MAY 2010 - California Turtle and Tortoise Club

SVTTC News
Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club
Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club since 2008
www.tortoise.org or www.tortoise.org/siliconvalley
MAY 2010
Photo by Gilbert Castro – The
“Gang” at the San Mateo Reptile Show representing the SVTTC
Next Meeting:
Next club meeting is Monday, May 3rd at 7pm. Banquet room is open at 5pm
Topic of Interest:
This month’s presentations will be presented by Rene Gandolfi DVM from the Castro Valley Companion
Animal Hospital. Rene will be doing a power-point presentation on the Herpes Virus in Russian Tortoises. The
Virus is open to other species as well.
Location:
Round Table Pizza
14940 Camden Avenue (Corner of Union and Camden Ave)
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 371-9550
From the Editor
By Kevin Norred
Hi Everyone,
Happy Spring!!!
Hope everyone is doing well and everyone’s turtles and tortoises are doing well. I would like to start
my article this month by sharing an email that I received from Rod L. that was sent to me after taking
in a very Large Red Ear Slider. Usually when people drop off turtles/tortoises, we never really hear
back from them, but receiving an email and one like this really allows me to continue helping
unwanted, injured and sick turtles and tortoises.
From Rod:
Hi Kevin
I sent this story to all my friends. They really enjoyed it.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Just had to relate an awww animal story.
A few Saturday mornings ago I was having coffee and woolgathering through the kitchen window when I
noticed a strange shape in the tall weeks. At first I thought it was a dirty old deflated soccer ball, but closer
inspection revealed a turtle about 10” long by 8” wide. We had no idea how it got there, but a little recon
revealed its trail through the weeds along the side of the house. But now what to do? A little Internet
research told us that turtles need special care like any other pet and we weren’t ready for the commitment.
And this guy was starting to dig in, especially after discovering he liked our oranges. I had to leave for work,
so Lauren knocked on doors to see if anyone had lost their turtle. On one had, but a number of our
neighbors seemed interested in making turtle soup for dinner.
Anyway, next day I googled “turtle club” and found the northernmost chapter of the California Turtle and
Tortoise club in San Jose. A few emails later and we were driving him down to San Jose to the guy who
handles their adoptions. Kevin had turtles and tortoises all over his property; some being nursed back to
health.
Turns out our guy was a girl and 20-30 years old! She was the biggest red-eared slider he’d ever seen. She ‘s
been out of the water for a while, but otherwise in pretty good shape. He intends to use her in presentations
to show people how big their little 4” turtle can get. Evidently people sometimes tire of their turtles and
abandon them when they require bigger accommodations.
So after signing the adoption papers and making a donation we left our turtle in the best hands, happily
soaking in a tub with other red eared sliders ( that’s a different one in the shot with the other turtles.
Good ol’internet.
Rod.
(Pictures on next page)
2
From the Editor
(Cont)
New News
As we move into the spring months, please make sure as your critters spend more time outside that you
make sure your habitats are predator proof. Many animals such as raccoons will be out investigating
for food sources, as they will have a lot of little ones to feed.
For those that are going to be participating in the Western Pond Turtle Presentation at the Oakland
Zoo, now is your time to get your money in. All money needs to be in by June 1st. For some unknown
reason you are running late, please contact me. We have to submit payment prior to our arrival at the
park on June 19th. Please fill out the form attached to this newsletter to send in your payments. If
you will be at the meeting, you can bring to me or make a special arrangement to drop off.
I would like to take the last part of this article and let everyone know that I am happy to announce that
our Vice President Jessica Gopp and I got married on May 1st. Jessica has been a part of my life for the
past 3 years and I have enjoyed every part of it. When she first came to my house when we started
dating, her exact words were…”Wow… you have a lot of tortoises. Why do you have so many? Now I
can see why you don’t have any time to do anything. You need to get rid of some”. Well about 3 or 4
months into the dating, she had tortoises and snakes of her own. I ruined her for life. Having Turtles
and tortoises is addicting and once you get to love the little dinosaurs, you can’t give them up. I hope
to live a lifetime with Jess and have a life full of turtles and tortoises
Thanks again to everyone who helps put this club together.
Kevin
3
2010 Club Officers &
Committees
2010 SVTTC Officers
President
Joseph Alvarado
info@reptilecompany.com
Vice President
Jessica Norred
jessgopp@yahoo.com
Secretary
Philip Edholm
philipaedholm@aol.com
Treasurer
Gilbert & Dorothy Castro
1dotboop@att.net or gilbert-castro@att.net
2010 SVTTC Board of Directors
Board of Director
Greg Kraintz
gkraintz@gmail.com
Board of Director
Paul Woodring
woodringpaul@yahoo.com
Board of Director
Yvonne “Corky” Mariani
cmari2235@aol.com
2010 SVTTC Committee Chairman’s & Assistants
Librarian
Martha Pugno
kayaklady56@yahoo.com
Show/Event Chairman
Jennette Petrak
jen0139@gmail.com
Fundraiser Chairman
Lisa Montoya
lesa_doublemm@yahoo.com
Adoption Chairman
Kevin Norred
tortoisehome@yahoo.com
Newsletter
Kevin Norred
tortoisehome@yahoo.com
Membership
Dorothy Castro
1dotboop@att.net
SVTTC Internet Connections
Turtle and Tortoise related Yahoo Groups:
SVTTC Chapter:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SVCTTC
The SVTTC Website where you can find all forms including past newsletters:
www.tortoise.org/siliconvalley
4
President’s Report
REMINDER:
Joseph Alvarado
For those that are attending
the Western Pond Turtle
Presentation on June 19th at
the Oakland Zoo, please mail
in your forms with a check
made out to the SVTTC or
bring to the next meeting. The
form is attached at the end of
the newsletter. We must have
all these in no later than June
1st. Anyone interested in the
California Pacific Western
Pond Turtle is invited. Please
bring your family and friends.
Happy Spring!!
I would like to thank everyone who helped at the
San Mateo Reptile Show on April 10th and 11th.
Also, thanks to those who visited the booth. It
is nice to get to see everyone.
I would also like to thank the Board &
Volunteers who dedicate their time and help this
club grow everyday. Thanks to the efforts of
Lesa and friends for the fundraising, Gilbert and
Dorothy for their hard work in promotions and
everyone else for making things happen. It
takes a team of people to make what we have
today. We are at 113 members currently and
growing strong. We have only touched a small
percentage of those in the Bay Area who own
turtles and tortoises. If you live near a Pet shop
or visit a place that deals with animals, print out
a flyer (can get from Kevin) and post it up on the
bulletin board. We need all the help promoting
the SVTTC.
2010 is going to be a big year with several
activities going on this year. We have in June
the Western Pond Turtle Presentation at the
Oakland Zoo; August will be the 25th Hatch-Day
for Gus the Galapagos Tortoise. Terry and
Nadia will be celebrating and having another
Hatch-Day party for him and the other 5
Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises. We are in the
works to put together a summer activity as well
such as a picnic.
-Joseph
5
VP Report
VP Report
By Jessica Norred
(Cont.)
Hello Everyone,
We are looking for the following items at a
discount or to be donated to the club:
I would like to thank Gary Wilfong for speaking
about the European Testudo Species last month.
He showed several shell displays ranging from
Greeks, Hermans, & Russian tortoises. We were
also able to meet some of his beautiful
Marginated, Greek, & Hermans tortoises. They
were all very cool. Thanks again Gary.
Projector (Table Top)
Projection Screen 60” x 60” minimum size
Turtle / Tortoise Videos / DVD
The following are the upcoming presentations
for the SVTTC:
Thanks,
Jessica Norred
May 3rd – Rene Gandolfi, DVM, Castro Valley
Companion Animal Hospital -Herpes Virus in
Tortoises
June7th – Jennette Petrak, SVTTC Member Sea
Turtles and Conservation in Costa Rica
July 5th – Open
August 2nd – Terry Burtz , SVTTC Member
Living with Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises
September 13th – Kevin Norred, SVTTC
Adoptions - Setting up the proper Aquatic
Habitat
Pictures by Dorothy & Gilbert Castro – San
Mateo Reptile Show – April 10 & 11th
October 4th – Steven Si Fuentes - Presentation
on Pancake Tortoises
November 1st – Kevin Norred SVTTC
Adoptions
presentation on Red Foot
Tortoises and some show and tell.
December 6th –No Presentation – Christmas
Party
6
Membership
Report
Time To Renew your
Membership!!!
Dorothy Castro
If your name is on this list, it is time to
renew. Renewal Memberships can be
extended by filling out a new
application and mailing to:
LAST NAME
FIRST NAME
CITY
RENEW
DICUS
JOHN
NIPOMA
ESCOBAR
MARIA
DALY CITY
01-01-10
LIPMAN
KATE
FREMONT
02-01-10
McKEEFERY
CAHTERINE
FREMONT
02-01-10
CLARK
LIZ
OROVILLE
03-02-10
COFFEY
PATRICK
BURLINGAME
03-02-10
HAYES
JENNIFER
MEDESTO
03-02-10
CHU
XIAOBO
SAN JOSE
03-06-10
PUGNO
MARTHA
SAN JOSE
03-06-10
THORSON-GARAY
SERGIO
SAN FRANCISCO
03-09-10
CARLE
CHUCK & PENNY
CUPERTIONO
03-30-10
You can also give to an officer of the
club or bring to the next general club
meeting. If you have already sent your
renewal in, just ignore the list.
COWLELL
DARLENE
SALIDA
03-30-10
DAVIS
KC
DUBLIN
05-01-10
GERSONDE
JAN
SAN FRANCISCO
05-01-10
ORTIZ
RICKY
STOCKTON
05-01-10
STRAATSMA (ART)
GREER (RIVER)
SANATA ROSA
05-01-10
Membership packages are as follows:
SWANSON
HEIDI
SAN JOSE
05-01-10
TINER
REES
SANTA CRUZ
05-01-10
Yearly Dues:
TUNG
LOUANN
LIVERMORE
05-01-10
SILICON VALLEY TURTLE AND
TORTOISE CLUB
Attn: Adoptions
P.O. Box 64135
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-4135
$20.00 Individual & Family
Membership
$30.00 Supporter Membership
$50.00 Benefactor Membership
$100.00 Patron Membership
$25.00 Canada / Mexico
Membership
$40.00 Other Foreign
Membership
$500 Life Membership
01-01-10
MEAD
NORMA
AROMAS
05-13-10
TOY
TIM
SAN FRANCISCO
05-13-10
ALEXANDER
MARY & JIM
SAN JOSE
06-01-10
CASTANEDA
VICTORIA S.
TRACY
06-01-10
FERRY
ELIZABETH
CAMERON PARK
06-01-10
GO
RAYMOND
SAN FRANCISCO
06-01-10
GRASSI
JUNIOR
MARTINEZ
06-01-10
HARCOURT
TRACY
SAN BRUNO
06-01-10
HEINLEIN JR.
EARL E.
CAMPBELL
06-01-10
HILDEBRANT
JESSE
ANTIOCH
06-01-10
SHIPLEY
VERN
FREMONT
06-01-10
SMITH
RED
SANTA CRUZ
06-01-10
TSANG
ELISA
HAYWARD
06-08-10
MOODY
CINDY
OAKLAND
06-14-10
EDY
CHRIS D.
SANTA ROSA
07-01-10
MATTHEWS
CHRIS
OAKLAND
07-01-10
To renew your membership, please download a club
application at www.tortoise.org/silicon valley or email
tortoisehome@yahoo.com for one.
Donations are always welcome.
7
SVTTC Events
By Jennette Petrak
Hi Everyone,
Not too much to going on at this time. We are
trying to plan an event for this summer such as a
picnic or show so stay tuned for more details. In
the meantime, I would like to share some pics
that Dorothy and Gilbert took at the last Reptile
Show in San Mateo.
Helpers List
This is the list of people who have participated
in helping out at 2010 events. For each
event/day you help at an event, your name will
be put into a raffle at the end of the year for
some great prizes. If you would like to help out,
please contact a club officer. I would also like
to thank the following people:
Names
Martha Pugno
JJ Bauman
Jessica Norred
Gilbert Castro
Kevin Norred
Phillip Edholm
Wendy Petrak
Jennette Petrak
Dorothy Castro
Lesa Montoya
Joseph Alverado
8
Entries into Raffle
2
3
1
4
2
3
2
1
2
2
1
Turtle / Tortoise
Conservation News
"The rate of hunting of radiated tortoises is
similar to the hunting pressure on American
bison during the early 19th century, where they
were nearly hunted to extinction when they once
numbered in the tens of millions," said Brian D.
Horne, turtle conservation coordinator for the
WCS's Species Program.
Star-Patterned Tortoise Could Die
Out in 20 Years
LiveScience.com livescience Staff
The tortoises once numbered in the millions
across a vast swath of the southern portion of the
island nation.
livescience.com – Mon Apr 5, 4:31 pm ET
A tortoise that wears a brilliant yellow star
pattern on its back and lives in Madagascar is
rapidly nearing extinction due to poaching for its
meat and the illegal pet trade, a team of
biologists reports today.
One of the most troubling trends is that poachers
are now entering protected areas to collect
tortoises and the staff there is poorly equipped to
patrol and protect populations, the biologists say.
The radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) could
die out within the next 20 years unless drastic
conservation measures are taken, say biologists
from the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The team found the situation is exacerbated by
several factors, including:
•
The tortoise, whose carapace reaches a length of
16 inches (41 centimeters), weighs up to 35
pounds (16 kilograms) and is considered one of
the most beautiful tortoises in the world,
according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Its
legs, feet, and head are yellow except for a black
splotch on top of its head. Yellow lines radiate
outward from each dark plate on its domed shell.
•
•
The team recently returned from field surveys in
southern Madagascar's spiny forest, where the
once-abundant tortoises occur. The team found
entire regions devoid of tortoises. Local people
told the team that armed bands of poachers had
taken away truckloads of tortoises to supply
open meat markets in towns such as Beloha and
Tsihombe. Poaching camps have been
discovered with the remains of thousands of
radiated tortoises, and truckloads of tortoise
meat have been seized recently, the team says.
•
Extreme drought, which has resulted in
diminished agricultural production and
increased poverty, which leads people to
tortoise hunting for survival;
Enforcement action is often days away so
that local officials can't stop poachers;
Severe habitat degradation, due to
burning and clearing for agriculture, has
made the spiny forest the most
endangered forest type in Madagascar,
the fourth largest island in the world;
Current political instability has resulted
in an increased open access to natural
resources and illegal pet trade.
The researchers say the radiated tortoise can still
"make a living" and survive in this degraded
habitat, but the animal can't survive the current
threat of wholesale collection for food markets.
Community mobilization linked to sustainable
habitat protection is needed to save this unique
critically endangered species, they say.
9
Once you have entered our SVTTC Library
“Home” screen, look at the tabs just below the
LIBRARY THING logo. (Please confine
yourself to using/clicking on only the “Home”,”
Profile” and “Your books” tabs, or you may
inadvertently delete books from the collection or
change the look of the screens causing confusion
for the next member that tries to access our site)
CTTC – MERCED
By Amy Wong
By now, you probably have heard rumors about
the new Merced Branch of the California Turtle
& Tortoise Club. The rumors are true, and we’d
like to cordially invite all interested readers of
the SVTTC newsletter to join us! Right now,
our education efforts focus on the desert tortoise
(Gopherus agassizii), and we have partnered
with UC Merced and Merced College to get the
word out. Our meetings are held every third
Tuesday of the month at 7pm at Forté Frozen
Yogurt, located in downtown Merced at 319 W
Main Street. We hope to see you there! If you
have any questions, please don’t hesitate to
contact us at cttc.merced@gmail.com or 415819-2121
By clicking on the “Profile” tab, you will get
information about borrowing books from our
Library.
By clicking on the “Your books” tab, you will
get a list of the items in our library collection. If
you would like view/browse the items in a
different order (i.e. by author or publisher), go to
the icons below the Library Thing logo and click
on the icon with the up and down arrows. A
window will open that allows you to sort the list
the way you want to view it. (Again please do
not click on any of the other icons)
Librarian Report
By Martha Pugno
You can also use the “search for books” window
on the “Home” screen (to get back to this screen,
click the “Home” tab under the Library Thing
logo) to locate items by keyword (i.e. Desert
tortoise). This window will be more helpful as
the library gets larger and browsing the whole
collection becomes more difficult.
I found a good Internet site for our club library
called “Librarything.com”. This site allows me
to list our books and periodicals for free and to
print our lists with photos of the book covers. I
hope to get my printer working and bring the list
of the items in our club library to next month’s
meeting. For those of you that have Internet
access, you can look at the book list now.
Finally, when you have finished looking at our
new SVTTC Library site, go to the upper right
corner of the “Home” screen and click on “sign
out”.
Directions:
I am excited about this free library collection
site. It offers more goodies, such as ratings, that I
hope to utilize later as our collection and use
grows and I become more experienced with the
offerings.
Go to www.librarything.com
On this first screen, look for the box “Already a
member?”
You can enter our club library by typing svttc in
the “name” box, and boxturtle in the
“password” box
Martha Pugno
Club Librarian
Then click on “sign in”
10
Turtle Survival
Alliance
•
Florida Turtles: Conservation Challenges and
Opportunities: George Heinrich; chair
· Florida Turtles: Conservation Challenges and
Opportunities: George Heinrich, chair
· Soft Shell Turtles: Peter Praschag,
chair presentations on both captive and field
efforts
· Survey Methods for Terrestrial
Turtles/Tortoises with workshop on field tools
The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and the
IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle
Specialist Group (TFTSG) are pleased to
announce the dates of their joint Symposium,
Monday – Thursday, August 16 – 19, 2010 in
Orlando, Florida (immediately preceding the
National Reptile Breeders Expo in Daytona).
This is the 8th annual conference hosted by the
TSA, and has become the world’s largest
gathering of tortoise and freshwater turtle
biologists, turtle enthusiasts, and captive
breeding specialists in the world.
(GPS, PDA, Burrow Cams, etc.) and Line
Distance
Sampling demo: Lora Smith and Jonathon
Stober, chairs
· Turtle Farms and Facilities: Hans-Dieter
Philippen, chair
As the tradition continues, we are grateful for
the generous support of our conference title
sponsor, ZooMed. This promises to be a major
international conference, with over 100
presentations. We have many special sessions
arranged including:
For more information, including the Call for
Papers, visit the conference page on the TSA
website:
<http://www.turtlesu rvival.org/ get-involved/
2010-conference>http://www.turtlesu rvival.org/
get-involved/ 2010-conference
· Madagascar Freshwater Turtle and
Tortoise Conservation: Christina Castellano &
Michael Ogle, chairs
· Captive Husbandry: Cris Hagen and Ben
Anders, Chairs
· Chelonian Health and Disease: Elliott
Jacobson, chair
· Chelonians of China: Torsten Blanck,
chair - presentations on both captive and field
efforts
· Community Ecology of Turtles: Daren Riedle,
chair
· Cuora: Ray Farrell, chair presentations on both captive and field efforts
11
Meeting Agenda:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
VI
VIII
IX
X
Current Events
Membership Introductions
Officer’s Reports
• President-Joseph
• Vice President-Jessica
• Secretary-Philip
• Treasurer-Gilbert
• Board of Directors
Committee Reports
• Librarian - Martha
• Fundraiser – Lesa
• Events – Jennette
• Membership –Dorothy
• Adoptions - Kevin
General Announcements
• CTTC – Executive Meeting April
10th Highlights– Pasadena
• SVTTC- June 19th Oakland Zoo
Presentation
• B.A.A.R.S – Meeting May 28thFrog Preservation
• Open Floor for anyone to
announce events or activities
Newsletter - Kevin
• Articles
• Highlights and Info in newsletter
***Stretch Break ***
Presentation –Rene Gandolfi, DVM
Open Floor
Adjourn
Upcoming Events:
April 20th
Merced CTTC chapter
meeting
May 3rd
SVTTC Club Meeting
Presentation on Herpes
Virus in tortoises by
Renee Gandolfi
May 23rd
Turtle & Tortoise Care
Expo – El Dorado Comm.
Center – Long Beach
CTTC
July 17th
Sacramento Summer Time
Turtle and Tortoise Club
Meeting 11am-4pm
July31st – August 1st
San Jose Herp World
Expo
August 7th
Burtz Family B-Day party
Gus the Galapagos
Tortoises will be 25 ys/old
September 11-12th Anaheim Reptile Show
September 18-19th Sacramento Reptile Show
The next meeting is Monday, June 7th
2010 at 7:00 pm, same location.
Future Newsletters:
If you have an article that you would like to
contribute to the SVTTC or maybe write
something that you may have experienced or an
exciting tip, we are looking to add some fun stuff
to the monthly newsletter. Please no
copyrighted info.
12
Canyon Veterinary Hospital
Reptile Vets
Dr. R. Barrett, DVM
Castro Valley, CA
(510) 582-6704
SVTTC members and non-members have
recommended the following names and
Veterinarian offices. These listings are for
reference only.
Santa Clara Pet Hospital
Dr. Kent Littlehale, DVM
San Jose, CA
(408) 227-9110
VCA Orchard Plaza Animal Hospital
Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital
Dr. Jennifer Star Seward, DVM
Dr. Ian Stone, DVM
San Jose, CA
(408) 227-9110
Rene Gandolfi, DVM
Castro Valley, CA
(510) 582-6311
Kirkwood Animal Hospital
Dr. Garrett Okumara, DVM
Campbell, CA
(408) 374-5850
Felton Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Cathy Calvert, DVM
Felton, CA
(831) 335-3466
Sequoia Valley Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Randall Popkin, DVM
Santa Rosa, CA
(707) 545-7387
Sunnyvale Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Raj Singh, DVM
Sunnyvale, CA
(408) 736-8929
Exotic Services Veterinarians U.C. Davis –
Small Animal Hospital
Avian & Exotic Clinic of Monterey
Dr. Shannon Thomas, DVM
Dr. Amy Wells, DVM
Monterey, CA
(831) 647-1147
Davis, CA
(530) 752-0186
Emergency (530) 752-0186
If you have a vet that you have used for your
reptiles, turtles and/or tortoises and would like to
add him/her to this list, please let me know.
Also if you are a Vet and would like to be added
to this list, let me know.
Valley Animal Hospital
Dr. Christine McFadden
Merced, CA
(209) 384-7387
Wildwood Animal Hospital
Dr. Chris Sanders, DVM
Dr. Tina Peak, DVM
Portola Valley, CA
(650) 851-9453
Thanks
-Kevin
Wildwood Animal Hospital
Dr. Diana Welsh, DVM
San Jose, CA
(408) 265-8811
Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital
Dr. Kenneth Harkewicz, DVM
Berkeley, CA
(510) 848-5041
13
The employees and staff are adopting to those
that have ponds and or 40 gallon or bigger tanks.
This has allowed the local Petco store to not
purchase any new RES turtles and to prevent
anymore from coming into the area.
If this
program in the next few months works well, we
may continue to look at other stores as well.
Adoption Report
By Kevin Norred
Hi everyone,
Hope March/April has been good to everyone.
Usually about this time, I am getting in tons of
turtles and tortoises. They have either been
found or people forgot about them over the
winter and want to give them a better home.
However, I haven’t had much turned in at all.
The only thing I have had is a handful of people
who have lost their tortoises. If you have found
one please contact me. I have a list of names of
individuals, location and types that they have
lost.
The Snapper Relocation project is still in the
works. At the last Executive Board, the CTTC
Chairman is working on getting a memorandum
of Understanding so we will be officially
authorized as an organization to have “Key”
people to contain, care and ship them out of
state. As of now, there is just a couple of us
including myself that is working closely with the
Department of Fish and Game on individual
bases to take them in, care for them and ship
them out of the area.
I am currently looking to find a box turtle
adoption coordinator replacement. One of the
things that I do dedicate a lot of time nursing
back to health is Box Turtles. Many come in
with shell rot, are dehydrated and or lethargic. I
have talked to the SVTTC Board and would like
to see if someone that lives in San Jose would be
interested in taking on the responsibility of
taking in, caring, medicating and assisting in
adopting out all Box Turtles that come through
the Club. If anyone might be interested in
donating your time to help, please contact me.
For those that are looking to adopt Desert
Tortoises, we were unable to pick any up this
spring. There are hundreds still looking for
homes, however they are all located in Palm
Springs at the Zoo that we work with. If anyone
is willing to travel that way, let me know. I can
give you the contact information. They will not
ship.
Until next month, have a wonderful spring
-Kevin
The SVTTC and CTTC have unofficially
stopped taking in all Red Ear Sliders. Many of
the clubs are just so overwhelmed with them and
it takes a great deal of effort to find homes for
them. As a result of this, I have personally taken
on the sole liability and financial burden of
caring and taking in Red Ear Sliders. I hate to
know that there is just no place for them and if I
don’t continue to try, people are just going to
release them in our natural waterways. I have
been pretty successful in the last month finding
many new homes in ponds. Also my “recycle”
efforts to adopt some out through a local Petco
are working well.
WAKING UP
14
FUNDRAISER Corner
Lost & Found
By Lesa Montoya
If you have found a tortoise/turtle and lost one,
please email me at tortoisehome@yahoo.com.
We can get the word out.
Hello Everyone! The April bake Sale went well.
I brought Krispy Kreme donuts. There were an
assortment of the regular size donuts and mini
bite size donuts. Too cute! Special Thanks to
Anna Sifuentes for her surprise donation of her
mouth watering Banana Nut Bread. Yeah! Anna!
It’s time to extend an invitation to have other
club members participate in the bake sale. I will
be asking for volunteers to bring in their favorite
sweets, homemade or not, it doesn’t matter. We
will see what sweet surprises are in store for us!
Lost
Large Sulcata Lost – Rio Vista , CA
Please contact rks775@comcast.net
Large Greek Female Tortoise Lost – Mountain
View, CA Missing 4/4/10. Please contact
Stephanie at stephablack@gmail.com
Raffle News! I have to tell you our club
members are Simply Fantastic! There were
several members who donated items to be
included in the Raffle/Auction. The donated
items ranged from wind chimes, stuffed animals,
grass seed, gift bags filled with tortoise supplies
to a turtle/tortoise house. Special Thanks to all!
Found
More News! During the San Mateo Expo, along
with Gilbert and Dorothy, I had a great time
handing out and talking to people about the
S.H.A.R.E.S card and iGive. It was a good
opportunity for me to help generate $$$ for
SVTTC. I did learn quite a lot. Don’t forget to
use your S.H.A.R.E.S card every time you shop
at Lucky’s, Food MAXX, S-MART or Save
Mart Supermarkets. Use of the card earns our
club up to 3% of qualified purchases. It is simple
to use. Just have the clerk scan the S.H.A.R.E.S
card before your purchase is totaled. If you
don’t have one or need more, contact me or see
me at the next monthly meeting. Reminder! Use
iGive every time you search and shop online.
Register at www.igive.com/svttc. There is
absolutely no charge to register. Each qualifying
search generates .1 cent and additional $$$ for
qualifying purchases.
Box Turtle Found – Turned in to SVTTC on
4/21/10. Describe Type, Sex and physical
features and Location. Contact Kevin at
tortoisehome@yahoo.com.
Everyone enjoy this Spring because Summer is
just around the corner!
-Lesa
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Other Club News
If you are part of a club or organization related
to Turtles / Tortoises and would like to post
some current news, please give Kevin Norred a
call or email.
Bay Area Amphibian &
Reptile Society
President: Scott Alexander
2010 Presentations:
Sacramento Turtle & Tortoise
Club
President: Felice Rood
2010 Meeting Dates
*
July 17th 1pm – 4pm
August 21st TurtleRama 11 – 4pm
October 23rd * 1pm – 4pm
Adoptions: Contact Setiva Woodring for
current list of Reptiles for adoption. Her email is
gobaars@yahoo.com
* Meeting dates not confirmed yet
For more information about the Bay Area
Amphibian and Reptile Society, please contact
Scott Alexander at alexander_scott@yahoo.com
or visit www.baars.org
Adoptions: Lots of Red Ear Sliders &
Occasional Sulcata’s
For more information about the Sacramento
Turtle & Tortoise Club, please contact Felice
Rood at felicerood@compuserve.com or visit
www. Turtlebunker.com
Merced Turtle & Tortoise
Club
Pending Chapter of the CTTC
President: Alex Lu-Pon
Contact info: CTTC.Merced@gmail.com
We've moved the date for March's monthly
meeting to April 20. As usual, it will take place
at Forte Frozen Yogurt (319 W Main Street) in
downtown Merced at 7pm. Hope to see you
there!
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Tortoises for Adoption
The Turtles and Tortoises listed and/or available through the SVTTC are for the prospective benefit of the
SVTTC members and potential new owners. No guarantees as to the health, suitability, or legality of the
adopted turtles and tortoises as pets is neither expressed nor implied. The SVTTC does its best to examine
all turtles and tortoises to deem healthy prior to release. No hidden illnesses that can be detected at the time
of physical examination will be held against the SVTTC. When adopting a new turtle or tortoise, it is
recommended that each animal be quarantined for at least 90 days from any other existing turtles/tortoises.
Turtles/Tortoise Available
20+ Red Ear Slider Aquatic Turtles Various Sizes
Requirements: Must have at least 50 gallon tank for one and/or at least
100 gallons or more for multiple turtles.
1 5-6” Sulcata ( small beak deformity )
Turtles / Tortoises Adopted out in April / May
Lots of Red Ear Sliders!!!!
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Club Member Classifieds / Wanted:
These ads are posted by any individual requesting to find, sell or trade reptiles. Please note to take
caution when selling or buying as the SVTTC or individuals associated with the SVTTC or not
responsible for the business conducted between two parties. If a seller or buyer is doing “bad”
business, please let me know so they can be removed from the list. All “Wanted” ads are not
necessarily associated with the SVTTC or chapters of the CTTC.
For Sale Ads
•
TORTOISE SUPPLIES – BENEFIT TO THE MEMBERS
Contact Kevin Norred @ (408) 482-5437 or tortoisehome@yahoo.com
For CTTC / SVTTC Members only- Quantities Limited
Bigger quantity can be purchased. Call for price
*Small K & H Heat Pads 12.5” X 18.5”
$45.00 (Petco Price $70.00)
*Medium K & H Heat Pads 16.5” X 22.5”
$55.00 (Petco Price $80.00)
*Large K & H Heat Pads 22.5” X 28.5”
$65.00 (Petco Price $100.00)
•
FOR SALE: 2009 Russian Tortoise Hatchlings
They were incubated at 89.5F for females. Price is $125ea
Location: Concord
Contact Dan Goemmel at (925) 825-6361 or email kq6ar@astound.net
•
FOR SALE: 2009 Marginated Tortoise Hatchlings
They were incubated at 89.5F for females. Price is $125ea
Location: Concord
Contact Dan Goemmel at (925) 825-6361 or email kq6ar@astound.net
•
FOR SALE: Mazuri Tortoise Chow
1lb : $ 5.00
2lb : $ 8.00
5lb : $16.00
10lb : $28.00
25lb : $45.00
Contact Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com or call (408) 482-5437
•
FOR SALE: Reptaid All Natural Remedy (www.reptiad.com) ( SVTTC
MEMBER )
1oz Bottle Reptaid ( 1-250grams ) $24.99
1oz Bottle Reptaid XL ( over 250 grams ) $31.99
Free shipping . The # 1 product to help with respiratory infections, worms or parasites. All
natural product.
Contact Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com or call (408) 482-5437
•
FOR SALE: Egyptian Tortoises
C/H Egyptian Tortoises from 2months to 2 years old
$399.99 to $699.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
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•
FOR SALE: Leopard Tortoises
C/H Leopard Tortoises Pardalis Bobcocki and Pardalis Pardalis
$99.99 to $169.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Male Marginated Tortoises
7ea Marginated Tortoise Males $299.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Red Foot Proven Breeding Group
$229.99 ea Tortoise LTC
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Turtle and Tortoises ( TOOSLO MEMBER )
Hatchlings: Leopard Tortoises $75ea, Elongated Tortoise $75ea, Herman’s Tortoise $75.ea,
European Pond Turtles $ 75.00, Red Foot Tortoises $75ea, Star Tortoises $300ea, Egyptian
Tortoises $300ea, Western Painted Turtles $15ea,
Contact Bob & Judy Thomas at (805) 481-5222
•
FOR SALE: Russian Tortoise Male ( SVTTC MEMBER )
4-1/2” Male in Wonderful Condition $40.00 Pick up in San Jose only
Contact John Nichols at 1jpnichols@ comcast.net
•
FOR ADOPTION: Adult Male Desert Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Bay Area Turtle and Tortoise Rescue has Adult Male Desert Tortoises for Adoption. Please
contact Gary or Ginger Wilfong in Castro Valley at (510) 886-2946
•
FOR SALE: Ceramic Heat Lamp Fixtures (no bulbs) ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Zoo Med Ceramic Heat Lamp Fixtures (Used) most are rated for 75watt to 100watt
$5.00 ea. Contact Kevin at Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: Florescent Fixtures ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Misc Florescent Light Fixtures. Some have bulbs. Most are 18” to 24” long. All are used
but in good condition. Most bulbs are outdated and will need to be updated with new bulbs
for max full spectrum lighting.
$5.00 ea. Contact Kevin at Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: Used Tanks ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Call for availability and supply – 10-gallon tanks to 80-gallon tanks. Some are terrariums
and some are Aquariums.
$5.00 to $50.00 ea. Contact Kevin at Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: Cherry Head Red Foot Tortoise Pair
Super Male 11” & Female 8” $799.99 shipped
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
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•
FOR SALE: Bolivian Giant Red Foot Tortoise
7” Male $299.99ea
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Female Sulcatas
13” + Female Sulcatas $599.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Super Blonde Leopard Tortoises
3-4” $229.99ea
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Red Ear Sliders
6” $30ea - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: 2 yr old Sulcata
$150ea - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: LTC Asian Box Turtles
$55ea. Long Term Captives - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: (4) LTC Gold Thread Turtles
$70ea. Long Term Captives - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
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Wanted
Wanted Ads
•
Wanted: Russian Tortoise Females
Looking for Female Russians for lone male.
gwyn.weger@gmail.com
•
Contact Gwyn Weger @
Wanted: Cherry Head Red Foot Male ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Male Cherry Head Red Foot Males for single girls. Contact Scott Alexander @
Alexander_scott @ yahoo.com
•
Wanted: McCord’s Box Turtles
Looking for baby, Male and Female McCord’s Box Turtles Contact Don Do @
Donsturtles@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Keeled Box Turtles ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Male or Females for my single Female. Contact Kevin at
T34racing@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Elongated Tortoise Females ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Female Elongated Tortoise Females. Have very nice Cream colored male.
Contact Kevin at T34racing@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Leopard Tortoise Females ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Leopard Tortoise Females for my many males. Would consider trading some
males.
Contact Kevin at T34racing@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Pancake Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Pancake Tortoises, babies, Females and Males.
Contact Kevin at T34racing@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Herman’s Tortoises
Looking for Female and/or pairs of Herman Tortoises
Contact Michael at Michael.rajkumar@gmail.com
•
Wanted: Map Turtles
Looking for all species of Map Turtles
Contact Bryan email BPNorred@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Painted Turtles
Looking for all species of Painted Turtles
Contact Bryan email BPNorred@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: North American Wood Turtles ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for North American Wood Turtles (insculpta)
Contact John at 1jpnickols@comcast.net
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•
Wanted: Red Foot Tortoise Female ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Female Red Foot Tortoise
Contact Phil Krotz at pekrotz@gmail.com
•
Wanted: Texas Desert Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Interested in Texas Desert Tortoises
Contact Phil Krotz at pekrotz@gmail.com
•
Wanted: Gulf Coast Box Turtle Females ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Have single male looking for a girl or two
Contact Kevin at tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Greek Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking to add some more Greeks to my herd. Looking for adults over 4-5”
Contact Kevin at tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Aquatic Turtles, Box Turtles, Tortoises
I purchase Unwanted Turtles, Tortoises and Reptiles at Wholesale Prices. Email
Slomoshunexotics@yahoo.com
Email with details & price request to see if interested.
•
Wanted: California Desert Tortoise( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for a juvenile Desert Tortoise to share our yard with another juvenile and a 100 +
year old Desert Tortoise. Juvenile or older should be about 7” long or size of a medium
spread out hand.
Nice and hot backyard in Livermore.
Would like our 9 year old to have these to pass along to his generation.
Call 925-455-8823 or send email to Louann at lstung@pacbell.net
22
Commercial Vendors / Retailers
Are you interested in advertising in one of the leading Turtle and Tortoise Newsletters in
California? If you would like your logo or business card inserted in one of the below squares,
please contact Kevin @ Tortoisehome@yahoo.com Sponsoring Vendors are waived any fees.
Non Sponsoring Vendors, $20 donation a month.
THEWORMDUDE.COM
Your Business Card
Here
Your Business Card
Here
Your Business Card
Here
23
Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise
Club
Fundraiser
Please join us to help raise funds for the Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise
Club while we have a great time. Come help us out, and help you to the
freshest, best-tasting pizza in town.
Just bring this flyer with you on the date below and give it to the order taker before you
order. We’ll give 15% of your order (excluding sales tax) to the Silicon Valley Turtle and
Tortoise Club.
Date: Monday May 3rd
(Call in your order early to avoid delay)
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Meeting starts at 7pm
Location: 14940 Camden Avenue
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 371-9550
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Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club Presents
The Western Pond Turtle
“Head Start Program”
________________________________________________________________________
th
Saturday, June 19
@ The Oakland Zoo
Reservations Required by June 1st, 2010
Tickets reserved thru Kevin Norred at tortoisehome@yahoo.com
Or (408) 482-5437
Come visit Margaret Rousser and Staff from the Oakland Zoo for a special presentation
about the Western Pond Turtle & their efforts to keep the species from going extinct.
Presentation is at the Oakland Zoo Auditorium from 10am to 12pm. Come see and learn
first hand about juvenile Western Pond Turtles that have been artificially incubated by
Professor Nick Geist of Sonoma State University, which have be raised for release back
into native ponds to increase the numbers of the Western Pond Turtle, California’s only
native Aquatic Turtle.
Tickets will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. We have seating for 150 people.
Tickets are $8/adults & $6 for children. Donations are welcome. All proceeds including
ticket sales will go directly to the WPT program. Parking is $6 per vehicle. After the
presentation, guest can visit the park and some of the Sulcata/Aldabra Tortoises on
display. Guest will be required to meet at the Lower Gate Entrance (Not the Main
Entrance) at 9:45 to enter as a group on the morning of the presentation. The
presentation will be at the Zimmer Auditorium or AKA Maddies Center for Science &
Education.
The Oakland Zoo is nestled in the rolling hills of 525-acre Knowland Park. The Zoo is
located at 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland off Highway 580, and is home to more than 660
native and exotic animals. General information number: 510-632-9525
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What is the Head Start Program?
The Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata) has declined precipitously or been
eliminated entirely in so many parts of its former race that it is now protected by the
Department of Fish and Game as a California Special Concern Species.
Originally, the WPT ranged from Mexico to the Canadian border in a narrow strip along
the United States coast until recently. Once estimated to have populations in the millions
in California alone, it has virtually disappeared from most urban areas of southern and
northern California and most of the Central Valley.
With strong efforts from Sonoma State, The Oakland Zoo and San Francisco Zoo, there is
a fight against time to help establish Western Pond Turtles throughout California to help
keep the Western Pond Turtle from going extinct. Over the past century, the WPT has
taken a huge decline in wild populations due to loss of habitat, introduction of alien
species and becoming a food source for other native animals.
The WPT is the only native aquatic turtle species in California. Even though you see
thousands of other turtles in our waterways, rivers and streams, the only one that can
truly call its home to California is the Western Pond Turtle. In the past decade, the
rapidly shrinking numbers has sparked the development of a pioneering partnership
between Sonoma State University and the Bay Area Zoos to save the turtle from
extinction. Starting with eggs collected from undisclosed Lake County Locations,
Professor Nick Geist successfully hatches out the eggs and with the help from the
Oakland & SF Zoo’s, they care and raise the babies to one year of age. Each year they
monitor the females turtles over the breeding season and follow them to the nest sites,
which they collect the eggs. The eggs are placed in multiple incubators in Professor
Geist’s lab at the Rohnert Park campus. Once the young turtles begin to emerge, they are
transferred to the Zoos. This breeding/head start program is the first of its kind for the
species in the state. It is a race against the clock to save the species as if the program
doesn’t happen now; numbers will decrease to the point where all genetic diversity will
slowly disappear as well.
The support of the Bay Area zoos in this captive breeding program – called ”Head Start”
program – is to protect the young turtles, who at the size of a quarter at birth often
become tender morsels for predators such as bullfrogs, skunks, and foxes. These
predators, as well as the loss of 90% of its habitat, have contributed to a shocking decline
in the species.
Also being studied within the program is the study to determine at what temperature the
sex of the turtle is decided so that better conservation management techniques can be
designed. Can we monitor the amount of females and males in wild populations?
Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club
Presents
29
The Western Pond Turtle
“Head Start Program”
________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, June 19th
@ The Oakland Zoo
Name __________________________________________________________________
Telephone Number _______________________________________________________
Email __________________________________________________________________
How many Adult Tickets are you Purchasing _____________ X $8.00 =$__________
How many Youth Tickets are you Purchasing _____________ X $6.00 = $__________
Donation (optional) $__________
Total Amount $__________
Please make Checks Payable to: S.V.T.T.C.
Please mail to: S.V.T.T.C.
Attn: Kevin Norred
1445 Kooser Road
San Jose, CA 95118
Tickets will be distributed at the side entrance at 9:45am the morning of June 19th at the
Oakland Zoo. We will enter as a group. If you have problems or need assistance, please
contact Kevin at (408) 482-5437. He will have his cell phone with him that morning.
Payments need to be made by June 1st, 2010.
All ticket sales go directly to the WPT program.
Please allow for $6 for parking (PAID AT GATE AT THE ZOO)
30
ESCAPED!!
Tortoise
(650) 224-8403
REWARD
Brookdale Ave. Mountain View
31