I agree with boxienuts. I think that (wealthy?) suburban folks lifestyles are far more destuctive to herp populations than collecting. The two tigers that I am taking care of came from a construction area turning into over fertilized lawns and golf courses (green deserts) that used to be an open field. I have no doubt that both of them would have been dead within hours had I not taken them home.

The ones I kept I have used in educational demonstrations, but I enjoy taking care of and observing them. I regularly get asked by people who find tigers in their window wells what to do with them. I advise them to let them go in a more sutable location.

The 10gal tank has worked out well for the one as he has been quite healthy for some time. (When I found him his tail had just been cut off by a skid loader and it has since grown back too.) Now that there are two they will be moving into something larger.I am providing mine with a "spoiled, predator free lifestyle" and not releasing them. However, I am always curious where the folks who say that it is harmful to keep a herp for a while and release it later is so harmful got their info from. (I know that in many states keeping native herps is illegal or requires a license too.) I have met several people who keep and later release native herps. One was a biologist who did a lot of native herps educational programs with nature centers and the DNR. He would collect a variety of herps to use in his programs and then release them later before fall. He saw no harm in it, but didn't encourage others to do the same. I am not saying that the folks who say this is bad and spreads disease are wrong, but I would really like to find more out about the research on this as I have heard both sides.

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