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RE: Getting Started with HOTS
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by NJnaturalistNJ on February 3, 2010
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I finally found a professional that lives in New Jersey. Dave W. Schneider is the regional manager of a company called Herpetological Associates. He is willing to bring me into the field and help me find Crotalus horridus to handle and photograph. I mentioned to Dave that I have been communicating with experts from SHHS and he is familiar with the website.
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RE: Getting Started with HOTS
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by richardduckworth on February 5, 2010
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if you really love venomous snakes....
stay away from them. venomous snake lovers are slightly considered slightly crazier than serial killers and as dangerous as pedophiles.
this site has been "pushing for what's right" for years now, and laws are getting more and more strict. i dream about finding venomous snakes all the time, but since keeping them in alabama is just asking for trouble and they threaten to remove your children from your home and ask questions later if you do, i just can't find it worthwhile to keep them anymore. even though the laws allow indigenous venomous snakes to be kept, the fish and game can't identify what an indigenous species is and just run around writing tickets ($500 ticket vs $2000 lawyer)
good luck!! hope you don't become a keeper and find something else that makes you happy.
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RE: Getting Started with HOTS
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by Rob_Carmichael on February 6, 2010
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Richard, I'm not sure what happened to you in Alabama but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about the acquisition of herps in a collection. Although the original post is simply looking for "handling" experience in the event he does some field herping (and I'll take a moment to say KUDOS to him for approaching this right...it shows the difference in maturity between a biology teacher and some of the kids on here who come whining with questions and don't take the time to research a topic). If everyone approached venomous keeping like him, I can just about guarantee you we wouldn't be in the situation we are in. If you burn your bridges with the state DNR's you will certainly be hurting your chances to keep hots. The original post (my apologies; I'm terrible with names and already forgot after looking at your profile!) is showing a level of maturity and responsibility that will help him to reach his goals. You have to build relationships with the various agencies and it won't happen by walking in their door with your Harley jacket on and say "dude,man, I want to keep venomous snakes in my house, give me a note so I can do that". That just won't work...and that's not pointed to any one person but that's honestly how some people approach it and then they get pissed at the government when they don't get what they want. Anyway, I'm rambling into a pointles post but with the original person posting, we should keep this thread in the archives for the right way to approach this subject. Nice job.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL
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RE: Getting Started with HOTS
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by dizzl on February 27, 2010
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This is great, I love the responses to this post!! For I too am learning as much as I can at the moment as far as HOTs go! I really like the way that the original poster asked his question and the way you folks came at him!! I have been on other sites where the members would just post negative comments on any one who would ask such a question! I guess that they were some of the people that think they know it all, and I like to say: "When working with reptiles, one never knows everything. There will always be something new to learn"! I will most deffinatly be spending more time here! You guys are great!!!
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RE: Getting Started with HOTS
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by NJnaturalistNJ on June 21, 2010
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UPDATE - I convinced the foulks at the reptile house to allow me to weigh our southern copperhead. I moved the snake from the enclosure to the scale and back again. I used my own 40" hook, gentle giant tongs, and plastic tub (with lid) to perform the task. Another staff member stood by as a back up. The snake was calm going into the tub but was aggitated when coming back out. It is not used to being handled - thrashing around, trying to escape, and biting both the tongs and tub. I was able to keep my cool and get the job done. A large copperhead at 3.31 lbs. The same one that is in my profile photo.
Cheers,
Brian
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RE: Getting Started with HOTS
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by Cro on June 22, 2010
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Brian,
Great to hear that you are getting first hand training working with venomous snakes.
That is the best way to go.
Best Regards
John Z
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