Why are so many people opposed to keeping wild snakes as pets? - Page 7

Kingsnakechris · 04-18-12, 04:18 PM

They are protected because they are native. At least thats how the warden explained it to me.

Snakefood · 04-18-12, 04:24 PM

here in BC, we aren't allowed to keep ANY species of Garter, regardless whether it's native or not....kinda sucks;(

exwizard · 04-18-12, 04:41 PM

As I stated before, to the best of my knowledge, no native snake of any kind are legal to keep here. No bullsnakes, no hognoses, nothing, even if they were c/b. I understand why we cant catch and keep wild native snakes but c/b?? That makes no sense at all to me. Funny thing is that Ive never seen a bullsnake in person here ever and I dont think anyone has in a long time. I know the DNR does not make these laws. They only enforce them so Im thinking that these laws were written in such convoluted ways by ignoatant legislators who dont know what theyre talking about, but thats just my opinion of course.

red ink · 04-18-12, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exwizard

As I stated before, to the best of my knowledge, no native snake of any kind are legal to keep here. No bullsnakes, no hognoses, nothing, even if they were c/b. I understand why we cant catch and keep wild native snakes but c/b?? That makes no sense at all to me. Funny thing is that Ive never seen a bullsnake in person here ever and I dont think anyone has in a long time. I know the DNR does not make these laws. They only enforce them so Im thinking that these laws were written in such convoluted ways by ignoatant legislators who dont know what theyre talking about, but thats just my opinion of course.

If you ask the wildlife authorities, you would probably get an answer that states it's in protection of the native wildlife from pathogens in captive specimens in the case of escapees...

Granted there are plenty of pathogens out there that can be spread to wild populations even if they are not native to the area from escaped captives... but the first point may be their reasoning.

Another could be the whole morph mentality of the "captive" reptile industry... Morphs of native animals excaping and breeding with endemic population changes the characteristics of the wild snakes.

If you really want to find out ask I suppose...

Lankyrob · 04-18-12, 04:54 PM

Also if you have the snake in your house how do the authorities know whether it is cb or wc? Easier to ban completely then either way they can act on your ownership.

exwizard · 04-18-12, 04:58 PM

Its easy enough to get bills of sale when buying c/b snakes but thats not even taken into consideration. No, Ill just live with it. Besides my more exotic snakes from Indonesia, Madagascar and Brazil are more appealing to me anyway.

Mose · 04-18-12, 07:14 PM

I agree with Rob - it's probably easier from an enforcement standpoint to ban native species altogether rather than have to investigate to determine on a case by case basis if one is WC or CB. That would be a nightmare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by red ink

Another could be the whole morph mentality of the "captive" reptile industry... Morphs of native animals excaping and breeding with endemic population changes the characteristics of the wild snakes.

A while back on another forum, a member from the east coast near the northern range for wild cornsnakes was looking for a morph corn to buy. In her state, it was illegal to own native snakes, including wildtype corns, but morphs were okay because the authorities could easily identify them as CB! Evidently the lawmakers of that state weren't too concerned about the possibility of CB morphs escaping and mucking up the local gene pool. LOL

exwizard · 04-18-12, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mose

I agree with Rob - it's probably easier from an enforcement standpoint to ban native species altogether rather than have to investigate to determine on a case by case basis if one is WC or CB. That would be a nightmare.

A while back on another forum, a member from the east coast near the northern range for wild cornsnakes was looking for a morph corn to buy. In her state, it was illegal to own native snakes, including wildtype corns, but morphs were okay because the authorities could easily identify them as CB! Evidently the lawmakers of that state weren't too concerned about the possibility of CB morphs escaping and mucking up the local gene pool. LOL

Very interesting...

zaroba · 04-19-12, 05:09 PM

I wouldn't doubt that states banning ownership of native snakes was something PETA was behind too seeing how obsessed they are with supporting any snake ban bills. Just a small step in their long term goal.

exwizard · 04-19-12, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaroba

I wouldn't doubt that states banning ownership of native snakes was something PETA was behind too seeing how obsessed they are with supporting any snake ban bills. Just a small step in their long term goal.

Makes sense to me.

parseltongue · 05-06-12, 03:28 PM

my great grandpa caught a few kingsnakes trying to eat his chicken eggs.we took them in but could only keep two at a time so we let the others go in my grandmas yard if we hadnt saved them they would have been killed.

Lankyrob · 05-07-12, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parseltongue

my great grandpa caught a few kingsnakes trying to eat his chicken eggs.we took them in but could only keep two at a time so we let the others go in my grandmas yard if we hadnt saved them they would have been killed.

If you let some go why not let them all go?

Valvaren · 05-07-12, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parseltongue

my great grandpa caught a few kingsnakes trying to eat his chicken eggs.we took them in but could only keep two at a time so we let the others go in my grandmas yard if we hadnt saved them they would have been killed.

If you had relocated them they also would have been saved.

Charlie64 · 05-07-12, 09:16 AM

Nothing wrong with WC snakes as long as you care for em.

People seem to think it's wrong, and buy captive bred snakes.
But by buying CB's you just support people to go catch more wild ones as breeders.
One's just as bad as the other...

shaunyboy · 05-07-12, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie64

Nothing wrong with WC snakes as long as you care for em.

People seem to think it's wrong, and buy captive bred snakes.
But by buying CB's you just support people to go catch more wild ones as breeders.
One's just as bad as the other...

^^^^^
i disagree with this 100%

Australia has banned export of reptiles since 1982

yet there are more than enough carpet pythons outside Australia,so there is no need to go out and catch wild snakes

imo if there has not been any carpet pythons taken from the wild for export in the last 30 years,then as long as theres captive breds out there,then theres no need to keep taking from the wild

so buying captive bred is in NO WAY the same thing mate...!!

yes in the very begining there would have been an amount taken from the wild,but after that there would be no need to keep doing it

imo,the easiest way to damage wild stock is.....

to think just grabbing as many as you want from the wild is ok

cheers shaun