Phil,

Again, more put downs? Are your points and argument so weak that all you can do is put me down? Are you so blinded by the agenda and your ego that you can’t explain?

If my logic is so flawed then why not explain why it is flawed? C’mon big man explain it! I explained where you can find, read and confirm my point about the agenda of many academics and agency biologists. I didn’t give any exact citations but they are out there. Field guides are a good place to start. Read the introduction sections and see if you can find any negative, anti-private statements. “Like keep a pet for a few weeks and then release it.” Or “commercial collection may be a cause for species decline.” Hello? Where’s your data Mr. Academic. It is these off the cuff statements w/o supporting data that I have a problem with. And these types of statements permeate many books and papers. And the book and paper isn’t even about commercial harvest. This is pushing an agenda. This is trying to foster a negative belief and/or pushing negative propaganda.

Peoples experiences are not in any books or papers. We have brains and can see for ourselves. We are the ones that are affected by these laws not academics. I know there are some academics who keep, breed and commerce in herps but a large majority don’t. Keeping one or two herps is not being a herpetoculturalist. Also some of the academics keep and acquire their herps under their scientific permits so they are not affected by the laws and regs the rest of us have to follow.

You didn’t like my data? Well check out the field guides and see what you can find. I don’t have the time at the moment to work up a list of the papers and books that have agenda in them. My point was that it is pretty common so it shouldn’t be that hard to find in just about anything you pick up.

My work experience? I have way more work experience then you Mr. Phil. I have an AS in Zoo Animal Technology and a BS in Wildlife Science and right this moment I am completing my MS in Environmental Policy and Management with a GIS Certificate. I am the former head of the Herpetology Department at the Central Florida Zoo. I have worked on many wildlife field projects with Reed Noss, Dan Smith, Perran Ross, Ray Ashton, Katie Greenberg and Robert Makowsky. I have been herping all of my life and been a professionally herpetologist for about 20 years. I have taken classes from Steve Tilley, Alvin Braswell and Hal Heatwole to name a few. I have been working for myself for the past two years collecting specimens, breeding herps and working on research projects with UNC, Dr. Dennis Parmaley and other academics. I also work with Med Toxin Venom Lab in Deland, Florida. I have 12 new county records published for Florida and 5 on the way from Alabama. Dr. Dan Smith and myself are STILL working on our eastern indigo and gopher tortoise telemetry papers for peer-reviewed publication. So yea I have plenty of experience. Phil, open mouth insert foot.

Just because we have differing opinions doesn’t mean that I am flawed or crazy. Your whole argument, it seems, was trying to belittle and slam me. Oh and the proven wrong argument about many academics being agenda pushers. You offered little evidence to prove your points. And I thought you were a scientist? And by being your caustic self proved parts of my argument, thanks!

This little debate is a prime example of the disconnect between academics, PARCers, agency biologists and those that support them and private stakeholders. This is what needs to be fixed and mended so we can come together and work on fair, reasonable, win/win herp regs. So we can conserve all herp species for future generations

Welkerii
El Paso, TX

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