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Reptile-Sniffing Dogs Become Research Assistants to Help the Saint Louis Zoo Save Box Turtles People 5/7/2021 These dogs have a nose for reptiles. "Turtle Whisperer," John Rucker and his seven turtle-detecting Boykin spaniels recently helped the Saint Louis Zoo survey their shelled neighbors. After hearing about him from colleagues at the University of Illinois Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, the zoo reached out to Rucker for assistance with a study at their new 425-acre WildCare Park. "We are studying a disease called ranavirus that is known to cause mortality in box turtles. We recently fo...

Sedalia Council Amends Food Truck Ordinance The Sedalia City Council on Monday night modified provisions regarding the licensure of mobile food vendors (food trucks) operating in the City of Sedalia. A three-day license will be offered to those who don't want to pay for an annual license. A three-day license will cost $25. In addition, the Council in the Public Works Committee: *Amended an agreement with MC Power Companies, Inc., to limit a performance bond to construction only. The amendment was requested by the bonding company. *Approved a contract with MC Power Companies, Inc., for $18,804...

In order to preserve a species threatened by an infectious disease, Saint Louis Zoo scientists have hired an elite team of sleuths—turtle-hunting dogs. Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park is a 425-acre site christened last year to be used as part of the zoo’s extensive conservation programming. Last week, seven Boykin spaniels began sniffing for three-toed box turtles, a species that has been in decline due to development—but, recently, due to an emerging pathogen called Ranavirus. Not much is known about the disease. It affects turtles, fish, and amphibians, but is particularly fatal in box ...

St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park hired an elite team of turtle-hunting spaniels trained by John Rucker—to find three-toed box turtles in danger.

The St. Louis Zoo has hired John Rucker and his team of Boykin Spaniels that are specially-trained to locate turtles in an effort to survey the local turtle population. The study is specifically attempting to identify the effects of the Ranavirus, which was recently discovered in the native Three Toed Box Turtle. David Kovaluk / St. Louis Public Radio Originally published on April 22, 2021 8:03 am Three-toed box turtles are hard to spot with the naked eye, but a finely tuned nose can often do the trick. That's why researchers with the St. Louis Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Healt...