The Cold Blooded News

The Newsletter of the Colorado Herpetological Society

Volume 28, Number 7; July, 2001

Colorado Division of Wildlife -- Press Release -- June 26,2001 Reptiles And Amphibians Featured in Division of Wildlife Pamphlet

Colorado's creepy crawly critters are featured in a Division of Wildlife pamphlet released last month describing the conservation status of reptiles and amphibians.

Reptiles and amphibians -- collectively called "herptiles" or "herpetofauna" -- are important members of Colorado's diverse animal communities, said Chuck Loeffler, herptile coordinator for the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

"Compared to the birds and mammals they are under-appreciated and somewhat misunderstood," Loeffler said. "Although people have become more aware of and concerned about these species -- especially the amphibians -- as a result of all the press about the worldwide problem of amphibian population declines -- many of these species are still persecuted."

Currently available at all Division of Wildlife service centers, the updated pamphlet describes the diversity of herptile species in Colorado. Despite Colorado's cold climate, the state is host to 26 snake species, 18 species of lizard, 17 species of frogs and toads, five species of turtles and one species of salamander -- 67 species in all.

"With the exception of the rattlesnake, the 26 species of snakes in Colorado are not harmful to people, and are actually beneficial in many ways, such as in helping to control rodent populations," Loeffler said. "Even rattlesnakes don't go out of their way to harm people. In fact, they usually do their best to avoid people, and only strike when threatened or surprised."

Many of Colorado's herptile species have limited distribution; many are rare or of unknown status. The Division of Wildlife is conducting surveys to obtain more information on the distribution and status of these species.

One species of herptile, the boreal toad, is classified as "endangered" by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The Division is engaged efforts to protect and restore the boreal toad in its native range throughout most of the mountainous areas of Colorado.

Nongame herptiles are protected species and their taking or harassment is prohibited except with a special license for scientific or educational purposes. Prior to 1998, regulations allowed live take and possession of up to six individuals of any amphibian and reptile species in Colorado, with the exception of threatened or endangered species and rattlesnakes. Regulations changed in 1998 such that up to four of each of the following species, but not more than 12 in total, may be held in captivity:

Plain's spadefoot

Spea bombifrons

Woodhouse's toad

Bufo woodhousii

Western chorus frog

Pseudacris triseriata

Painted turtle

Chrysemys picta

Western box turtle

Terrapene ornata

Sagebrush lizard

Sceloporus graciosus

Tree lizard

Urosaurus ornatus

Side-blotched lizard

Uta sansburiana

Prairie and plateau lizards

Sceloporus undulatus

Bullsnake or gopher snake

Pituophis catenifer

Western terrestrial garter snake

Thamnophis elegans

Plains garter snake

Thamnophis radix

Lesser earless lizard

Holbrookia maculata

Western whiptail

Cnemidophorus tigris

Racer

Coluber constrictor

Western hognose snake

Heterodon nasicus.

Loeffler cautions that taking a native herptile from the wild as a pet is a serious enterprise. "The first thing people should be aware of is which species are and are not legal to possess or take from the wild. Also, they should be aware of the fact that most of these animals have very specific needs and requirements to survive and stay healthy. My advice is do some thorough research before acquiring any animals for captive possession, to make sure you're ready, willing and able to properly care for them. Some species, such as turtles, can carry pathogens which are transmissible to humans, and care needs to be taken to prevent infection."

There are many non-native herptiles, often from tropical and subtropical regions, that are bred and sold as pets. In general, these species are not at all likely to establish themselves in Colorado causing ecological problems. However, there is one species that is prohibited for the danger it poses to native species: the green frog (Rana clamitans).

"I would give the same precautions for taking non-native herptiles," Loeffler said. "Also be aware that some of these animals, such as, caimens and iguanas, can be dangerous -- especially as they get older and larger."

The Division of Wildlife classifies all but three of Colorado's native herptiles as "nongame species". Colorado's three native game species are the tiger salamander, the prairie rattlesnake and the common snapping turtle. There is one non-native game species of herptile, the bullfrog.

Bullfrogs are native only to eastern and central North America, but they have been introduced into ecosystems worldwide. They have caused ecological problems around the world by competing with and preying on native amphibians. Since the bullfrog was introduced to Colorado in the early 1900s, there have been reductions in the abundance of the native plains leopard frog and the northern cricket frogs.

Loeffler implores people to understand and respect reptiles and amphibians as an important component of our natural environment. "Treat them with the same respect as you would the more charismatic fauna, such as the birds and mammals," Loeffler said. "Leave them in their natural habitats, where they belong, and do what you can to protect those habitats."

For more information on Colorado's colorful amphibians and reptiles, refer to the Division of Wildlife pamphlet, Colorado's Amphibians & Reptiles Species Regulations Information. For a comprehensive field guide, refer to Geoffery Hammerson's, Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado. Both are available at Division of Wildlife service centers, and Hammerson's book is available at most bookstores.