Posts Tagged ‘Reptiles’

Mar
01

Rattlesnakes Rock!

Posted by in Adaptations,Animal Info,Conservation,Reptiles

RATTLESNAKES ROCK!!

It’s no secret that the Houston Zoo Reptile House staff love rattlesnakes… but why?  What do we know that you don’t?   For many people, the sight or sound of a rattlesnake results in sheer terror.  Yes, rattlesnakes are potentially dangerous due to their elegant venom delivery system, but they typically give you a warning well before they strike – why do you suppose that is?  Let’s touch on some rattlesnake physiology…

 

Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

 

Rattlesnakes are highly evolved animals.  Their skull is very delicate, having an open framework with fairly thin bones – compare this to a python, which has a reinforced, almost solid skull.  A python needs a heavy skull because they grab and hold their prey, which is often kicking and thrashing about (I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same). A rattlesnake relies on its venom to subdue its meal;  it bites and quickly lets go because a thrashing animal could do some serious and irreparable damage to the snake’s skull.  After envenomating its prey – a rodent for example – the rattlesnake then patiently waits for the venom to do its job.  At this point the rodent may have wandered off before dying, so the rattlesnake tracks it using some pretty cool high-tech equipment:  heat sensing pits (which form infrared images, allowing them to “see” in the dark) and a complex chemosensory system  (allowing them to “taste” their way around with great precision and accuracy).  Using these amazing built in tools, they can safely track the same rodent they bit a few minutes before and eat it in peace without any injury from a struggle.  Check out some amazing rattlesnake footage from David Attenborough’s BBC series “Life in Cold Blood” here.

 

Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)

 

So back to the rattle… when a rattlesnake rattles, it is threatened – something or someone has invaded its personal space.   Although most people are under the impression that ALL snakes are out to get them (especially rattlesnakes), this couldn’t be farther from the truth.   These snakes want absolutely nothing to do with us and will always flee if there is an escape route available.  An animal of our stature could easily kill a snake as small as a rattler – if a human were to accidentally step on one, that fragile skull I mentioned earlier would be crushed.  So if you threaten a rattlesnake (even by accident) and it has to protect itself, its rattle will send you a clear message:  Don’t tread on me!   This audible warning makes rattlesnakes pretty darn polite in my opinion…   But the real reason they give you fair warning is (again) they don’t want a confrontation and  they don’t want to waste venom on an enemy unless they are forced to.  Venom takes a lot of energy to make and the snake would rather use it for its intended purpose (to catch food).  So,if you ever hear/see an agitated rattlesnake in the wild, simply stop, stay calm, locate the snake and slowly back away from it until you are out of harms way.

 

Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

 

Rattlesnakes are often misunderstood and underappreciated animals.  They are unique to the Americas and are found nowhere else in the world – the American Southwest and Mexico boast the highest diversity of species.  They have very caring courtship behaviors and give birth to live young; parental care has even been documented in some species. They have striking colors and markings yet blend in perfectly with their surroundings.  They play the very important role of  predator in many ecosystems and keep populations of other critters under control, while being a prey item themselves for other snakes and hawks.  And come on – they have RATTLES on the end of their tails!  How cool is that?!!

 

 

Those who care for rattlesnakes for a living will tell you that they are peaceful and curious animals.  Working with them on a daily basis allows us to get to know them as individuals – yep, they have distinct personalities and quirks just like every other animal!  Starting to see why we love rattlesnakes so much?  Hopefully you are beginning to understand why we want to protect them.

Rattlesnakes were once well respected and  even symbolized our great country in its infancy.  Now, hundreds of thousands of rattlesnakes are persecuted and needlessly killed every year.  Rattlesnake roundups – events in which these snakes are collected from the wild and slaughtered as a public spectacle – are a severe threat to rattlesnake populations in the state of Texas.  As a native Texan, I am painfully embarrassed that these events persist  – the animals are treated disrespectfully before they are killed (and they are ALL killed) and this sends a horrible message to event attendees, especially children.  Help us put an end to the killing and ask that these yearly festivals be changed to educational ones that advocate respect for nature – before it’s too late for the rattlesnakes of Texas.

 

Aruba Island Rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor), the rarest rattlesnake on Earth. Photo: Jeff Whitlock

 

So take the time to learn more about the fascinating world of rattlesnakes and then spread the word – shout it from the rooftops!! RATTLESNAKES ROCK!!

Still don’t appreciate rattlesnakes?  Think the only good snake is a dead snake?  Hmm… I hope you don’t mind a few hundred rodent house guests because without snakes around, I can guarantee they’ll be moving in soon!

 

 

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Nov
15

Our Tortoises Get More Room

Posted by in Dr Joe's Giant Tortoise Adventure,Endangered,Reptiles

Do you ever visit our tortoises here at the Houston Zoo? They are so cool and prehistoric looking.  It’s fascinating to see how they operate with what looks like a heavy shell and limited range of motion. But they can move pretty fast if they want to.

We’ve just expanded the tortoise habitat from the Duck Lake sidewalk near the Dolly’s Ride sculpture all the way around toward the food court. We’ve installed new grass and almost doubled their area. They move faster than you would think. Why don’t you stop by?

There are three kinds of Tortoises who live together there – Radiated tortoises, Galapagos tortoises and African spurred tortoises.  Let’s talk about the latter. The African spurred tortoise, Centrochelys (Geochelone sulcata), is a large tortoise found along the southern perimeter of the Sahara desert in Africa. It is the largest species of tortoise found in Africa and is surpassed only in size by the Galapagos tortoise and the Aldabra tortoise.

The African spurred tortoise

The species gets its name from several large prominent spurs that are located on the hind surfaces of the thighs on the rear legs. Males can be distinguished from females by having a pronounced concavity on the underside of their shells and by their larger tails. Adult males also are larger than females and can reach weights of up to 180 pounds, while females rarely get above 100 pounds.

Diet and Reproduction: In terms of diet, Spurred tortoises are largely herbivorous and will accept a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. At the zoo, they can often be seen grazing on the grass inside their enclosure. These animals are prolific diggers, and can dig burrows of over ten feet long. In the wild, Spurred tortoises breed between November and May and can lay on average anywhere from 13 to over 30 eggs.

The eggs take around 120 days to hatch and the young weigh around 50 grams each. Like other turtle and tortoise species, the Spurred tortoise exhibits what is called “TSD” or Temperature Sex Determination. The sex of an individual is determined not by sex chromosomes, but by the incubation temperature of the egg. Learn more about TSD!

Lifespan: African spurred tortoises can live a long time! Captive longevities of over a century have been reported, and there currently are a number of captive animals that are over 50 years old. Our animals at the zoo were acquired as young adults in 1988. Because of their long lifespan, the Spurred tortoise figures prominently in many animal legends among the native tribes occupying its home range.

The Galapagos tortoise

Spurred tortoises as pets: Spurred tortoises breed readily in captivity and hatchlings are often seen for sale in local pet shops. However, there are several things to consider before purchasing one:

1. Size. This species will grow to a large size very quickly, and adults are very powerful. They have been known to overturn central air conditioning units, and to dig extensive burrows underneath houses which can undermine the foundation. Spurred tortoises need a very large, secure area to roam and they also require an indoor area with heat when temperatures drop below 50° F.

2. Longevity: If properly cared for, there is a very good chance that the Spurred tortoise purchased will outlive the person who bought it in the first place. If you are buying a tortoise for a child, think about what you will do with the animal when the child grows up and goes away to college. A long-term plan is needed for keeping this species (note: the zoo does not accept Spurred tortoises as donations; we already have all we need).

3. Diet: These animals need proper nutrition in order to have normal shell growth. There are many captive turtles that have shell malformations due to poor diets. Even though they will eat a variety of different fruits and vegetables, the portions and the types have to be carefully monitored.

4. Lighting: Proper lighting also contributes to proper shell growth. Inadequate lighting also will result in shell deformities. Spurred tortoises need ample exposure to unfiltered sunlight.  When kept inside, they need special heat lamps that provide the necessary light wavelengths.

The World Chelonian Trust also provides useful information on caring for Spurred tortoises. Visit their website http://www.chelonia.org/articles/sulcatacare.htm if you’d like to learn more.

The Radiated tortoise

Please come and see our African spurred tortoises, along with Radiated tortoises and our Galapagos tortoises on your next visit and write us to let us know what you think.

Don’t miss a special evening with a  Galapagos tortoise researcher on December 9, 2011. Our Call of the Wild Speaker Series will feature Dr. Stephen Blake from the Max Planck Institute of Ornithology with a special introduction from Dr. Joe Flanagan, Director of Veterinary Services, Houston Zoo. Event begins at 7:00 p.m. Drinks and hors d’oerves will be served. CLICK HERE for tickets and information!

If you’d like to read about the Galapagos tortoise, click HERE to read our Dr. Joe’s blog series about his adventure to the Galapagos Islands and how he helped several Giant Tortoises!

Written by Stan Mayes, Herpetology

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Nov
09

What Do You Know About Coral Snakes?

Posted by in Reptiles,Snakes

Back again this week, and for a few weeks more, with the next in a series on snakes that’s being written for you by The Houston Zoo’s Herpetology Department Supervisor, Judith Bryja. Our Herp Department knows their stuff, and since we get so much interest in snakes, Judith is writing this informative blog series each week just for you!  If you’d like to read the series from the beginning, click here.

The Texas coral snake is our only native elapid. Rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths are all pit vipers. The main differences are venom composition and fang structure. While the fangs of pit vipers fold up under the roof of the mouth, elapids have short fixed fangs. Elapid venom tends to have a lot of neurotoxins compared to most pitvipers.  There is nothing simple or black or white about venom so we won’t go there.  The coral snake is also the only venomous snake here that lays eggs instead of having live babies. 

Texas coral snake (Micrurus fulvius tener)

The coral snake has bands along its entire glossy body of red, yellow, and black.  Narrow yellow bands are between the alternating red and black rings.  The red rings are mottled with black.  The head and tail are black and yellow only.  The head is small and indistinct from the body.  The eyes are so dark you can hardly see them against the black head.  This is a small slender snake, averaging about 2 feet as an adult and about as big around as a pencil.
 
Coral snakes like mixed hardwood and pine forests.  They are very shy and secretive and usually stay hidden in leaf litter, rotten logs, etc.  If escape does not work, a coral snake will often suddenly push part of its body against the threat.  It may also flatten the last part of the body and raise and wave the tail along with hiding its head within its coils.

Coral snakes may be active at any time of day depending on temperature and other conditions.  3-8 elongated white eggs are laid in the summer and hatch about 2 months later.  Babies are about 6 inches long and look the same as adults.

The main prey of the coral snake is other snakes including a lot of earth snakes and Dekay’s snakes (covered in blogs #1 and #2 of this series).  They will also eat slender lizards such as ground skinks.
 
There is another native snake with the same colors as the coral snake though they look quite different. The old rhyme of “Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, venom lack” works well to tell apart the coral snake and the Louisiana milk snake (below).

Louisiana milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum amaura)

This snakes gets much larger, is dull compared to the coral snake, has light white/beige mottling on its snout, and the red and black bands on the body are the ones that touch.  While that rhyme works well here at home, do not try to use it south of the border-it doesn’t work there.  There are many other kinds of coral snakes that look completely different.  While the venom of the coral snake is potentially quite dangerous, these snakes are in general very shy and inoffensive. Almost all bites occur when someone grabs one or tries to kill it, meaning it usually takes some personal effort to be bitten by one.  If you leave them alone they will leave you alone.

See you right back here next week for another installment in this great Snake Series!

For more information on Texassnakes, Judith has reccomended these two resources: http://www.herpsoftexas.org/ and  The Field Guide to TX Snakes written by James Dixon and former Houston Zoo director John Werler.

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Nov
03

Meet The Cottonmouth Snake

Posted by in Reptiles,Snakes

This is the next in a series on snakes that’s being written for you by The Houston Zoo’s Herpetology Department Supervisor, Judith Bryja. Our Herp Department knows their stuff, and since we get so much interest in snakes, Judith is writing this informative blog series each week just for you!  If you’d like to read the series from the beginning, click here.

Our featured snake for this week is the water moccasin a.k.a. the cottonmouth. 

This is the most notorious venomous snake in this area. They are venomous pitvipers just like copperheads and rattlesnakes.  They are variable in color and pattern and many other species of snake are mistaken for them.  Black, brown, or olive with or without markings describe this snake.  Babies have distinct markings (and a bright yellow tail tip just like the copperhead) but these fade with age so that some old animals don’t show any pattern at all. 

Western cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)

 

These are stout bodied snakes; the body is thick and they have short tails (the body hardly tapers and then all of a sudden there’s the tail).  The belly is dark brown or black.  Usually visible is a dark cheek stripe.  And we can’t leave out the reason for the moniker of cottonmouth.  The inside of the mouth is white and they don’t hesitate to show it to you when you come across one. 

Average adult size of this snake is 24-36 inches despite the stories you’ve probably heard.  The biggest one ever recorded was right about 5 feet. 

Cottonmouths can be found near just about any kind of aquatic habitat such as swamps, marshes, and streams.  When swimming, much of the body is visible above the water line and the head is held up high.  They are opportunistic and not super picky eaters.  The bulk of their diet is frogs, fish, and salamanders though they are also known to take mammals and birds.  Mating takes place in the spring and live babies are born in the fall.   

A very light uniformly colored cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)

If they have a convenient escape route when approached, these snakes will usually take it.  If not however, these guys get quite intimidating.  They will look up at you and strike a pose as in the first photo in this blog, the tail is twitched back and forth like a cat or rapidly vibrated against the ground, and the mouth is held wide open showing off the brilliant white interior.  They are also happy to strike if you get too close.   A western cottonmouth can be seen on display in the Reptile/Amphibian building.

Juvenile cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma)

 Are you coming back for another installment in this cool Snake Series? Yep, we hope you are!

For more information on Texassnakes, Judith has reccomended these two resources: http://www.herpsoftexas.org/ and  The Field Guide to TX Snakes written by James Dixon and former Houston Zoo director John Werler.

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Oct
26

Water (Snakes), Water (Snakes) Everywhere…

Posted by in Reptiles,Snakes

This is the next in a series on snakes that’s being written for you by The Houston Zoo’s Herpetology Department Supervisor, Judith Bryja. Our Herp Department knows their stuff, and since we get so much interest in snakes, Judith is writing this informative blog series each week just for you!  If you’d like to read the series from the beginning, click here.

Frequenting the same habitat as the venomous water moccasin or cottonmouth, water snakes are numerous in species and numbers. They prefer wooded areas near slow moving water.  Swamps, ponds, marshes, bayous, small streams, even muddy ditches are all places where you can find these snakes. 

Their diet consists mostly of frogs and fish.  Babies are born live usually in the early fall.  They’re excellent swimmers but will spend considerable time on land and sunning themselves on submerged logs.  When swimming (unlike the cottonmouth which holds its head high and with the back visible) the head is held just barely out of the water and the body is mostly submerged. 

Like most snakes, their first reaction to a threat is to get away, but if they cannot, they will vigorously defend themselves by striking and biting and by releasing a foul smelling liquid from their scent glands. There are about 10 species in Texas with about half of them occurring in the Houston area.  We will look at what are probably the 3 most commonly encountered.

The broad banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata confluens)

Color is variable but usually the background is yellow, brown, or even red.  Wide irregular bands of black or brown break up the ground color.  The yellowish belly has random splotches of black/brown.  They have a dark stripe that runs from the eye to the end of the mouth.  Except for brighter colors, babies look the same as adults.  Adult size is 20-30 inches. 

The yellow-bellied water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster)

Color is grey-green (though sometimes darker to almost black).  The back may have indistinct darker crossbars.  The belly is bright yellow as is the area around the mouth.  Babies are heavily patterned and have a pink hue. Average adult size is 24-36 inches.

The diamond-backed water snake (Nerodia rhombifer)

Color is any shade of olive, grey, or brown with dark markings which look sort of like chain link fencing or diamonds (hence the common name).  The belly is yellowish with dark scattered crescent shaped marks.  The head is large and flattened with a distinct neck; this is a good example of why the “triangle shaped” head thing does not work to distinguish venomous from nonvenomous snakes.  Babies look pretty much the same, just brighter.  This is our largest water snake with an average adult size of 30-48 inches.   It is also in general our most cantankerous water snake, not hesitant to get right into the thrashing, striking, biting, spewing stinky stuff part of its defense repertoire. 

At present, we have a broad-banded water snake on exhibit here in the Reptile/Amphibian building right next door to the venomous cottonmouth with which it is often confused.

Come back for the next installment in this Snake Series!

For more information on Texassnakes, Judith has reccomended these two resources: http://www.herpsoftexas.org/ and  The Field Guide to TX Snakes written by James Dixon and former Houston Zoo director John Werler.

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Aug
30

FOTO Friday Winner of the Week!

Posted by in Contest,Funny,Reptiles

Welcome to the Houston Zoo’s FOTO FRIDAY Caption Challenge results post from Friday, August 26 !

This photo is from Zoo Guest Carol Baudat!!

Thanks for this VERY caption worthy shot Carol.

Last Friday, we posted a photo on Facebook and asked you to leave your best caption in the comment section. Then readers could “like” each caption comment to vote for their favorites. Their votes, combined with those of our own panel, determined the caption to appear under the picture right here on the Official Houston Zoo Blog this week. We hope you’ll come back for the fun EVERY FRIDAY.

YOUR VOTES HELP DETERMINE THE WINNERS!

Here is the picture that was posted on Facebook last Friday, with the top voted caption by Kaci Danielle Smith !!! (Croaking our congrats!)

"Ok so there's a boy out there who can talk to snakes and make glass disappear... IS THERE ONE THAT MAYBE SPEAKS ANURA TONGUE!?"

TIE for FIRST RUNNER UP:

Rick Eierdam: Talk to the HAND

Bridget Robbins Haines: Live long, and prosper!

SO MANY FUNNY CAPTIONS- Here are just a few as Honorable Mentions:

Stacey Ricks: And now the famous mime The Golden Amphibian will perform IN A BOX for Houston Zoo Fans!

Erik Burington: Hello Clarisse

Sheila Livingston: Damn, the forcefield’s still intact. One day…

Bryan Skinner: Arrgh…I just can’t get this Hook ‘Em sign down!

Nikki Eddy: I knew I shouldn’t have eaten all those bananas

Jennifer Compte: Where’s Harry Potter when you need him?

Nan Wagoner: You didn’t get the email that today was yellow day?

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

Thanks for joining in the fun!

And please come on back for next Friday!

TXU Energy Presents Chill Out at the Houston Zoo:

Houston summers are hot, but the Houston Zoo is cool. Click here for all our chill activities and tips.

*******

Check out our Facebook page to see the rest of the entries. We hope this brought a smile to your face. And stay tuned for next Friday’s photo! Tell your friends, share this on Facebook, Twitter or your own blogs, and start your office pools to see who can come up with the best lines. (To show the picture and link on your social media, just click the little icons under the title SHARE THIS on the lower left of this post).To find us on Facebook, type in Houston Zoo Inc. in the search field or go to http://www.facebook.com/houstonzoo and become a fan.

 

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Aug
10

Houston Zoo and Amazon.com

Posted by in Enrichment,Events

Do you love to shop?!  The Houston Zoo animals now have a wishlist on Amazon.com!  We all enjoy buying that perfect gift for someone special…..and who’s more special than the animals at the zoo!  I know you’ve often wondered, if I were buying a gift for Jonathan the lion what on earth would he want?  And where would I go to buy it?  What about a baby gift for Aurora the orangutan?  Well today’s your lucky day and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your air conditioned home, yes shopping in the summer without breaking a sweat!!

All of the animals now have brought their needs and wants to you through Amazon.com, just a click away.  Here’s an example of some of the items you can purchase and enrich the lives of your favorite animal.

The Carnivores are asking for boomer balls, catnip and many other items, you know how cats love to wind themselves up on catnip, then start chasing everything in sight!   Like this Jolly Ball available at Amazon.com, peppermint scented!

Horseman's Pride Jolly Ball

The Primates are asking for a Look Lous feeding mirror….hmmmm is that so Rudy orangutan can make sure there are no crumbs on his face when he finishes his favorite breakfast??  Just a click away!

Looky Lou Feeder 14" X 10" Acrylic w/ 3/4" holes (.125 wall) Mirror on one side: 4 in.

Find your favorite animals and see what they’re wishing for at Amazon.com. Then just sit back, shop, click and send your animal of choice a wonderful gift to enrich their life!  They really do appreciate it and so does the Houston Zoo!

Enrichment Day at the Houston Zoo is Saturday, September 24th.  This is a great opportunity to come and join in the fun.  Come out and see all of the animals enjoying special enrichment, hear keeper chats and loads of  fun games for kids of all ages!  Enrichment Day celebrates the meaning and joy of enriching our animals and visitors!

 

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Oct
19

Mysteries of the Komodo Dragon

Posted by in Animal Info,Books,Reptiles

There’s a new book out called Mysteries of the Komodo Dragon, by Marty Crump, Ph.D.  Ff you’re a reptile lover or have visited the Houston Zoo, chances are you’ll recognize one very special dragon featured within its pages — our very own Smaug!

Geared toward 9-11 year-olds, but certain to interest any dragon lover, this book is devoted entirely to the subject. It’s no wonder why — dragons have long inspired myths and legends and been the stuff of folklore for centuries. In modern day, they have scientists equally intrigued because the germs found in their mouths can be both deadly and contain microbes that “may lead to cures for stubborn diseases.”

Smaug, Komodo dragon extraordinaire, poses with the book that features him.

The  world’s largest lizard, the Komodo can weigh up to 200 pounds, be as long as 10 feet, and lives only in a certain area of Indonesia called the Lesser Sunda Islands.  How fantabulous then, that you can visit with Smaug right here, in your own town, at the Houston Zoo!!  You can find the handsome devil just to the right of the Reptile House entry doors.

And if you’re looking for the book, it’s available a mere hop, skip and a jump from our Smaugs’  habitat… at the Zoo ‘s gift shop (members receive 10% discount).  And, a portion of the proceeds from this book will go to the Komodo Survival Program.

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Aug
27

For Goodness Snakes!

Posted by in Reptiles

“These foul and loathsome animals…”

Aruba Island rattlesnake

So wrote Carolus Linnaeus in his description of reptiles in his Systema Naturae published in 1735. In fact, throughout much of human history, snakes have been among the most maligned and persecuted groups of animals.

The unreasonable fear of snakes is quite prevalent in our society and myths and misconceptions abound whenever snakes are brought up in conversation. The general public conception is that snakes are the “enemy” and should be killed on sight. It has been estimated that over 50% of our population exhibit some anxiety or nervousness in the presence of snakes while another 20% are terrified, some to the point where even a picture of a snake can cause severe distress (Werler and Dixon, 2000). Psychologists have coined a term to describe this condition (ophidiophobia) and it is considered to be one of the more difficult fears to overcome. 

The news media also plays a role in shaping this attitude. Most publicity concerning snakes is of a negative nature. Venomous snakebites often receive extensive local media coverage far beyond the actual threat to human life. Rarely is it pointed out that the chances of death from a venomous snakebite are considerably less than the chances of dying from a lightning strike or from an insect bite (Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health).

These fears persist in spite of overwhelming evidence, both scientific and anecdotal, on the important roles that snakes play in a healthy ecosystem. Many scientific articles point to the value of snake species in food chains in temperate and tropical ecosystems. Areas where snakes are removed often display a population explosion of rodents, usually to the detriment of nearby agricultural enterprises. For example, the Chinese news agency has reported that the increased intensive hunting of wild snakes for their meat (which is considered to be a delicacy) and other products used in traditional medicines has resulted in a dramatic increase in the rodent population with devastating consequences for the Chinese farmer.

Canebrake rattlesnake

Out of all snakes, the rattlesnakes probably have received more unjust notoriety and have been persecuted needlessly more than any other group, especially in the United States. It is doubtful that any other animal group is more feared or less understood by the general public. This persecution has reached such a point that, in some states (seven, to be exact), “Rattlesnake Roundups” are a popular fund-raising event for organizations such as the local Chamber of Commerce or the Jaycees. The largest of these roundups is held each March in Sweetwater, Texas and shows no sign of diminishing in spite of recent criticism by many private herpetological organizations, various Audubon societies, and by many animal welfare groups.

Slowly, however, the bad reputation that snakes have had is changing, even when rattlesnakes are involved. This can be seen in the ever-increasing numbers of successful herpetological societies that are being established in North America, and also by the increasing popularity of non-venomous snakes as pets.

The Houston Zoo Herpetology Department also is involved in educating people about snakes. Despite the fear that many people feel for snakes, there is, at the same time, a fascination about them and a strong desire to see both non-venomous and venomous snakes up close in a non-threatening environment. This desire is especially strong in the state of Texas, which has more species of snakes (both venomous and non-venomous) than any other state in the Union.

To meet this need, the zoo maintains a large proportion of snakes in its reptile collection. Twenty eight exhibits in the Herpetology building are devoted to venomous snakes of which nine are reserved for different species of rattlesnakes. Sixteen other exhibits are devoted to non-venomous snakes. Over each set of exhibits is a flat-screen monitor which displays a picture of the species, its range, and an interesting fact about the animal.

So, the next time you come to the zoo, be sure to visit the Reptile Building and check out our snakes and learn about this fascinating group of animals!

References:

Werler, John E., and James R. Dixon. 2000. Texas Snakes: Identification,   Distribution, and Natural History. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.

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Jul
12

Meet the Staff: Phyllis Pietrucha-Mays

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Commissary,Featured,Keepers,Meet the Staff

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Section: Commissary- Commissary Supervisor
Quote: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”-Charles Darwin. 
Special Interests/ Hobbies:
Anything outside. I like being active, working out and hiking around our property looking for herps. 
Interesting Facts:
In the 1980’s I had a job where I’d dress up in costume and go to grocery stores to hand out free samples.  I’ve dressed up as a lobster, Mr. Keebler, Twinkie the Kid and the Cookie Monster.  I even dressed as a Gorilla once for Zoo Ball.  

Favorite Animal:
Turtles and tortoises, I have about 30 at my house.  One of my favorites was named Tank, a Sulcata tortoise.  Someone had found him at the Galena Park dump and we brought him home.     

How long have you worked at the Houston Zoo?
I have been here 26 years!  I worked as a docent volunteer before I became a keeper.  When I was hired on, I worked in animal departments for 5 years including the Reptile building, Hoofstock, Primates and the Small Mammal building (now Natural Encounters).  I worked on the Houston Toad Project when it was first established in the early 1980’s.  I have now worked in the commissary 21 years.    

Phyllis loads grain in one of the zoo's expansive walk in freezers.

What made you want to become a zookeeper?
As a child I had an interest in anything having to do with animals and I was always picking up strays.  After working as a keeper for awhile, I moved on to the commissary and really got to see the business side of the zoo.   

How would you describe your job duties?
I am in charge of the staff that prepares food for the animals.  I order food for all the animals from our vendors and also have to drive to various places to pick up special food items.  I also manage the diet changes for the animals to make sure we have enough food in stock.   

What is a typical day like working in the commissary?
Each day is different.  The animals eat different things every day, so the diet preparation changes every day.       

What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?
I have a 2 year certification from Houston Community College’s Veterinary Technician program.      

What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?
Start as a volunteer, even as a teenager.  I have hired a lot of former volunteers.      

What is your favorite animal story?
When the zoo used to have koalas our supplier for eucalyptus was in Phoenix, Arizona.  Usually the eucalyptus was flown to the zoo.  Soon after September 11, 2001 all flights were grounded, but the koalas needed their eucalyptus! Our supplier was kind enough to meet us halfway, so I drove to El Paso, TX to pick it up! That was the longest drive I have had to take  to pick up food for our animals.      

To learn more about volunteering at the Houston Zoo visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/volunteer/!
There are numerous career paths to choose from at the Houston Zoo!  To learn more about non-keeper careers, visit Leigh’s blog or the Houston Zoo’s Career page!    

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