Over 20+ years I've been seriously involved in the herp community with almost most of that time spent in the field all over the western United States and Mexico. During this time I have given several animals away that I have collected or breed (I breed allot of stuff as well) to friends (?) / people who have asked for them. Needless to say the majority of it was for their commercial gain and sold behind my back. A few years ago I quit all together collecting herps for people because of this. I still give away many CB herps a year and get burned by herpers still. With CB herps it's not that big of a deal with me. I just won't ever give anything to that person again. But, with wild-caught stuff it bugs me.



This year I've averaged 3-4 days a week in the field since Jan traveling and herping in several states and I have 3 more months to go before I'm done. Out of all the herps I've found this year I have not collected one for myself. I've seen 74 zonata (5 different sub-species) and 82 Rosy boas (All subspecies) and have not kept one. A friend asked me if I could help him out with pairing up a certain king snake (non protected or endangered) from a certain locale he needed and I broke my "no collecting WC herps for people" rule and did. He asked for a female. So I collected the female which was young and also a second one which was an adult ( I mis sexed the bigger one, actually I didn't look at the tail...ooppps) and sent the snakes too him. He still got his female he asked for.



He received the snakes and was very happy about the gifts and also informed me the bigger snake was a male but, no big deal he really liked it and wanted to keep it. Today while browsing the classifieds I found this snake for sale. Nothing is mentioned about it being WC either. This is the exact reason why I don't collect snakes for people anymore. That snake belongs in the wild, not exploited. I've done business with him once (he bought some CB kings from me last year) and all was well. I've never had a problem with the guy and I like him. However, his reputation with several is flawed concerning collection ands sale of WC herps on a large scale. I always give the benefit of the doubt and have to see it first hand before I judge. Now I have seen it first hand and should have sticked to my own policy on not giving WC herps away. Personally, I really don't care what he does in the field as that's his business. If he didn't want the snake it should have been given back.



I have to say I'm pissed at myself for collecting the king and giving it away but, I'm also not happy with what he did. I know he reads this forum and will see this. It's not my intention to drag his name through the dirt. I have no time for nonsense. However, after having this type of scenario happen to me on far too many occasions I decided to say something about it for once. I really aim to try and believe people in general are good, straight, honest people. The herp community has changed that in many aspects. Is it unbelievable? or is it not?



PL

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