Hi All, Below is a article that was just printed in last weeks Sanderson Newspaper, The Terrell County Newsleader. I thought everyone here would like reading it, Congrats to Roy & Ruth Engeldorf & all other Sanderson Merchants, Buisiness people & efforts there to encourage LE to leave the herpers alone, as their dollars ARE boosting the trans-pecos of alterna land. Heres the article:
Courtesey of The Terrell County Newsleader:
Snakers allege ‘harassment’
SANDERSON – Strict enforcement of state laws prohibiting hunting of reptiles along public roads is driving visitors away – along with the revenue they bring with them – the Chamber of Commerce was told Tuesday.
Ruth Engeldorf, who owns the Outback Oasis Motel with husband Roy, said “harassment” of people trying to see and photograph reptiles in the county is driving them away.
“And they are not coming back,” added Sharon Wolfe, owner of the Round House Restaurant.
“The only time we stop people is to enforce traffic laws,” Terrell County Chief Deputy Kenneth Turner said. “And I don’t know if we’ve written any tickets yet. There have been some written warnings but no citations that I am aware of.”
Turner said if a car is legally stopped off the highway with flashers on, deputies will not bother the occupants.
“If the car is partially on the roadway or if they flash a light onto oncoming traffic, that is a different matter,” he said.
Turner said game wardens will enforce Texas game laws but the Sheriff’s Office is primarily interested in traffic law enforcement.
Game Warden Saul Aguilar said there is no problem with people viewing or photographing wildlife but they need to do it “in a safe way.”
He said game wardens will not bother someone “enjoying his passion” unless he threatens the safety of someone else.
He said “collecting” animals on a public road or interfering with traffic will bring enforcement action.
Engeldorf said after deer season, the summer is her busiest time with people coming from around the world to see reptiles.
“Most of them want to see the gray banded kingsnake,” she said. “This is the only place in the world to see them.”
The snake is a large reptile with a distinctive pattern of alternating red and gray or orange and blue bands.
It is found only in west Texas and northern Mexico.
The Engeldorfs keep a collection of snakes and other reptiles and are involved in snake organizations.
They testified in a state legislative committee hearing last winter for a bill that would have allowed collecting of reptiles along public highways in the state but the efforts failed.
“They [law enforcement officers] are doing their jobs and I can’t fault them for that,” Engeldorf said. “But some of it is just harassment.”
She said no one bothers birders along highways.
“We need the money that comes in from California or New York,” she said. “We had one come in from Sweden.”
She said people mostly come to photograph the animals and Wolfe said a film crew was here doing a documentary on desert animals.
Engeldorf said because the state law prohibits “hunting” along roadways, people are even afraid to move a dead animal off a highway for fear it would be interpreted as “hunting.”
“We have to do our hobby along the highway,” she said. “There is no public place other than a highway that provides access to these animals.”
She said the law envisions that activity on ranches but, even if they could get onto a ranch, they would not be accessible to rescue crews if they suffered a fall or something.
Cellular telephone service is also non-existent on most ranches, she said.
