Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All,

Does anyone really think this will be objective? This will be used against the industry I am sure. The slippery slope rolls even faster. I wonder when herpers will come to their senses and form an ALL inclusive herper's rights group that protects everyone in the industry?

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

Project title: Non-game Wildlife Trade in Texas: Analysis and Synthesis of Information and
Recommendations for Long-Term Monitoring

Project statement: The objectives of this study are to document the extent of wildlife trade
in Texas considering both native and exotic species and using that information to make
recommendations for future monitoring. I will be using reported information from Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
as well as new collected data to determine 1) which species of native and exotic non-game
wildlife are currently traded as pets or meat in Texas; 2) describe and quantify patterns of
import, export, and re-export to and from Texas; 3) describe and quantify patterns of
non-game native and exotic wildlife trade in Texas, including trends in numbers of
collectors and dealers, prices, quantities sold, and geographic foci where dealers and
collectors operate; and 4) for native species quantify levels of collection from the wild and
counties of origin. To summarize findings I will identify strengths and weaknesses of the
current reporting system used by TPWD and USFWS, and make policy recommendations
regarding monitoring procedures to provide for sustainable use of species existing in or
entering into the trade.

In short: This study will be an objective analysis of the reptilian, chelonian, crocodilian,
and amphibian trade, and will help regulatory agencies better understand the importance
and dynamics of the trade.

What can you do to help? I am asking for pet owners and pet store owners (those with a
traditional brick and mortar storefront) across the United States to complete the following
web based surveys. Your identity will not be recorded, the surveys will take no more than
5 minutes of your time. Please feel free to forward this link to other herpetocultural
enthusiasts, pet owners, or store owners.

Pet Store Owners click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?
sm=s9EsDYeWRvSbLHrzr6tnHQ_3d_3d

Pet Owners click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?
sm=0Sro6nMdrnyIVyK5ZnsZBg_3d_3d

Questions or comments may be directed to my attention at:

Heather Prestridge
Graduate Student
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Texas A&M University, College Station
tcwc@tamu.edu

You should just do the survey, and let them have accurate data, lest someone makes up data to use.
-----
Todd Hughes

Heather has come to our shows and the NARBC shows in Texas, and asks buyers/venders for information. We trust her, and she's on OUR side! She will present honest data.

Randal Berry

>>Does anyone really think this will be objective?

My opinion, and the opinion of the great majority of folks that have gone over this in detail which includes folks from all aspects of Herpetology, is that accurate data is only the first step in providing sound management practices.

We had many questions for Heather, and she was patient and addressed all our concerns. At the end of the day this is merely the first phase of a huge task. The study is taking place with or without your participation. I, and for that matter HCU, are committed to helping Heather gather accurate data for this study.

>>This will be used against the industry I am sure.

Pure speculation. The fact remains that the resource must be monitored, managed, and regulated. Good data is a prerequisite to this charge. You can either be part of the solution, or part of the problem.

You just want to be part of the problem.

There is nothing else in any of your posts worth addressing other than to say "Don't feed the troll".
-----
Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

(""">>Does anyone really think this will be objective?

My opinion, and the opinion of the great majority of folks that have gone over this in detail which includes folks from all aspects of Herpetology, is that accurate data is only the first step in providing sound management practices.

We had many questions for Heather, and she was patient and addressed all our concerns. At the end of the day this is merely the first phase of a huge task. The study is taking place with or without your participation. I, and for that matter HCU, are committed to helping Heather gather accurate data for this study."""(

Well, first of all I don’t hold your opinion in high regard nor do I trust or support the opinion of many in academia (and those that come from academia like TPWD biologists) who support an AR group like agenda. Proof: Turtle bans and Black List all within the past year. Further, Heather’s main advisor is Lee Fitzgerald who helped ban the captive propagation, sustainable harvest and commerce of box turtles. I agree that accurate and unbiased (key word here) data needs to be gathered. But strictly looking at “reported” harvest data will not do it. You have to examine population density, population health and other impacts to be able to make accurate and fair recommendations.

(""">>This will be used against the industry I am sure.

Pure speculation. The fact remains that the resource must be monitored, managed, and regulated. Good data is a prerequisite to this charge. You can either be part of the solution, or part of the problem."""(

I would lean more towards fact. The box turtle banning agenda folks used several poorly supported, peer reviewed, academic papers full of opinion and speculation to ban the captive propagation, sustainable harvest and commerce of box turtles. This has been done time and time again with other species. You need to wake up. Yes, the resource needs to be monitored, managed and regulated in some cases by unbiased folks but for the most part there are to few collectors, collecting to few animals. These animals are being collected randomly from random areas so I don’t see much impact. Why are these folks not working on habitat destruction and road mortality? That is where the greatest impact and threats are. For the record I filled out her survey.

("""You just want to be part of the problem.

There is nothing else in any of your posts worth addressing other than to say "Don't feed the troll".
-----
Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks"""(

Insults? You can’t get through a post without insults? Actually, my points are valid and everything I have posted over the past year has been accurate. So you are wrong again. You guys are determined to ruin the industry with your ignorance and selling out other segments of the industry to protect your interests. That is a shame. It would be nice to be able to post and discuss varying opinions here but as soon as someone disagrees with your opinion or approach you attack like a wounded animal. So one can only “troll” through the forums least get sucked into a barrage of attacks and slander. Besides who has the time to patrol the kingsnake forums? People with nothing better to do?

Have a good day,

Mike Welker
El Paso, TX

>>Well, first of all I don’t hold your opinion in high regard

Ditto.

>>Proof: Turtle bans and Black List all within the past year. >>Further, Heather’s main advisor is Lee Fitzgerald who helped >>ban the captive propagation, sustainable harvest and commerce >>of box turtles.

Box Turtles must have been an easy mark and a big money maker for you. You are pretty tore up over that. I'm reasonably sure Boxies are headed for the threatened list in Texas, where they belong.

>>I agree that accurate and unbiased (key word here) data needs >>to be gathered. But strictly looking at “reported” harvest data >>will not do it. You have to examine population density, >>population health and other impacts to be able to make accurate >>and fair recommendations.

I absolutely agree! (wow)

>>(""">>This will be used against the industry I am sure.
>>
>>Pure speculation. The fact remains that the resource must be monitored, managed, and regulated. Good data is a prerequisite to this charge. You can either be part of the solution, or part of the problem."""(
>>
>>
>>I would lean more towards fact.

I'm reasonably sure this is your opinion.

>>Why are these folks not working on habitat destruction and road >>mortality? That is where the greatest impact and threats are.

More good stuff, refreshing. I want to see them work on this too, but not just them. We've been talking about it and trying to come up with ideas. I'm pretty sure you know what the problems are here and one of them is money. Firstly we will be fighting the big construction money, and the road mortality issue will take lots of money to fix and especially if we want to find a retoractive solution to fix roads that already exist. I agree Mike, it's a big problem.

>>>>For the record I filled out her survey.
Good on you Mike.

>>Insults? You can’t get through a post without insults? Actually, my points are valid and everything I have posted over the past year has been accurate. So you are wrong again.

Opinion.

>>>You guys are determined to ruin the industry with your ignorance and selling out other segments of the industry to protect your interests.

False.

>>It would be nice to be able to post and discuss varying opinions here but as soon as someone disagrees with your opinion or approach you attack like a wounded animal.

I think both you and I are free to post our thoughts and opinions. This is a two way street, you get to tell me what you think here, and I get to do the same, fun isn't it?

>>Have a good day,

You too Mike.

>>Mike Welker
>>El Paso, TX
>>
-----
Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks