>>I know in Massachusetts that you are allowed to capture and keep up to 2 (or is it 3) specimens of any non-listed herp. They may not be sold.

What do you do with offspring, if breeding them?

I never read anything about releasing them. I would highly discourage releasing any animals in an location other than the one they were found.

I somewhat agree with this viewpoint. The problem we have is that the snakes we are called to capture are found in the middle of housing additions, where if they aren't relocated, they wind up dead. I know of several studies which show that rattlesnakes don't "do well" when relocated, so I've promised to personally eat the next big rattler I get out of someone's yard. The little ones will still be released, because it is my opinion that even if the snake itself doesn't fare well, it may wind up being dinner for something else, which is of more benefit to the local ecosystem than throwing its decapitated carcass into the dumpster.

I also would not release animals that have been exposed to exotic herps or birds.
>>This is how disease can be introduced.

I agree, with the replacement of "exotic" with "any other." The animals I capture on calls don't come into contact with my personal herps, even if they're local.

My REAL beef is with folks that catch herps in the spring, keep them all summer, then release them in the fall. I think the Boy Scouts still advocate keeping herps for 30 days to observe their habits etc. for their Herpetology merit badge, for example.

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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

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