RE: [vernalpool] Re: Amphibian Residents for Classroom

Thanks Leo-very helpful- Pam

From: vernalpool@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vernalpool@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Leo Kenney
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 3:50 PM
To: vernalpool@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [vernalpool] Re: Amphibian Residents for Classroom

My take on licensing in MA is that it is simple but somewhat confusing
at the same time. Confusing in that most people would not know where to
look. The info needed is listed under Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, and
Taking of Reptiles at MassWildlife website.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/plain_language/hunting_herps.htm

To quote:

1. _Closed Season_: There is a closed season on the hunting, fishing,
taking and possession of the following reptiles and amphibians:
Blanding's Turtle, Blue-spotted Salamander, Bog Turtle, Copperhead,
Diamondback Terrapin, Eastern Box Turtle, Eastern Hognosed Snake,
Eastern Ratsnake, Eastern Spadefoot, Eastern Wormsnake, Four-toed
Salamander, Green Seaturtle, Hawksbill Seaturtle, Jefferson Salamander,
Kemps' Ridley Seaturtle, Leatherback Seaturtle, Loggerhead Seaturtle,
Marbled Salamander, Northern Leopard Frog, Northern Red-bellied Cooter,
Spotted Salamander, Spotted Turtle, Spring Salamander, Timber
Rattlesnake, and Wood Turtle.

2. _Season Dates_:
(a) the following species may be taken from January 1 to December 31, in
accordance with the bag and possession limits below: American Toad,
Dekay's Brownsnake, Eastern Gartersnake, Eastern Musk Turtle, Eastern
Newt, Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Eastern Racer, Eastern Ribbonsnake,
Fowler's Toad, Gray Treefrog, Milksnake, Mudpuppy, Northern Dusky
Salamander, Northern Two-lined Salamander, Northern Watersnake, Painted
Turtle, Pickerel Frog, Red-bellied Snake, Ring-necked Snake, Smooth
Greensnake, Snapping Turtle, Spring Peeper, and Wood Frog.
(b) the following species may be hunted, fished, or taken from July 16
to September 30, in accordance with the bag and possession limits below:
American Bullfrog, Green Frog.

5. _Bag Limits_:

(a) for those species listed in #2(a) above (except Snapping
Turtle), the daily and possession limit is two per species;

(b) there is no bag or possession limit for Snapping Turtles.

(c) for American Bullfrogs and Green Frogs, the daily limit is 12,
the possession limit 24, singly or in the aggregate. No frogs shall
be killed or taken which measure less than 3 inches from snout to vent;

6. _Licenses and Permits:_ No hunting or fishing license or permit is
required for the taking of reptiles and amphibians (except for the
commercial taking of snapping turtles; see below).

Go to the link for the full details.

The "closed season" would list the animals one could not take or posses
unless with a collecting permit. Note the spotted salamander is on this
list as well as state-listed rare species. *My interpretation* would be
this would include ordering spotted salamanders or their eggs from a
biological supply house.

"Season dates" lists the species which can be taken at any time and "Bag
limits" indicates possession of only two at any one time (with a few
exceptions).

Some of the species one would be allowed to possess (in the classroom)
would be totally unsuitable for the purpose. Without going into detail
on all of them: Brownsnake, gartersnake, Eastern racer, ribbonsnake,
milksnake, red-bellied snake, ring-necked snake, & smooth greensnake do
not take well to captivity. They either do not feed, are nervous,
secretive, or all of these. Northern water snake might well feed but is
a tad aggressive for a classroom. So you want your students bitten?

Of the allowed salamanders, Red-backed, Northern Dusky, and Two-lined
might be good for a short visit but their diets and secretive nature do
not lend them to long-term classroom stays. Dead salamanders in the
cage are not a great positive educational moment.

For frogs, with proper food and conditions, American toad, Fowler's
toad, Gray treefrog, Pickerel frog, spring peeper, wood frog, green frog
and bullfrog will work in the classroom. Proper and sufficient food is
the difficulty for most people. Best in most cases is to bring them in
for a short visit and let them go where they were found. I have kept
most of these species for years at a time but that was with tremendous
effort for care, food and caging. Keep school vacations in mind. For
year round keeping, think food source in the winter.

Musk turtle, painted turtle and snapping turtle might work well in
classrooms with a knowledgeable teacher. I think keeping these for
short periods, releasing, and then having a new animal another year
works well for the animals, the population, the children, and the teacher.

If you want to keep one of the "closed season" and/or state-listed rare
species, look into a education permit.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/licensing/permits/other_permits.htm

LEO

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