Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We just returned from a trip to south Tex..We spent 4 nights near Freer and saw 4 annulata. Thats great, right. All dead, I said all DEAD. In the last two trips we have seen over 100 snakes and 46% were dead. Also, dead horned lizards and dead Tex. Tortoises, both of which are protected. Protected from what? Habitat desruction? No. Traffic? No. They are protected from people like you and me who care enogh to do something about it. No law against running over one but try to get a permit to collect a pair.

I saw a female annulata that was over 36" long and she looked like a tri colored skid mark. If it crosses the road and you want it, pick it up. Protect a species.

P.S. Hwy 59 .7 mile to 9.9 miles west of Freer.

what do you expect on 59 get off that road. im not sure if you know about nafta but thats were all the mexican trucks are coming & going

Hey Tank, I have heard of Nafta and most of the other things that go on down there. I have been going there since 1969. Most of the dead animals I saw were not on 59 but on back roads around that area. The four annulata were on 59 and I saw them on my way in, not because I was hunting there. Have you heard of the Oil Field? That is what is creating most of the traffic around there, especially on the back roads. Three of the dead snakes we saw were on a dirt road where we met about 12 big trucks bringing in oilfield equipment and another 4 or 5 company trucks along with the normal ranchers. The road I collected in the 80's is about 20 miles long and at that time had 2 or 3 houses on it, now has 20 or more along with big trucks from the oilfield

I am not so concerned with were to collect, but what will happen to the wildlife in that area.

The real issue is not the oilfield traffic but rather the total traffic to Laredo I believe nafta is to blame. The oilfield traffic will fluctuate dependant on the economy, just thing of them as a predator which there is not as many (bears, wolves birds of prey). I know the total number of animals has been down over the last ten years I believe this to be attributed to fire ants & an extensive drought that now appears to be over. It will be interesting to see what type of comeback if any the reptile population can make?????????????????

You've presented a great point of view... the law should allow for, encourage even, collecting on the roads. Hell, maybe even after a while (if legalized) non-herpers in the area would stop and collect these animals (if they knew they could get good money from us).... I know, just a dream.

.... it is quite astounding the stupidity of these restrictions