Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've joined a discussion of the possession reg for Fla. Pinesnakes on the Pit forum, and I've been wondering if there is any documentation that this type of reg actually HELPS the wild population increase???

Figured this would be a good place to ask. Any studies proving the Indigo laws do anything??

Thanks.
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

>>I've joined a discussion of the possession reg for Fla. Pinesnakes on the Pit forum, and I've been wondering if there is any documentation that this type of reg actually HELPS the wild population increase???
>>
>>Figured this would be a good place to ask. Any studies proving the Indigo laws do anything??
>>
>>Thanks.
>>-----
>>Lloyd Heilbrunn
>>
>>Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

I don't think that prohibiting the possesion of the Eastern Indigo has done a thing in the world to help the wild populations. Prohibiting the collection of them from wild populations certainly has. But, I think it's important to understand that not all of the regulations are in place necessarily to help the animal. The only thing that banning the possession of Eastern Indigos (in the states where they occur)does is to help the agencies enforce the ban on collecting. If possession is banned, then they don't have to deal with trying to determine if a particular snake is wild-caught or captive produced.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

In my opinion...Damn little good if any.

If you were to have a protected habitat where you kept people out, then the snakes would reach normal healthy populations based upon the land's ability to support them.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true with E. Indigos, Pines and san Francisco Garters. With each of these animals, their enviroment is being swallowed by human encroachment. Without habitat to live on everything else is irrelevent.

All we are doing is making sure these species pass into extinction without the option of captive breeding (which is not a cure-all but at least provides a small hope).

Also..limiting or prohibiting possession does not stop the ignorant from killing them on sight.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."