HERPS IN THE NEWS

• Mysterious rattlesnake-killing infection emerges (March 13, 2012)
  
  
• Tyrone Hayes speaks about atrazine (February 27, 2012)
  Tyrone Hayes is a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley. The link shows a video of him speaking with filmmaker Penelope Jagessar Chaffer about the effect of atrazine on amphibians.
  
  
• Ontario snapping turtle endangered yet hunted (February 27, 2011)
  To participate in a campaign to stop the hunting of snapping turtles in Ontario, visit the David Suzuki Foundation.
  
  
• Land frog named world's tiniest vertebrate (January 20, 2012)
  
  
• Turning the Tide for Turtles (January 10, 2012)
  Follow the link above to help the Toronto Zoo qualify for a grant to fund their turtle conservation projects.
  
  
• Land Development Threatens Fowler's Toad Habitat (January 10, 2012)
  You may already be well informed on the land development proposal threatening Fowler's toad habitat in Fort Erie, ON. If not, I encourage you to please read below. The MNR is now accepting written public comments on the development project, please see their website.
  "The proposal to build the condominium development on the Lake Erie shoreline in Fort Erie has the potential to impact Fowler's Toad and its habitat . . . Fowler's Toad is known to occur on the proposed development site, and habitat for Fowler's Toad has been identified within the property boundaries. The proposal includes a 12-storey condominium building and associated deck area and commercial businesses that would occupy a portion of the property on Crystal Beach on Lake Erie in the Town of Fort Erie. Public amenities include beach access, restrooms and a pavilion. The MNR has reviewed reasonable alternatives, and the proposal was adjusted to minimize adverse effects on individual toads and their habitat. An application for an overall benefit permit would include creation of sand dunes in a protected area to enhance Fowler's Toad habitat on the property."
  
  
• Speak Out Against Turtles Getting Hooked in British Columbia! (January 10, 2012)
  
  
• Manitoba Herps Atlas (January 10, 2012)
  The Manitoba Herps Atlas (MHA) began collecting location records for amphibians and reptiles in Manitoba in 2011.
  The MHA is a citizen-science project that lets people enter records of herp locations and view the results online. It makes use of newly available, simple internet technologies such as Google Fusion Tables to collect and present location data. In its first year of operation nearly 1100 records have been submitted, including many for a number of species at risk in this province. Initial analysis of the data has shown a range extension for the Mink Frog in southeast Manitoba, as well as other interesting records for a number of other species. The project is off to a good start, but needs to involve more people from the northern part of the province in data collection.
  
  
• Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Found in B.C. (November 26, 2011)
  
  
• Bracing for a bullfrog invasion (November 6, 2011)
  From the New York Times
  
  
• Canadian sea turtles score big goal! (Novermber 1, 2011)
  We wish to thank The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) for helping the Canadian Sea Turtle Network in the Jamieson Vitamins funding contest. We came in second place . . . and went home with $23,258.00. We were thrilled about this funding (which will help us with our field program) and about competing so strongly against much bigger organizations.
  
  Please pass along our thanks to the colleagues you asked to vote on our behalf.
  
  Kathleen Martin
  Executive Director
  Canadian Sea Turtle Network
  
  
• Press Release: Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) and the Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network (CARCNET) are pleased to announce that RBG's Cootes Paradise, Carrolls Bay and Grindstone Valley nature sanctuaries have been designated as an Important Amphibian and Reptile Area (IMPARA) by CARCNET.