Posted by:
Godfrey
at Thu Oct 7 17:39:35 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Godfrey ]
I'm just getting back around to the forum. First and foremost I am not a commercial collector of anything. I have a big problem with those who remove reptiles from the wild indiscriminately for financial gain. Some snakes are sold for as little as two or three dollars each. This is an insult to the animals we enjoy and respect. I am fortunate to have a job that allows me to be outdoors every day in some very pristine wetland habitat. I see snakes, turtles, frogs, etc. every day during the warmer months which is most of the year here in coastal South Carolina. It is not uncommon for me to photograph animals in the field, but I also bring some home to get better photos. I would love to see this Eastern thrive in captivity. The problem is it most likely will not eat anything other than toads, and I simply cannot harm a toad. I actually caught one with the intentions of scenting a pinky, and ultimately feeding the hognose if scenting does not work. I have the toad in a terrarium with some hatchling spotted turtles. I caught a few moths last night and fed it. The chances of the toad meeting the hognose went out the window! In over forty years of herping I have taken very few animals from the wild. I have stopped and removed countless animals from the roads and converted many people from thinking "The only good snake is a dead snake." So please, before you call someone out for taking a snake from the wild ask a few questions and find out some facts. I have spent almost a lifetime as an ambassador for reptiles. On the other hand I am glad to see people standing up for the animals.
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RE: W/C eastern Hognose - Red Phase - Godfrey, Thu Oct 7 17:39:35 2010