Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry to hear the bad news. The only positive thing that can come out of this is, no more commercial collecting, everything else is bad. I have not read all of the posts and replies. However, if this hasn't been suggested it might be a good idea.

What about contacting the Universities? Isn't basically because of all your efforts, that we have any idea about these creatures at all? If it wasn't for all of your efforts and hard earned $$$ going to this cause, wouldn't there be a lot less data than there already is. How much of your field herping actually consists of collecting data and valuable information? Can or would the Universities collaborate on your behalf? Pursue it on the basis, that the state is stopping progress in valuable biological research. Without this information we will not know if populations are stressed, declining, increasing, etc... There will be no more observance of this creature, meaning finding alterations in color, hybridization, basically the overall evolution of this creature will no longer be reported and long forgotten. The Universities have a lot of clout. Good luck!

I thought Texas was a conservative state, I guess not.

Since A&M, UT, and UTA are all state agencies, they may fall under the "no lobbying clause" mentioned below. At least one curator from one of the above institutions is willing to chime in against the bill, but has to wait and see how his bosses at the university interpret the "no lobbying clause". Hopefully, we'll know by this afternoon.

Troy

The best way to attach this problem is to not miss any angles... Troy, I hope that they can express that opinion about this new legislation and show how it will impact their continued ability to collect scientific data on populations. I know I have pickled a few road kills in my days that are in those collections...

I seem to remember a comment from Chris Harrison about a researcher in Mexico made the comment (in jest) that a species he was working on only seemed to occur along roadways. This was because all the collecting data was from road kills and road collecting... Texas has the same method to gather data, at least for now.

Lance

If the universities rule that they can't comment in their official capacities, then at least two of them can comment as officers of the Texas Herpetological Society (because one is the current President and the other is the current Vice President). Once the Official Letter from the THS has been sent out (probably as we speak), I will post it.

I'll probably also know what the ruling by the universities is by the end of the day.

Troy

I am not a member of the TX Herp Soc. but this has got me thinking that all of us, out of staters included, should become members. The larger the number of members the THS has the more influence they will have on matters like this.