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DNR PUBLIC MEETING ON PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL REINTRODUCTION OF NORTHERN PINESNAKES TO POCOMOKE STATE FOREST, WORCESTER COUNTY

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposed experimental reintroduction of northern pinesnakes (Pituophis m. melanoleucus) to Pocomoke State Forest, Worcester County. The meeting, hosted by Towson University's Biology Department, will be held
Saturday March 3rd at 1 PM
in Smith Hall (Smith 326)
on the Towson University campus.

Formal presentations will be followed by sessions to solicit public comment. Those unable to attend this meeting may send written comments to: Glenn Therres, Associate Director, DNR Wildlife & Heritage Service, Tawes State Office Building E-1, Annapolis, MD 21401. Citizens may also call 410-260-8540 or toll-free in Maryland at 1-877-620-8DNR, ext. 8540.
Comments may also be sent by fax to (410)-260-8596, or via e-mail to customerservice@dnr.state.md.us.

Public comments on the proposed project will be accepted until 4 PM, Friday March 16.

Speakers

Robert Zappalorti, Herpetological Associates, Inc.: The ecology & natural history of the northern pinesnake.

Dr. William Grogan, Salisbury University: Pinesnake records for Maryland & Delaware: Is this a "native" snake?

Dr. Richard Seigel, Towson University: Relocations and reintroductions: Still an experiment or ready for use in the real world?

Scott Smith, Maryland DNR: Pinesnake survey projects by DNR and partners: the path to reintroduction.

Directions to Towson University

1) Follow the Baltimore-Washington Beltway north and east towards Towson till you reach the exit for York Rd, Rt. 45 South (Exit 27)

2) Take York Rd South about 0.5 mi., passing a McDonalds and then a Ford dealership on your right; just past the Ford dealership you will see a sign at a traffic light for "Rt. 45 South- Towson By-Pass": make a Right on this light (the right hand lane is right turn only).

3) Follow the Rt. 45 South Towson By-Pass about 1.0 miles till you go under a pedestrian walkway with the Burkshire Hotel on your left; you will then reach York Rd again (the by-pass goes around downtown Towson): make a Right onto York Rd South

4) The University will now be on your right; Follow York Rd. South ca 0.3-mi. past one traffic light till you see a large information sign for Towson University; there will be a small road going uphill just before the sign; make a Right onto this road (Glen Drive). (If you reach a second traffic light at "Bill Bateman's Restaurant" you have gone too far).

5) Smith Hall is at the end of Glen Drive, about 0.2 mi from York Rd. There is (limited) parking along the road and near Smith Hall. The best bet for parking will be in the lot on your left as you make the turn from York Rd.

http://wwwnew.towson.edu/main/abouttu/visitor/dircampus.asp

....what exactly was the purpose of that?
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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

For what? The meeting, or the experimental reintroduction? I was just forwarding a notice that I thought some Kingsnake members might find of interest. The public is welcome at the meeting.

Katrina

probably best to leave out the details re:location of the project,don't you think?i get the feeling those involved with the meeting would actually have prefferred it not be posted here at all;not sure if i blame them either-sad,but true.
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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702260306

It's been publicly published - DNR issued the press release.

Personally, I'd like to see them spend money on the tiger salamander - which is likely now extinct in MD but DID have a healthy breeding population here 25 years ago in at least one location - rather than an animal that likely hasn't been here in many decades. It would be cheaper to upgrade the last known (and protected on state-owned lands) salamander breeding pond than the snake project.

Also, if the pine snake is introduced, what happens to all of those who currently keep pine snakes in MD? Right now they're not even listed on the MD native species permit list - you don't have to have a permit to have one. If they are introduced, would they then be considered state endangered until populations are high enough to upgrade the status?

I'm all for head-starting and keeping native species where they belong, but I think it could be money better spent else where.

Katrina

Why are they releasing animals in a place where they have become "extinct?" Have they done any studies on what made them extinct in the first place? That problem has to be determined and solved before they go releasing a speicies in an area that that became extinct in. They would probably be more successful if they released them to herp breeders in Maryland!!

Dan

hasn't this been tried with ruthveni in la???.....what age snakes are they releasing???....i know some of those folks speaking i might just show up to hear their speculations......justin ...call me....maybe we'll show up as the pituiophis thugs.....it would be interesting to hear their thuoghts on whether or not this will be a successful reintroduction...if indeed these were native there.........

enough of all this razzle-dazzle enviromental thinktank banter-let's post some pretty pictures!lol....just kidding;yeah katrina i know it's been publicized.....and while i agree there are other logical choices of herp species in maryland just as deserving-if not more so-of a state funded shot in the arm,this project's supposedly pretty simple and low-cost.true,there's not more than a handful of records of pituophis ever ocurring in md;but the reason they're gone is habitat destruction-delmarva is pretty prime for growing stuff like soybeans and beachcondos.

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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

We spend too much time trying to "Fix" nature when alls we do is screw it up more.
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-J.Hill

...the only sensible solution is fully within our capabilties,too-to cut back/try to eliminate the damage done in the first place(that way you don't have to try to figure out how to 'undo' it)....had a casual coversation over lunch today with a local friend,in fact a recent/former k'snake frequenter...all i could do was roll my eyes and shake my head when he casually tossed out the line "just let her have a couple of your kids,that's what she wants,right?"...just sounded way too casual,like giving her fifty bucks or something.i started in on my overpopulation rant,but sometimes(rarely) i just don't have the energy to argue about it.
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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

Yep. Some people just don't realize that a person doesn't HAVE to have children. I figure if you've procreated, you don't have a right to complain about traffic conjestion.

Katrina