in the forest, but we have no choice. The children can't go to school, medical help is far away and the food is poor," says his wife, Hol Hong, noting that snake is on their menu day after day.

To a visitor, the family's environment seems anything but unpleasant.

Dozens of spot-billed pelicans, a species endangered around the globe, rise with powerful beats of wings, then skim gracefully over the water. Gray-headed fishing eagles watch broodingly from treetops, while spear-sleek cormorants flap over muddy waters burbling with eggs, seeds, spores, larvae and hatchlings.

This unique ecosystem forms each year as the Tone Sap expands to five times its dry season size to flood tropical forests and farm land around Southeast Asia's largest lake and is the source of at least 60 percent of Cambodia's protein intake.

From this primordial incubator slither millions of water snakes from five species of the subfamily Homalopsinae.

Most of the catch goes to crocodile farms. Other snakes are turned into wallets, handbags and other luxury products. Some are exported or sold locally to restaurants where they are fried, dried, boiled and curried, a pregnant female being considered a special delicacy.

"We do know that the intensity of the harvest is going up and the quantity of snakes being brought into the ports and markets is going down," says Walston, a wildlife biologist.

It's not certain whether a point of no return has already been reached, he says, but some species like the Bocourt's water snake, valued for both its skin and meat, are now rarely found.

Walton says it is essential to have tighter regulations that take into account both the livelihoods of the hunters and the lake ecology. The rules might include protected breeding areas and restrictions on how snakes are caught.

If fishing and snake hunting don't remain sustainable, impoverished lake dwellers will inevitably turn to cutting down the forest and competing for other already dwindling resources, he says — and Cambodia's greatest environmental battle will be lost.

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