Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thanks to all who participated. The report can be downloaded (in lower quality; 3MB) here:

Click to Download

I am now exploring options to get it printed up "all fancy-like" to send to TPWD, legislators, chambers o'commerce, etc. but it's gonna cost me an arm and a leg!
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Fine piece of work, i have thrown out the idea to a few people to pay to sponsor the printing. Ill let you know what i come up with.

i have thrown out the idea to a few people to pay to sponsor the printing. Ill let you know what i come up with.

I have a request for quote from my local printer. Will keep you posted.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Looks like $50 per copy right now...

Color printing, cover (front and back) glossy on card stock, spiral bound.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Ouch, I got tied up but I'll try to follow up with a few folks

While I applaud your efforts, your report will fall on deaf ears at the TP&W. Why is it all you reptile guys and gals don't get it? TP&W could not give one damn about us as a group. They would just rather delete us from the TP&W altogether. This culture of not wanting reptile collectors has been in place since the 1970's. First the told us when stuff was protected that it could be transferred from one person to another as long as there was a pre-act document on file. As soon as a few people did this - they said they did not issue letters of transfer. Then in 1987 they asked anyone who had pre-act LEGAL protected reptiles/amphibians to fill out their paperwork with the total number and ssp. you possessed - then have either a game warden - what a joke - like any of them would actually know what they were even looking at - or a recognized biologist and notarize and return it. Upon receipt - TP&W sent letters of permission that stated " these specimens and their offspring can be held for whatever purposes you deem appropriate as pre-regulation". The exemption in the regs was .006. Now 25 years later, they are telling me that not only can I not transfer any of them, but it is illegal for me to even breed them. Clearly the intention is to get protected ssp. out of private hands. I sent their attorney a price list five years ago and have not heard a word from them since.
When are you people going to wake up and understand that the TP&W does not give a damn about us?
And Chris - your documentation is very slanted because you are getting info from people that collect only a few days per year. Try asking some of us locals - I'm sort of local - about what is crawling arouns out here. I spend most of my time in VV County. Alterna are the most common snake there by far. This season I have collected a total of 94 nights. I have 28 alterna, two annulata, 1 lepidus, 5 atrox - all dead, and a few other DOR's I could not identify.

I'd sure like to see some pics of those 28 DOR alterna.
All those dead alterna and not a live one among them? What a shame.

You misunderstood what I wrote. The only DOR I foud were one annulata and 5 atrox - everything else was found walking cuts alive. My point was how common alterna are compared to other herps in VV county. Sorry if it was not clear enough

While I applaud your efforts, your report will fall on deaf ears at the TP&W. Why is it all you reptile guys and gals don't get it? . . .When are you people going to wake up and understand that the TP&W does not give a damn about us?

Clearly you have an extended history with TPWD, and I am very interested in hearing it. I am considering writing a book about the history and politics of TX herping, and your input would be valuable. Speaking of input:

your documentation is very slanted because you are getting info from people that collect only a few days per year.

I take it you didn't participate in the survey, then? In any case, your information indicates I should construct next year's survey to ask those kinds of questions (how many days per year, and so on).

Alterna are the most common snake there by far. This season I have collected a total of 94 nights. I have 28 alterna, two annulata, 1 lepidus, 5 atrox - all dead, and a few other DOR's I could not identify.

Do you publish any of this in order to document the relative abundance of various sought-after species? Did you collect those DORs (with proper permitting under current regs)? Could probably find out a lot of useful info if they were salvaged.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet