Reptile & Amphibian Forums

These three TP&WD projects are in jeopardy because of section 44 HB 12.

Among other things HCU will be raising funds to support these three projects.

But you don't have to wait for us. You can send your money directly TP&WD and specify one or all three of the projects that you support. We are conservation minded, let's start proving it.

I TPEWD has backed a law which puts their projects in jeopardy, why the heck should I send more money to TPWD for such projects?

JH

only if you really cared about the Horned Lizards, Box Turtles, and Anurans would you do such a thing.

Actually I have great concern for them, particularly about the fact that I rarely see any of them any more. I do, however have a few questions.
1. what is the state doing about fire and control, since this is a major factor in the eradication of some species.
2. why hasn't the state done anything about mass commercial collection? They have known about it for years.

Let's face it, TPWD's main focus is on fishing and hunting of game mammals. We own the deer, but others make the profit from them.

And what are they doing about the game ranches which allow their stock to escape into the wild? NOTHING!

All this, coupled with current laws, tells me that TPWD is concerned with shutting down herpers, whether avocational or commercial matters not to them. PARC has systematically gotten laws passed year after year, state after state, which curtail our hobby. Yet nobody has challenged these laws OR PARC.

I have no idea what you, Lance, Daryl and others in your group are up to. Since I was not invited to join your clique I'll have to assume that you do not represent me, or any of the other herpers not included.

John Hollister aka Herpo

>>I have no idea what you, Lance, Daryl and others in your group are up to. Since I was not invited to join your clique I'll have to assume that you do not represent me, or any of the other herpers not included.
>>

That tells me you haven't been reading the forum!

I really believe Joe is on the right track. He made an excellent
presentation to a State Rep. that I know. Arguing about commercial versus hobby collecting serves no purpose. They are different. I am not judging commercial collectors but the interests are not the same. All of this sniping only hurts everyone.
Richard Striebr

John,

All Joe did was encourage people to make a personal contribution to TPWD for certain programs that ARE pro-herp. This is not a part of some grand conspiracy.

I see no conflict between supporting what we like in TPWD while fighting against what we don't like.

Supporting the few pro-herp programs they have, jsut makes good sense. It's about the herps, not the turf wars.

Generally, donations to such projects do not go to the particular project itself but rather, to the department's general fund. Here in Mississippi one cannot donate money for a particular project which you personally support. Those projects operate off of preset funding established during the initial stages of budget planning. Your well intended check simply goes into the afore mentioned general fund and is spent on other unrelated expenses which you may or may not support.

I don't want to put a damper on anything. I think it's a great idea to donate funds to herp research provided my check goes to where I intend and not to some other cause.

Just something to think about.

Cheers,

Terry Vandeventer

I will follow-up with TPWD about this tomorrow.

I'll find out if it is possible to dedicate funding where were want. If the answer is yes, I'll get all the relevant info on how to submit donations.

the best way to get the populations back is to make it illegal to commercially deal in wild caught animals. I don't know what the state program entails. Is it taking from the wild, breeding and releasing? Might work for fish, won't work for box turtles and collared lizards. They will be a drop in the bucket and will just be putting more animals out there for the collectors to take. The state needs to protect a few species from commercial predation.

I would deal with it by addressing "high impact" or destructive methods of collecting.

Traps, gassing dens, pulling apart rock formations, any of that crap needs to have a smack down. I think in some places and for some species the damage is done and we need to find ways to help bring them back up. But a main goal should address how they are taken much more than if they are changing hands out there.

Also, any species that needs a helping hand to rebuild should be protected from collection, I do agree with that. That should be evaluated on the species need and ability to recover, but could be anything form a full on T&E ban to just bag limits.

Lance