Spring Herp Counts: a Kansas Tradition

TR,-.'JlS W. T..\G~ RT SPRING HERP COUNTS: A KANSAS TRADITION

The Plains Spadefoot Toad (Spea bombifrons) is active from April through September in Kansas

by John Rakestraw

Worldwide declines in the populations group surveys an area, spending anywhere of many species of amphibians ... the contin from one hour to an entire weekend, and ued destruction of habitat ... increasing pres records all the reptiles and amphibians seen sures from the commercial pet trade. In re or heard. In 1989, four coun ts yielded 448 sponse to such common headlines today, specimens of 36 species. By 1994, the num many natura lists are concerned about the bers had climbed to 2,572 specimens of 68 status of reptiles and amphibians in the wild . species, and in 1995 they logged 2,119 speci But despite the fro nt-page publicity, there is mens of 49 species. relati vely little hard data on herp popul a The Kansas Herp Counts are the brain tion trends. Interestingly, it is the am ateur child of Joseph T. Collins, co-author of A hobbyist, rather than the professional her Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians/Eastern petologist, who is in the best position to and Central North America in the Peterson remedy this situation. Field Guide Series. Collins began the pro Since 1989, members of the Kansas Her gram fo r two reasons, the first of which was petological Society have gone into the fie ld simply to collect data on Kansas reptiles and during April and May to conduct censuses amphibians. The Ka nsas Herp Counts are of the state's herpetofauna. An individual or modeled after the Audubon Society's an-

Mar. / Apr. 1996 75 nual Christmas Bird Count; the information of the Kansas Herpetological Society News collected over the many years by Audubon letter, is currently in charge of compiling the counts has proven invaluable for detecting Kansas Herp Counts. Totals are sent to trends in bird populations and distribution Rundquist and published in the society's patterns. It was Collins' hope that similar newsletter. Raw data is not saved since it is benefits could be gained from annual herp promptly published, but if the growing num counts. ber of counts exceeds the capacity of the The second reason for conducting the newsletter, it may become necessary to es survey was to increase public awareness of tablish a separate archive. In the published the state's herpetofauna. Collins says the accounts, to protect certain species from com counts" get people involved without forcing mercial pet dealers and rattlesnake hunters, a great deal of science on them." Members of Rundquist occasionally withholds the exact the general public-especially young location of some counts. people-are encouraged to take part in the To facilitate the process, the Kansas fun. Collins believes that when people get Herpetological Society published a check some hands-on experience with herps, it list of the state's reptiles and amphibians. helps to alleviate the prejudices that many The checklist (reproduced on pages 78-78) still have against these creatures. provides a convenient form for reporting "A herp count teaches a different kind individual cow1t results and promotes the of conservation ethic to younger herpers." consistent use of common and scientific Participants find the animals, may handle names of each species. them, and then release them, rather than Besides field studies, road counts are taking them home as pets. Collins adds, also encouraged, especially for those who "Who wants 700 Ringneck Snakes as pets?" do not have the time or ability to spend the The process of compiling the data is day wading through marshes or overturn relatively simple. Eric Rundquist, the editor ing rocks. "Night cruising" on country roads

Florida Expo Park State Fairgrounds - Tampa September 28-29, 1996 • Complete Selection of Captive-Bred Reptiles on Sale • Amphibians, Cages, Supplies, Books, Artworks & More • Herp Photography Contest & Display • Guest Speakers (to be announced)

Vendor Booths Available Now! For more information: Doug Wagner, P.O. Box 2725, Dunedin , FL 34697, Ph: (813) 736-1368

76 Reotile & Amohibian Maecazine is probably the most efficient way to locate and count chorusing frogs and toads. Road killed specimens are included in the totals, TOP HAT but are usually designated as DOR (Dead On Road). The organizers hope that count CRICKET participants will establish specific areas that FARM.INC. will be monitored on a yearly basis. It is 'We Are Distinguished From The Rest' through the repeated surveying of the same areas that population trends become appar Serving the Bait and Pet Food Industry ent. State parks, national wildlife refuges, Since 1954 and other public access areas are logical areas in which to establish annual counts. Guaranteed Live Delivery STARTING A HERP COUNT throughout the continental United States Any individual or group can conduct a Special Handling and Packaging herp cow1t-it does not require a graduate is our Specialty degree in herpetology to look under a rock! ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD, AND DISCOVER You need one person within the group who FOR PRICE INFORMATION CAU OR \\'RITE: can verify the identification of specimens 1919 FOREST DRIVE found. The observations of the beginner are KALAMAZOO, MI 49002 as valuable as those of the veteran herper. 800-638-2555 Larry Miller, a Topeka science teacher FAX 616-327-[[20 takes his classes on extended field trips ev ery year to participate in the herp cmmts. In CRICKETS• :MEALWORMS fact, one of these school field trips in 1994 SUPERWORMS • WAXWORMS established a new maximum length record HIGH-CALCIUM CRICKET FOOD• DISPLAY CAGES for the Southern Prairie Skink (Eumeces :Novice erp Line )- 7 ($2 per minute/ Average Length 5 minutes/Average Cost $10)

Here are Your Answers to the Most Often Asked Questions

Please have Paper & Pen Handy Monitors Touch-Tone Phones Only Iguanas Geckos Current Events that are Happening Turtles across the USA (updated monthly) Toads Frogs In ac a l. Pet Shops, Veterinarians & & Herp Societies across the USA More

Must be 18 or Older

Miller Infonnation Services • Cannel, IN • (317) 466-2540

Mar. I Apr. 1996 77 KANSAS HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY AF Locality: ______Date: ______Time: From _____ To ____ Observers: ______Please carefully record the total number of each species observed or col lected. SALAMANDERS Small mouth Salamander ...... Ambystoma texanum Tiger Salamander ...... Ambystoma tigrinum Eastern Newt...... Notophthalmus viridescens Longtail Salamander ...... Eurycea longicauda Cave Salamander ...... Eurycea /ucifuga Many-ribbed Salamander ...... Eurycea multiplicata Grotto Salamander ...... Typhlototriton spelaeus Red River Mudpuppy ...... Necturus louisianensis Mudpuppy ...... Necturus macu/osus FROGS & TOADS Plains Spadefoot...... Spea bombifrons American Toad ...... Bufo americanus Great Plains Toad ...... Bufo cognatus Green Toad ...... Bufo debilis Red-spotted Toad ...... Bufo punctatus Woodhouse's Toad ...... Bufo woodhousii Northern Cricket Frog ...... Acris crepitans Spotted Chorus Frog ...... Pseudacris c/arkii Spring Peeper...... Pseudacris crucifer Strecker's Chorus Frog ...... Pseudacris streckeri Boreal Chrous Frog ...... Pseudacris maculata Western Chorus Frog ...... Pseudacris triseriata Eastern GrayTreefrog ...... Hyla versicolor Cope's GrayTreefrog ...... Hy/a chrysoscelis Crawfish Frog ...... Rana areo/ata Plains Leopard Frog ...... Rana blairi Bullfrog ...... Rana catesbeiana Green Frog ...... Rana clamitans Pickerel Frog ...... Rana palustris Southern Leopard Frog ...... Rana sphenocephala Eastern Narrowmouth Toad ...... Gastrophryne carolinensis Plains Narrowmouth Toad ...... Gastrophryne olivacea TURTLES Common Snapping Turtle ...... Chelydra serpentina Alligator Snapping Turtle ...... Macroc/emys temminckii Common Musk Turtle ...... Sternotherus odoratus Yellow Mud Turtle ...... Kinosternon flavescens Eastern Box Turtle ...... Terrapene carolina Ornate BoxTurtle ...... Terrapeneornata Common Map Turtle ...... Graptemys geographica Ouachita Map Turtle ...... Graptemys ouachitensis False Map Turtle ...... Graptemys pseudogeographica River Cooter ...... Pseudemus concinna Painted Turtle ...... Chrysemys picta Slider ...... Trachemys scrip ta Smooth Softshell ...... A pa/one mutica Spiny Softshell...... Apa/one spinifera LIZARDS Collared Lizard ...... Crotaphytus collaris Lesser Earless Lizard ...... Holbrookia maculata

78 Reptile & Amphibian Magazine UL-MAY AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE COUNT Prairie Lizard ...... Sceloporus undulatus Texas Horned Lizard ...... Phrynosoma cornutum Ground Skink ...... Scince//a lateralis Coal Skink ...... Eumeces anthracinus Five-lined Skink ...... Eumeces fasciatus Broadhead Skink ...... Eumeces laticeps Great Plains Skink ...... Eumeces obsoletus Southern Prairie Skink ...... Eumeces obtusirostris Northern Priarie Skink ...... Eumeces septentrionalis Six-lined Race runner ...... Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Western Slender Glass Lizard ...... Ophisaurus attenuatus SNAKES Texas Blind Snake ...... Leptotyphlops du leis Western Hognose Snake ...... Heterodon nasicus Eastern Hognose Snake ...... Heterodon platirhinos Western Worm Snake ...... Carphophis vermis Ringneck Snake ...... Diadophis punctatus Flathead Snake ...... Tantilla gracilis Plains Blackhead Snake ...... Tantilla nigriceps Night Snake ...... Hypsiglena torquata Rough Green Snake ...... Opheodrys aestivus Racer ...... Coluber constrictor Coachwhip ...... Masticophis flagellum Great Plains Rat Snake ...... Elaphe emoryi Eastern Rat Snake ...... Elaphe obsoleta Glossy Snake ...... Arizona elegans Gopher Snake ...... Pituophis catenifer Prairie Kingsnake ...... Lampropeltis ca/ligaster Common Kingsnake ...... Lampropeltis getula Milk Snake ...... Lampropeltis triangulum Longnose Snake ...... Rhinocheilus lecontei Ground Snake ...... Sonora semiannulata Checkered Garter Snake ...... Thamnophis marcianus Western Ribbon Snake ...... Thamnophisproximus Plains Garter Snake ...... Thamnophis radix Common Garter Snake ...... Thamnophis sirtalis Lined Snake ...... Tropidoclonion lineatum Rough Earth Snake ...... Virginia striatula Smooth Earth Snake ...... Virginia va/eriae Brown Snake ...... Storeria dekayi Redbelly Snake ...... Storeria occipitomaculata Graham's Crayfish Snake ...... Regina grahamii Plainbelly Water Snake ...... Nerodia erythrogaster Diamondback Water Snake ...... Nerodia rhombifer Northern Water Snake ...... Nerodia sipedon Copperhead ...... Agkistrodon contortrix Cottonmouth ...... Agkistrodon piscivorus Massasauga ...... Sistrurus catenatus Timber Rattlesnake ...... Crotalus horndus Western Rattlesnake ...... Crotalus viridis

This list is based on the common and scientific names that appear in the third edition of Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas (Collins, 1993), with modifications from information published since that date. Compiled for the Kansas Herpetological Society by Joseph T. Collins. December, 1995. At the completion of your count, please have this list verified and send it to : Kansas Herpetological Society, Museum of Natural History, The Univeristy of Kansas, Lawrence. KS 66045

Mar. / Apr. 1996 79 ob tusirostris). ALL ·OHIO REPTILE SHOWS In addition to school groups, any out (The Original - Est. 1988) door-oriented organization can be recruited Live Repti les & Eq uipment to help with a census. The local Audubon Buy- Sell-Trade ch apter, wildflower enthusiasts, garden 1996 Schedule clubs, and sportsmen's clubs all can be tapped for volunteers. This also provides an Mar. 23-Apr. 27 excellent opportunity to educate the mem June 1-July 6 bers of these groups about local herps. Orga Aug . 3- Sept. 14 nized counts should be covered by the local media, which further increases the opportu Ohio National Guard Armory 4094 Su ll ivant Ave ., Columbus, Ohio nities to educa te the public. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Admission $3.00 Collins offers fo m bits of advice to those Call for information or table reservati ons who are in terested in establi shing a herp (615) 264-2583 or (614) 457-4433 co unt. First, there must be a place to publish the results. The information is of little use if it is not readily available. Second, determine a time fr ame. Kan sas surveys are conducted between April 1 and May 31. This period all ows the counting THE Rosv BoA SPECIALIST of chorusing amphibians and precedes the • Exceptional quality capti ve-bred hot weather that drives man y reptiles into Rosy Boas of all sub-species. hiding. The most productive time for herp • Offspring bred locality-specific counts varies with different geographic (no mutts) from finest breeder areas. stock. Photos available. Third, Collins emphasizes it is impor • Atways sold healthy and feeding. tant to publish the name of everyone who Satisfaction guaranteed. takes part in the program. One of the main Write, phone, or Fax for price list goals of the counts is to nurture public inter Brendan McGraw est in reptiles and amphibians. Publishing a P. 0. Box 3041 , ]j st of participants is an easy way to recog Manhattan Beach , CA 90266 ni ze and encourage those individuals who Ph/Fax (310) 546-5007 take an interest in herps. The last recommendation Collins offers is to keep the counts from getting too scien tific. The more technical it gets, the less the public will be in terested. It doesn't reall y matter what direction the wind is blowing. If the species, number, and general location are recorded, that is suffic ient information for the census. Collins hopes that annual herp counts Complete line of quality ma il order dry goods will eventuall y be conducted across the coun try, with a national herpetologicaJ or conser Specia lizing in Flexwatt Heat Tape, va tion organization com piling the data. This Books, Lightin g, & Health Products would greatl y improve our knowledge of species distribution patterns, and would Write or ca ll for FREE catalog! ------~ ------enable us to detect fluctuations in herp num bers. It also provides an excellent excuse to 3251 4 N.E 77th ~ ~ spend the day herping! ~ Carnation, Washington 98014-67 01 Phone (206 ) 861-7964 FAX (206) 333-4205 This is John Rakes traw 's first ar ticle for Reptile & Amphibian Magazine.

80 Reptile & Amphibian Magazine