KUSA (Denver, Colorado) 09 May 08 Colo. backs off advice on euthanizing amphibians, reptiles (Jeffrey Wolf)
Denver (AP): The Colorado Division of Wildlife apologized Friday for offering advice on how to euthanize frogs, salamanders, goldfish or even baby alligators after hearing from the American Veterinarian Medical Association.
Concerns over nonnative frogs being released into the wild prompted the department to advise residents earlier this week to carefully consider how to get rid of unwanted amphibians or reptiles.
If a good home couldn't be found for unwanted critters, the department said, freezing them would put them in a hibernation sleep state before they die.
After the medical association said it does not support freezing reptiles and amphibians as a humane way of euthanizing, the state wildlife division said it apologized for "suggesting an inappropriate method of euthanasia."
It insisted residents should find a taker for unwanted pets and that "euthanizing unwanted animals should only be done as a measure of last resort."
http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=91490
VAIL DAILY (Colorado) 07 May 08 Colorado knows how to kill frogs
Denver, Colorado: Ever wonder how to humanely kill a frog, salamander, goldfish or even a baby alligator? The Colorado Division of Wildlife has the answer: Freeze them.
Concerns over non-native frogs being released into the wild prompted a wildlife official to advise residents Wednesday to carefully consider how to get rid of unwanted amphibians or reptiles that were pets or part of a school project.
Tina Jackson, a herptile specialist with the Division of Wildlife, said non-native frogs could introduce diseases and compete with native frogs, harming the local species.
If a good home can't be found for unwanted critters, Jackson said, freezing them puts them in a hibernation sleep state before they die.
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20080507/NEWS/259173185
