Reptile & Amphibian Forums

on to the next generation of SERIOUS herpetological students?

Now how many of you offer educational/training lectures to animal control officers, city, county, or state personnel?

and lastly, what do you think is the biggest threat to our native species?

I was re-reading a paper and wanted to gather further opinions.
Cheers
B

I have taken in a few people that I trust and trained them with hots.

I actually have a State Certified Training 4 hour Workshop that I put togther for Animal Control. "Herpetological Husbandry Guidelines Recommended for Use by Animal Control
Officers and Animal Shelter Personnel"
Identification, Handling, and Husbandry is all covered. I require them to use a hook and tongs in the workshop. I also leave them with a 36 page Workbook.

Habitat loss and lack of educated policy/law makers in reguards to the herps.
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

I agree wholeheartedly with Tim in terms of perils of our native herpetofauna....might as well throw in unscrupulous collectors (which is why I never divulge my good herping areas in the field)....but, habitat loss and not having lawmakers making good environmental decision are indeed the big threats.

We, too, offer a "Venomous Reptile Management" Certification Workshop through my wildlife center. Past participants include: museum and zoo personnel, animal control and representatives from state and federal wildlife agencies. Like Tim, I stress the proper and responsible use of equipment in managing venomous snakes....no free handling here! Our program is an intensive 3-day workshop that includes lecture, practicals, demonstrations, video and much more. We are now looking at possibly opening it up to private individuals who live in areas where it is legal (Which precludes residents in my own state; a bit ironic but that's the way it goes).

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL
www.cityoflakeforest.com (go to Parks & Rec/WDC)

>>I have taken in a few people that I trust and trained them with hots.
>>
>>I actually have a State Certified Training 4 hour Workshop that I put togther for Animal Control. "Herpetological Husbandry Guidelines Recommended for Use by Animal Control
>>Officers and Animal Shelter Personnel"
>>Identification, Handling, and Husbandry is all covered. I require them to use a hook and tongs in the workshop. I also leave them with a 36 page Workbook.
>>
>>Habitat loss and lack of educated policy/law makers in reguards to the herps.
>>-----
>>Tim Cole
>>www.Designeratrox.com/
>>www.AustinReptileService.net
>>www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
>>Conservation through Education
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

>>on to the next generation of SERIOUS herpetological students?

Nothing formal, but I've been training handlers working towards their permits since a few months after I started working on mine...

>>Now how many of you offer educational/training lectures to animal control officers, city, county, or state personnel?

Not yet.

>>and lastly, what do you think is the biggest threat to our native species?

Just my opinion:
1) Habitat loss
2) Domestic cats

I haven't done many formal presentations, just one on emergency responce and envenomation information for some local EMTs and two informational shows for younger students. I've had a few people I've helped with handling, but nothing too serious. Unfortunately, my state doesn't yet require a permit of any sort to own venomous snakes, but fortunately not too many idiots pursue the interest mainly because most think it's illegal anyway! That's probably a good misconception.

As far as what I consider to be the biggest threat to our native species, that would have to be a combination of habitat loss and the fact that we continually elect leaders who are more concerned about satisfying their corporate constituents than protecting the environment.
-----
Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

I've pretty much retired from the hot herp scene, except for boards like this. I spent thirty years or so doing talks on venomous snake identification, snakebite avoidance & proper snakebite treatment. These talks were given to schools, scouting groups, herp societies, hunters, teachers, & wildlife officers. I was paid a little for some, but most were freebies.

Habitat destruction is the biggest problem. In some areas, wild hogs can be a devastating force on snakes.

~~Greg~~
My Talk

Greg, say it ain't so! We don't want you to retire, you're too young and have so much to teach people. In the six years I've been coming in here, I've learned from you, and I wasn't unknowledgable to begin with. There are so many that can be taught by you and use your wisdom.

TJP: Thanks for the kind words. My wife asked me to quit monkeyin' with the hot stuff almost seven years ago when she was diagnosed with lymphoma, since that would give her less to worry about. She's fine now, thank God, but I am in no real hurry to get back into it. I started keeping snakes in 1954, & have had serious collections since the late sixties. To be honest with you, I would rather spend my spare time catching mutton snapper than cleaning snake cages. I still maintain an excellent library of herp books & am more than willing to help on boards like this one, but I have no desire to get back into the hands-on stuff.

~~Greg~~

Greg, I'm sorry and glad to hear about your wife. I've known some people that had the same disease that, thank god, also made through it. I don't blame you for getting out of the hobby. Hopefully you won't retire from the forum. Take care.

Nice website. I did not know you were from Loxahatchee (although a few months ago the name Ron Dupont coming from your keyboard should have been a clue). I am up in Palm Beach Gardens. Palm Beach Reptiles is relocating to a new location on Northlake Blvd with a promised Grand Opening this Friday. They have a fine collection of venomous snakes with a few licensed personnel on board. They do provide a venomous class. A rare opportunity to get the 1000 hours/one year experience required by the State of Florida. (I do not work there, so this is not a shameless promotion.)
If you did not know about this place it might be a fun field trip.

Jim

Varied experience on the same theme, good to hear its being done, and I did not mean to sound like a snob about the "serious student" thing, every serious naturalist, biologist, or hobbyist is what I meant to say.
Yep, habitat destruction is the winner but will never be acknowledged or solved IMO. Apparently, there is more job security, and its far easier to go after people in the industry, and paint them as "unscrupulous collectors and smugglers" that rape the environment, than admit that "progress" is a culprit or that agencies have any short comings.
This same progress has endangered the Gila monster, Gopher tortoise, EDB, Indigo and others but agencies would have the general (unknowing public)believe its hordes of bag wielding poachers that scoop up every living thing they see.

Keep instructing the neos, a recent engagement I had with animal control folks showed me again just how little some "professionals" know about reptiles. For example; the supervising officer thought snakes had a 3rd eye on top of their head that allowed them to see above and behind them, this eye was covered by a scale that hid it from view until needed. I laughed at first, then I noticed he was completely serious and I felt bad for him and clarified anatomical features of crotalids, and others. I also cleared up several other well known myths and rumours.
All for no charge!LOL, but they did take me out to lunch.
Cheers
B

The biggest threat by far, as Tim stated, is habitat loss due to overdevelopment. Especially here in NY, the areas North of ALbany are seeing a lot of development, around the I-87 exits. In particular, strip malls are going up quite rapidly, in areas that were once home to many sensitive species.

As far as training, I've done informal training to a few private keepers, but nothing formal. Unfortunately, there DEC's new draft regulations, are weak, in that they only require a 4-hour course in venomous reptile and/or crocodilian management, which is not sufficient to cover the ins-and-outs of venomous snake handling.

They also, have contracted with a reptile exhibitor to offer these courses.

MCH

ahhhh the all mighty strip mall, purveyor of useless pieces of plastic and other fine wares. Its the same by me, what is the life span of a strip mall anyways?

just long enough until Walmart decides they want the spot.

LMAO, aint that the truth. Now if they could have employees that speaka the english. I wonder how long a norte americano would last or be tolerated in a foreign country where they didnt speak the english lingo. Probably would be arrested and flogged, then deported.

..I just returned from Costa Rica yesterday, and attended a conservation meeting, regarding efforts and projects(including the recent outbreak of monkey deaths in Corcovado N.P.) and one of the points brought out was that, all of the presentations given by the researchers were done in English and should be done in Spanish. Most ticos generally know more english, than AMericans know Spanish down there, and it should be the other way around, given that most tourists have a pretty good education to be traveling abroad AND the native language is Spanish.

I have been learning Spanish, simply because the best tropical botanist on the Osa Peninsula, doesn't speak English, and I want to communicate with him better to learn the wealth that he knows about Tropical forests(Not to mention, to be able to communicate with local miners and hunters about sightings of bushmasters).

MCH

I agree, when visiting a foreign land one should at least attempt to learn and speak the native tongue, or learn some key phrases. Not apart from broadening one's own horizon, it shows respect to the host culture.

Ciao Pescados
B

My understanding is that the international language of science is English, just like English is expected from all air traffic controllers worldwide. I could be wrong here, but the compromise is that American scientists have to use that crazy metric system.
Jim

The life span of a strip mall in Florida is measured in half lives.