Rattlesnake Pics from Summer 2003

[ClarkC]

I wasn't talking to just you. You weren't the first to make a dumb statement.
There are a few people here that keep exotics that like to give field herpers a
hard time about collecting. You have to remember the U.S. is run very different
than Australia. Even though I don't agree with some of the laws here. The
general way it is setup works well. I've live in the U.S. all my life 42 years. And
in Arizona 20years. And I can tell you that we have a big problem here with
native wild life (reptiles). Around the cities. I have also been doing reptile rescues
for many years. And it is a big problem. The snakes in the pics that were posted.
Were not around the the city. There are a few good reasons to get cb natives over
wild caught. But local extinction is not one of them. Like I said the U.S. is run
a little different. We still have the right to keep exotics and keep and bare arms
(guns).

[chas*e]

Wow.....nice snakes..PS.. don't care what people have to say on this site...they constantly look for a reason to flare a post

[crocdoc]

sigh...

"You weren't the first to make a dumb statement."

What is it with you people? As soon as someone disagrees with you, they are being 'dumb' or saying 'dumb' things, or looking for a reason to flare a post. Believe it or not, sometimes people say things because they believe them, not because they are looking for a reason to flare, and sometimes people can disagree with you and not be 'dumb' or be saying 'dumb' things. You don't see me telling you that what you are saying is dumb because I disagree.

Oh, and I'm not going to enter into the whole gun ownership debate with you (how this always comes up in discussions about keeping reptiles is also a uniquely American phenomenon). Been there, done that, goes nowhere.

As far as exotic reptile ownership goes, I am happy we aren't allowed to keep them here. We have a huge number of native reptiles, more than any other country (probably continent) on earth. Not only do we not need more, but that native population is threatened by every exotic that gets smuggled in, for they run the risk of going feral or bringing in exotic diseases.

If you think this is another 'dumb' statement, do a bit of research and you'll find that IBD has been brought into Australia via a smuggled boa. If it ever gets into our native python population the native pythons are screwed, and that's a lot of python species to lose at one time.

As far as ferals go, we've had one nasty introduction of an exotic (not via the pet trade, but introduced nontheless) and that's enough, thanks. Do some research into what the cane toad (Bufo marinus) is doing to monitor lizard and snake populations as it makes its way across our tropical top end. If you think this is all made up stuff, I can tell you that I've been there and have seen the damage. What were once the commonest monitor species up there are now gone from huge areas. Some of the native mammals are in danger of extinction as a consequence, also.

I am impressed that you have reached the age of 42 without ever experiencing a 'herped out' area. Good on you. I wish I could say the same, but I've seen what happens when wild collecting goes unchecked. On the other hand, I've also been to very remote areas that have never been herped and know what the potential is to compare it to.

As I said dozens of posts ago, we'll have to agree to disagree. They're your reptiles, you live there, you herp there. It isn't my issue what you do with them.

[Cruciform]

What's funny about people quoting the right to bear arms is that they actually DON'T, unless they are in the service of a peace-time militia. They should learn their own bill of rights.

Quoted:
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

So Clarke, unless you're a member of a well regulated militia you're making some pretty dumb statements too.
All "bare" arms gets you is a sunburn anyway

[Cruciform]

Crocdoc,

I've seen what the cane toads and feral cats do to areas in Australia (only in documentaries though, haven't been able to go there yet). It's crazy how they decimate the local wildlife.

Cats are the second most destructive species on earth after man, though it's thanks to us taking them with us where ever we go.

[JeffT]

Jennifer-

VERY nice snakes, those rattelers are beautiful. Especially the little baby, thats an awsome pic. Good luck with breeding them!

Jeff

[ClarkC]

a member of a regulated militia. It's called the NRA. That's why were not in the
shape your in.

[emroul]

Thanks Jeff!