I still don't get it. If someone actually has a genuine interest in finding out what kinds of snakes are harmless and what kinds are not, they can just as easily consult a field guide.



This is a good point, for someone who owns a field guide. If a non-herper is curious, they aren't likely to go out and buy a field guide or go to the library or bookstore to look it up. And furthermore, even if they did consult a field guide, they would still be faced with the problem that they might not be exactly sure about their ID. By posting here, they get a much cheaper, more convenient, and more trustworthy identification.



It's like going on to a bird watching forum with a picture of a dead raptor you just shot and asking if it posed a threat to your chickens. I'm sure you'd have a lot of angry bird watchers out there.



Yes, it is. You would get a bunch of hot head birders who would flame you and call you ignorant, etc., then you would get some more thoughtful birders who would identify the animal and suggest that it wasn't really necessary to kill it, without resorting to insults. Same thing as happens here.

For the record, the person who shot the hawk would also be guilty of a federal crime, unlike the person that kills most snakes.



I'm not suggesting that we flame every person who comes on here with a picture of a dead snake. If we can show our distaste for this kind of ignorant behavior while at the same time making an attempt to point the person in the right direction, we stand a chance to make more of an impact.



I don't have any problem whatsoever with identifying the animal and suggesting to the person that it wasn't necessary to kill the snake. We could suggest that next time they try and get a photo of the live snake and we could ID that.

We can also express our disappointment that the animal had to die, but I think we cross the line when we flame the person who simply came here for information.



We should welcome the opportunity to educate the public-at-large, not spit on them because we don't like the fact that they killed a snake. And if you read the posts, they almost always regret having to kill the snake.



As I said, we should view this forum as an opportunity to educate non-herpers so that maybe a few less snakes get the hatchet. But if we instead choose to malign and insult those who come here for help, what is the point of this forum?
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Chris Harrison

San Antonio, Texas

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