return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
 
click here for  Animal Specialties
This Space Available
3 months for $50.00
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: Hognose . . . . . . . . . .  Iberian Snub-nosed Vipers, Vipera latastei ssp. . . . . . . . . . .  Exoticon Pet Expo Fishersville VA - March 25, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  East Coast Reptile Super Expo - Mar. 25, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  All Maryland Reptile Show - Apr. 01, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  Richmond Reptile Expo - Apr. 08, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  Exoticon Pet Expo Chesapeake - April 08-09, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  Northern Virginia Reptile Show - Apr. 15, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  Exoticon Pet Expo Salisbury MD - April 22, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  All Maryland Reptile Show - May 06, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  East Coast Reptile Super Expo - May 13, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .  Reptiles At The York Expo Center - May 20, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . 

full banner - advertise here .50¢/1000 views
click here for Rodent Pro
pool banner - $50 year

Texas reptile rescues?

[ Login ] [ User Prefs ] [ Search Forums ] [ Back to Main Page ] [ Back to Rescue Discussion ] [ Reply To This Message ]
[ Register to Post ]

Posted by: herp_whisperer at Sun Aug 13 02:12:23 2006  [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by herp_whisperer ]  
   

Hi folks
I've been involved with reptiles for about 30 years now, from rattlesnake milking to...you name it. Back in the late 80's, I inadvertently ended up running a rescue facility.
My wife and kids and I just returned to my native Texas after 7 years in herp-free Alaska, and as soon as the local vets knew I was back, they began asking if I was going to start the rescue up again- while I'm happy that herps have become more mainstream, apparently the number of large abandoned reptiles has increased dramatically. I used to keep giant pythons, so I know what's involved very well, but I'm noticing a distinct change in both local laws and attitudes. We're in the process of purchasing a 100 acre property here in South Texas, where we'll live and probably breed a few critters (My wife wants to breed Bearded dragons, and I want to try Diamond pythons this time), and take in difficult-to-place herps.
Does anyone out there currently operate a rescue in Texas, and if so, would you mind sharing a bit about your current experience? I hope to focus on large snakes/monitors primarily, as it seems few if any rescues in the area will accept snakes over 12' or monitors over 4'..but from my last experience, I have no doubt we'll end up taking in any herp we have room for. (I'm dreading the infamous Iguana invasion)
I have no illusions about placing these critters- although it's sometimes possible to place large fellows with zoos or the like, it isn't common. These guys will probably be with us for most of our lives- we are aware of that. We're going to convert a large shop building on the property to a large reptile enclosure, with shift cages, etc. I just don't want to see massive numbers of Burms and retics euthanized, like Florida is doing. I'm an old softie, I guess.

Any experiences will be appreciated!

Thanks,
James


   

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]