Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Winter 2008-09 Newsletter (Plain HTML)

A downloadable PDF version of this document is also available.

In This Issue

  1. MW Annual Meeting
  2. MW PARC Bioblitz
  3. Newly Redesigned website
  4. Task Team Updates
  5. Upcoming meetings of interest
  6. Keep in touch with MW PARC

MW Annual Meeting

Seventy people from across the Midwest assembled in Blue Grass, Iowa to attend the 2008 annual meeting of MWPARC. Noted author and amphibian conservation expert, Raymond Semlitsch gave the keynote address for the meeting, which focused on moving beyond identifying the problems and on to implementation of solutions.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the silent auction which raised a record $600+ for MW PARC! A big thanks to all those who volunteered to make the meeting a success. Minutes from the annual meeting are available at: http://www.mwparc.org/meetings/.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2009 annual MW PARC meeting, to be held August 13-15 at the Howell Nature Center in Howell, Michigan.

MW PARC Bioblitz

Thirty-four people braved the cold (60°F) rain (nonstop) to participate in the PARC Bioblitz within the Iowa Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Area (ARCA). People were divided into 3 teams, upland, riverine, and wetland, each of which visited a different set of properties in 2 counties. Federal, state, non-profit, and private properties were visited. Even with the extremely unseasonable weather (20° below average temps), a total of 18 species were documented with the upland group finding the majority with 13 species, the wetland group documenting 12 species, and the river group finding 9 species. The final list included: smallmouth salamander, northern leopard frog, plains leopard frog, southern leopard frog, green frog, bullfrog, chorus frog, cricket frog, American toad, painted turtle, red-eared slider, map turtle (Dead on road), snapping turtle, northern water snake, Dekay’s brown snake, eastern garter snake, red-sided garter snake, and ribbon snake. Each participant on the winning team received a 2008 Midwest PARC meeting T-shirt.

Newly redesigned website

MWPARC is proud to announce the launch of our new website: http://www.mwparc.org. Thanks to PARC member Brian Edmond for volunteering to develop and maintain the site.

Task Team Updates

Midwest Habitat Management Guidelines

MW PARC was the first to complete Habitat Management Guidelines for their region. Now out of print, the guidelines are still available for viewing and download http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm.

We are now in the process of expanding and updating these guidelines. The HMG update is being led by Bruce Kingsbury (Indiana Purdue University) and is expected to be printed by the end of 2008. You are encouraged to pre-order your copy at: http://www.mwparc.org/products/habitat/.

White Papers

MWPARC is currently working on developing white papers for two topics of concern for conservation of Midwest amphibians and reptiles. Task teams are developing these papers on the topics of “fire and herps” and “raccoons and herps.” Meant to give a quick overview of concerns and recommendations, these white papers will be available on our website at: http://www.mwparc.org/products/.

State Wildlife Action Plans

Also known as comprehensive wildlife conservation strategies, State Wildlife Action plans are congressionally mandated proactive plans to conserve wildlife and natural areas before they become more rare and costly to protect. Each state and territory was charged with completing a plan. The actions identified within each state’s plan are being implemented in part through the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program.

MWPARC has undertaken a review of all the amphibian and reptile species in the Midwestern states, their status in the State Wildlife Action Plans, and habitat and actions identified as important for their conservation. In addition, a task team will be utilizing this information to prioritize species conservation needs across the region. You can read more about the State Wildlife Action Plans at http://www.wildlifeactionplans.org/. Be sure to join the MWPARC Google group to be kept up-to-date on this task team.

Turtle Regulations

Responding to discussions and concerns raised at the 2008 annual meeting, MWPARC is working to compile all of the state regulations governing the harvest of turtles in the Midwest. The final product, a table of regulations by state, will be posted at: http://www.mwparc.org/products/.

Upcoming Meetings

Keep In Touch with MW PARC

Membership to MW PARC is free. If you or someone you know would like to be a part of MW PARC, please join our Google group at: http://groups.google.com/group/MW_PARC. Note that this is not a discussion group. You will only receive occasional e-mail updates from the co-chairs.