I used to raise box turtles outside in a more or less farm raised type way. I would take any eggs inside to hatch them as I saw them being laid or found them right after being laid. The ones I did not find had a low hatch rate due to the fire ants getting to them. Some I would find at the end of the year before Fall temps got too cool. I would dig the dirt up so the turtles could go down for the winter. I found quite a few egg shells empty with ant holes in them. Some has small turtle bones in them.
If you go herping where fire ants are not as bad you find way higher numbers of herps. On the other hand go herping where fire ants are bad and even in places where there should be lots of herps there are few to none.
I am more than sure the fire ants are a way bigger threat to herps than we even may know.
Another reason to support captive breeding and keeping of pure types of reptiles. In the future who knows if they will still be there or not?
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

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