Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Please read this paper by Painter, Fitzgerald and others about the herp trade in the Chihuahuan Desert.

http://www.worldwildlife.org/trade/pubs/chihuahuan_desert.pdf

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

Mike, this should be forwarded to HH's office as well as our allies in the legislature. No real surprises here for most of us-but it could be eye-opening for them.

Brad Chambers

Brad,

Will do. Who are our allies in the legislature? If you don't want to put it on the public forum then see email addy below.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX
915-595-8831
OHI2007@elp.rr.com

that aint no paper, its a book. Ill start reading it hear in a little bit.
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South Texas Herps

Yea, but it's a good one.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

Have only skimmed through, but it looks like they put a lot time and resources into this study.

I think it should be more widely distributed to the legislators and TP&W. However I have doubts on a few of them giving this any time or consideration to begin with in light of their personal agendas.

Lance

But it IS DATA. Something our opposition is sorely lacking!

Brad Chambers

I am reading this paper, and i belive that it is highly favorable to our cause. It shows low impact that regular herpers have on populations, and even the commerical guys have low impact. Some of the imformation in it is very neat....

Eric
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herper'.

What a great find! It would have the greatest impact on the legislators if it was presented to them by academics, the Wildlife Fund, and interested herpers. AND, if one of the authors would be willing to write a letter summarizing the relevant findings and what they might mean for creating responsible regulations, I think it could have tremendous impact. At the very least, we would need to tag or highlight relevant sections. Anyone know any of the authors? --Henry W.

"Species that are widely
distributed and collected in small parts of their
range are more likely to sustain collecting than
species that are restricted in distribution and
intensively collected over large areas.
Unpredictable activity patterns result in lower
detectability and vulnerability of many snake
species. Based on life history pattern,
geographic extent of range, and detectability, it
is likely that the vast majority of reptile and
amphibian species found in the CDE are widely
enough distributed that collecting will not lead
to regional or global species extinction. Almost
all amphibian and reptile collecting is done
from roads or in accessible canyons. Enormous
areas are on private land or so remote that
collecting for trade is inefficient, and there are
extensive areas of suitable and occupied habitat
that are never collected."

Yes it does. We have an academic and a game/fish biologist saying this. This should certainly benefit our cause.

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

and check out the awesome cover photography by none other than "myself".

I've got hard copies of that report. One with Todd K's name on it.

Forks