The branches of government that deal w/ the animal industry in OH seems to think herpers are "underground" criminals "second only to the drug ring" - as they were quoted in the paper. They have went out of there way to entrap us - not work with us in conserving our native animals. They have failed to realize that the majority of us keep & breed animals in captivity to relieve the pressure of collecting animals in the field. Who wants to buy a parasitized wild Black Ratsnake for $5 when you can buy a captive bred & born animal for $15. They don't care if it is Albino , Leucistic, Licorice Stick or any other morph that IS NOT found in the wild. If by some miracle one of these "freaks" were found in the wild, it surely would be preyed upon. States out west make that distinction & from what I've heard, the people who work DNR & F & G out there are more understanding of a caregiver's intent. In the Mid-west, we are the enemy - not fellow conservationalists.

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