Search found 353 matches

by WSTREPS
November 26th, 2013, 2:47 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Glades Herp Owners Guilty--Lacey Act Violations
Replies: 18
Views: 12850

Re: Glades Herp Owners Guilty--Lacey Act Violations

http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/wstreps/eind.jpg Not to change the subject back to the actual topic. I'm sure many forum readers enjoy the company of sheep but......... Trafficking indigos out of Florida has resulted in some of the US's most famous wildlife law enforcement cases. This goes...
by WSTREPS
September 10th, 2013, 7:26 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fake herp photography
Replies: 85
Views: 21961

Re: Fake herp photography

I know I'm not the picture taker that some of you are but I have some stuff. http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/wstreps/Picture2057.jpg Some lizards. I think taking this photo completely disrupted their breeding behavior. http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/wstreps/Picture1390.jpg Another...
by WSTREPS
August 8th, 2013, 2:42 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Croc brings plane down...sort of, kills 20
Replies: 7
Views: 4701

Re: Croc brings plane down...sort of, kills 20

This story came out years ago and periodically gets rerun. It is highly questionable. I believe it was already posted here a good while ago. Tim Atkinson, of the Air Accidents Investigations branch of the DfT had this to say about the crash, dealing with the accident from the UK, said: "If this...
by WSTREPS
July 13th, 2011, 12:00 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Too many tuatara with nowhere to go
Replies: 11
Views: 4713

Re: Too many tuatara with nowhere to go

Yes, and there's so much motivation to smuggle bearded dragons, too, given their scarcity and value in the trade. Good point . Its not all that uncommon for people to try and get beardeds out of Australia. Mostly amateurs. If you don't think the motivation is there, guess again. In "selective ...
by WSTREPS
July 9th, 2011, 7:01 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: If you could herp anywhere in the world
Replies: 55
Views: 10108

Re: If you could herp anywhere in the world

New Zealand. I hear tuatara smuggling is very profitable.

ERNIE EISON
by WSTREPS
July 1st, 2011, 8:50 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Too many tuatara with nowhere to go
Replies: 11
Views: 4713

Re: Too many tuatara with nowhere to go

Introducing them into the private trade at big $$ would be disastrous for, as you guessed, it would be it easier to launder wild caught animals. That's a load of crap. There are millions of bearded dragons, blue tongue skinks etc. in the private trade and its harder then ever to smuggle these anima...
by WSTREPS
April 20th, 2011, 3:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Old school Florida
Replies: 21
Views: 4101

Re: Old school Florida

A bit of a tie in. One of Arthur Jones things was his search for a true eight foot long rattlesnake. Ross Allen had claimed to Jones that he had collected eastern diamondbacks that exceeded eight foot in length. Ross Allen supposedly kept good records to document his various research and collection ...
by WSTREPS
April 14th, 2011, 4:35 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Old school Florida
Replies: 21
Views: 4101

Re: Old school Florida

Did he really sell an eastern hognose to some little kid for a pet. I know it was a different time. I never was into the cheesy animal show stuff but Ross Allen did hook me up with Hank Molt when I was kid. Ross Allen is a legend, he killed hundreds of thousands of animals during his lifetime. Proba...
by WSTREPS
April 14th, 2011, 3:04 pm
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: A Stolen World A Great Read.
Replies: 7
Views: 4064

A Stolen World A Great Read.

This book was mulled over in great detail in a previous thread on this sight. That thread has vanished for whatever reason. So Im starting a new thread for those who might not be aware of this book or those who have read it and would like to comment on it. For those who have an interest in herpetocu...
by WSTREPS
February 17th, 2011, 3:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Did turtle laws change ??
Replies: 11
Views: 2273

Re: Did turtle laws change ??

It's ridiculous that the US imports these as all. They are a very thoroughly established exotic species in some areas. Where I grew up in Central Florida, one person could easily collect hundreds of 4" (the most common size) red-eared sliders in a week. NO kidding but.......You cant sell wild ...
by WSTREPS
February 17th, 2011, 1:31 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Did turtle laws change ??
Replies: 11
Views: 2273

Re: Did turtle laws change ??

I wouldn't trust foreign CB offspring to be CB the way we think of CB.I know with Ball Pythons, some farms collect large numbers of females, wait for them to lay, then kill them for their skin. I suspect the same type of farming probably would take place for exotic turtles (except the females would...
by WSTREPS
February 17th, 2011, 11:54 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Did turtle laws change ??
Replies: 11
Views: 2273

Re: Did turtle laws change ??

No nothing has changed. The 4" law? Was one of the first in a long line of self serving attacks launched by the HSUS against the pet trade. Its "purpose" was to prevent small children from putting pet turtles in their mouths and contracting salmonella. The law has never really been en...
by WSTREPS
February 2nd, 2011, 4:16 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A typical day around the house
Replies: 15
Views: 3073

Re: A typical day around the house

Thanks, I live in Buckingham Florida. I put moth balls all over the place but my place is still overrun with wildlife. If I want to do some field herping all I have to do is walk to my mail box. The worst looking rat snake ever. http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/wstreps/Misc/Picture2064.jpg C...
by WSTREPS
February 1st, 2011, 7:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A typical day around the house
Replies: 15
Views: 3073

A typical day around the house

Im not much of a picture taker. But heres some stuff from around my place that I randomly come across. Theres a whole bunch more. Like eagles and otters, and foxes, and bob cats.... sometimes tortoises and all kinds of junk. This is just a small sample. The top of my long driveway http://i481.photob...
by WSTREPS
January 13th, 2011, 2:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Need resources for the Paraguayan Chaco
Replies: 5
Views: 2696

Re: Need resources for the Paraguayan Chaco

Heres a link to a fairly informative webpage http://www.faunaparaguay.com/replist.html . There is also a somewhat decent field guild out there. I cant remember what's its called. Like always the warm and wet is the time to go looking. Personally I think overall the country sucks but from a wildlife ...
by WSTREPS
January 12th, 2011, 11:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: South America, Part 2
Replies: 28
Views: 8244

Re: South America, Part 2

This snake is a Central American , Blacktail , Trinidad whatever tree boa (Corallus ruschenbergerii) and not an Amazon Tree Boa (Corallus hortulanus). The mainland ruschenbergerii generally are patterned and are smaller then the Trinidad / Tabago stuff. ERNIE EISON http://i1217.photobucket.com/album...
by WSTREPS
December 30th, 2010, 10:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A Veiled Chameleon natural history question
Replies: 8
Views: 2426

Re: A Veiled Chameleon natural history question

1.) Do veiled chameleons (or any other cham species) go into underground (or any) refugia during the cold? 2.) Are there any activity changes during cold weather? Veils hide under rocks and dig burrows when the weather sucks. In Yeman it sucks quite a bit. Are there any activity changes during cold...
by WSTREPS
December 10th, 2010, 2:39 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

Ernie - I'm still looking forward to the day that you post about field herping on the field herping forum. Your use of this forum as a platform for your pro-collector attitudes got tiresome a long time ago. Do you think that you're changing hearts and minds here? Is there anyone who doesn't already...
by WSTREPS
December 3rd, 2010, 2:54 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

Having been privileged enough to work for TNC for five years or so in the 90s, I can say for certainty that no one was getting rich off of what we did (not in my state) and yes, the money went to purchasing and stewardship of sensitive habitats that protected a wide diversity of endangered, threate...
by WSTREPS
November 18th, 2010, 4:48 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

I suspect he can give a flying fk about this stuff on the net or what is said. True Anson doesn't care. I still think it would great if Anson would write a book.And maybe he will. I don't think its something he would be against doing if he was approached by the right person. Anson certainlly has a ...
by WSTREPS
November 12th, 2010, 12:32 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

If you can show me that groups like TNC are "the real conservation problem" I would listen. Heres just a few pieces to read over. There is so much more. http://prfamerica.org/dickinson/ArePeopleStillContributing2TNC.html http://www.redd-monitor.org/2010/03/05/the-nature-conservancy-and-co...
by WSTREPS
November 11th, 2010, 10:26 am
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

While I'm not ardently anti collecting, that statement is highly suspect. Hardly, in fact its very well documented. You should educate yourself. I used the Nature Conservancy as an example because they are the biggest and the worst. Another high profile example is Paul Watson. Paul Watson is one of...
by WSTREPS
November 11th, 2010, 8:44 am
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

Refresh my memory, please: how heavy was that sentence? I can't find anything online, and I've lent my copy of the Lizard King to a friend. The first time he got 6 years and 60k in fines. Plus whatever else was tacked on. There is always other stuff most people never hear about. If the time comes m...
by WSTREPS
November 11th, 2010, 6:12 am
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

Its good to hear that commercial collectors and poachers are not a problem. The real problem is a corrupt, antiquated justice system and of course conservations groups like The Nature Conservancy. Brilliant…. This should go a long way toward developing solutions. Ernie, what happened to your old pr...
by WSTREPS
November 8th, 2010, 6:39 am
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

Id say all this is a sign of is that its business as usual. How do you think these "Various conservation groups " do things? They are the real criminals. Phony conservation is the biggest money maker in the wildlife business and its dealers are the biggest criminals. That sounds interesti...
by WSTREPS
November 8th, 2010, 4:54 am
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

The Malaysian justice system is faulty, corrupt, and based on medieval morals at best, and this might be a sign that they're starting to take serious things they used to "overlook" in the past, thanks to a well-oiled system of nepotism, bribes and political as well as physical pressure. N...
by WSTREPS
November 7th, 2010, 5:31 pm
Forum: News
Topic: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained
Replies: 47
Views: 13388

Re: Anson Wong of "Lizard King" fame detained

Not bad....there's hope for the Malaysian justice system yet. So do you believe its fair to throw the book at someone for committing a minor offense to make up for the times they might have gotten away with larger offenses in the past. A sort of retro system of judgment? Id say its a pretty questio...
by WSTREPS
October 28th, 2010, 6:25 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Road Cruising Soundtracks
Replies: 89
Views: 13140

Re: Road Cruising Soundtracks

The only reason I go road cruising is for the music. I have a friend who likes to go out and ride around all night looking for the stuff we see everyday in our yards. I always end up going along. Any votes for that late 80's/early 90's Norwegian death metal we all used to listen to? Absolutely!!! I ...
by WSTREPS
October 27th, 2010, 2:15 pm
Forum: News
Topic: False news story about snake breeding?
Replies: 12
Views: 3551

Re: False news story about snake breeding?

"gross exaggeration" might have been overstating it a bit but I wouldn't exactly call the size estimate accurate. I felt the comment made it seem as if 6 meters about nineteen and a half feet was a typical adult size, that would be like saying humans get to be close to 9 ft tall and making...
by WSTREPS
October 27th, 2010, 9:19 am
Forum: News
Topic: False news story about snake breeding?
Replies: 12
Views: 3551

Re: False news story about snake breeding?

The "gold Thai python" once lived in dry evergreen forests in Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Prachin Buri and Sa Kaew. I guess that's sort of true, call them what you want the first albino Burmese pythons (4) were all supposedly found in the wild in Tha...
by WSTREPS
October 12th, 2010, 5:01 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Illegal Alien Invasion In Harbor City (DUW)
Replies: 42
Views: 8243

Re: Illegal Alien Invasion In Harbor City (DUW)

In the 1800's Bullfrogs were brought to California from the East coast and released as way of creating a sort of free range frog ranch. They have been firmly established there ever since. This was a similar idea to what the Spaniards did when they introduced hogs to Florida, 500 years ago. It would ...
by WSTREPS
September 29th, 2010, 10:12 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Research paper help-information about CITES
Replies: 5
Views: 1286

Re: Research paper help-information about CITES

Now please explain to us, Mr. Eison, how your opinion on this topic would be unbiased? klawnskale by "us" who are you talking about? Are you the chosen representative of some group? I think if anyone has a question they can ask it on their own. They certainly don't need some sort of self ...
by WSTREPS
September 29th, 2010, 5:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Research paper help-information about CITES
Replies: 5
Views: 1286

Re: Research paper help-information about CITES

I am writing a research paper for my International Relations/Environmental Studies 331-Global Ecological Crisis class at SFSU and have decided to write a short (7-8 page) paper of the efficacy of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The efficacy o...
by WSTREPS
September 17th, 2010, 5:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

You quote me, The guys in the trade don't oppose good science or sound legislation, we oppose the use of unfounded precautionary tactics and unfair legislation based on the recommendations of the anti-trade lobby and their million dollar lie filled propaganda driven campaigns. Further legislation mi...
by WSTREPS
September 16th, 2010, 11:49 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

I'm with you in principle on sustainable use. Unfortunately there aren’t enough examples of it working successfully. Some of this is a time constraint, since sustainable implies sustainable for some meaningful time scale, decades or centuries but with so many conflicting goals things often fall apa...
by WSTREPS
September 16th, 2010, 9:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Chuckwalla research in Nevada
Replies: 50
Views: 10717

Re: Chuckwalla research in Nevada

I acknowledge that commercial collecting is not going to cause even local extirpations of any reptiles in Nevada but still remain opposed to it.There's no question however that the local abundances of collected species are reduced and sometimes require years to recover. The authors tried to remove ...
by WSTREPS
September 15th, 2010, 11:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

As far as commercial collection being used as a "resource utilization vehicle," this seems to me to be a nice, sanitary term used to justify the activity. The primary goal is not education, utilization or even appreciation of the animals being collected...The primary goal rather is the co...
by WSTREPS
September 15th, 2010, 9:37 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Chuckwalla research in Nevada
Replies: 50
Views: 10717

Re: Chuckwalla research in Nevada

Keep in mind there is a very small but very vocal group of commercial collectors in Nevada who are much more effective as lobbyists than the folks opposed to commercial collecting. It probably doesn't help that the state profits from the sale of commercial collecting permits. I wonder how they spen...
by WSTREPS
September 14th, 2010, 5:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

In your opinion, are things getting better, worse, or about the same as far as animal welfare and exploiting endangered species? I'm not asking about you're involvement (though I would be interested to hear about that as well), but your impression of the live animal trade in general. In the live tr...
by WSTREPS
September 13th, 2010, 9:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

"none" This statement about bear hunting and bears not being used for food, is NOT a statement of fact.. Bears our indeed killed for food, as well as sport, as well as just for fun. But to say they are not hunted for food is ignorant of Bear Hunters. I understand what your saying Fudad.Ye...
by WSTREPS
September 12th, 2010, 5:44 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

Addendum: A good book to read regarding the convoluted ins and outs of the commercial reptile trade is "The Lizard King" by Bryan Christy. Soon to be made into a motion picture.. Anyone who needs to read the "The Lizard King" by Bryan Christy to know whats up will NEVER know wha...
by WSTREPS
September 11th, 2010, 7:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

I have not seen a wholesale list in a while but what does a fresh import nile go for now a days?? I remember them for $10 not long ago on list so $25 is still flipping a profit for zero investment if the guy works for a wholesaler and can pick them up as he sells them here and there. His boss house...
by WSTREPS
September 10th, 2010, 5:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Should I infiltrate the ranks?
Replies: 54
Views: 7405

Re: Should I infiltrate the ranks?

So I cruise Craig's List a lot while I pretend to work and I saw an add for a Nile Monitor for $25. A. Right off the bat any guy that is selling a $25.00 nile on Craig's List is not even a serious hobbyist let alone any kind of comercial collector. B. There is no way ANYONE can go to Nevada and col...
by WSTREPS
August 14th, 2010, 7:09 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)
Replies: 54
Views: 13305

Re: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)

No, that's you putting words in my mouth again. Can you point out where I said that, please? I was offering examples of situations to show you that legality does not equal ethics. It's usually best to show extreme examples so the point comes across. No, its not putting words in your mouth. Its poin...
by WSTREPS
August 13th, 2010, 4:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)
Replies: 54
Views: 13305

Re: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)

It was once illegal for women to vote - would you say that is ethical? It was once legal to buy and sell people as slaves - is that ethical in your mind? The laws you are using for examples were socially unjust and involved basic human rights to equality. Are you saying the ethics involved with the...
by WSTREPS
August 12th, 2010, 5:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)
Replies: 54
Views: 13305

Re: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)

Legality has been directly referenced to in this thread, Any argument about the ethics of selling "endangered wildlife " directly involves the legality's of the deal. That's what is at the heart of it all, anything beyond and then your talking about the ethics involved in dealing any kind ...
by WSTREPS
August 12th, 2010, 10:28 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)
Replies: 54
Views: 13305

Re: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)

And Walmart has sold whale meat in Japan! AAHHHHHH. Yawn. The focus of this thread isn't about the selling of endangered species. Its about doing it illegally . That's two different things. Whale meat isn't somehow slipping thru the cracks and popping up on the shelves of a WALMART owned business. ...
by WSTREPS
August 11th, 2010, 1:58 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)
Replies: 54
Views: 13305

Re: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)

As far as the croc goes, I have no idea what it is, but assuming that a "endangered" species is worth more than another is being presumptuous. To sell some to a client be it Walmart or some other local store means very little to a supplier who may or may not know what they have in the fir...
by WSTREPS
August 10th, 2010, 7:46 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)
Replies: 54
Views: 13305

Re: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)

Unless you work for Walmart China, your argument is based on even more guesses and suppositions than mine. Actually my argument is based on common business sense. It applys anywhere. The final two paragraphs of my previous post should have summed that up in terms that anyone could understand. It ha...
by WSTREPS
August 10th, 2010, 7:02 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)
Replies: 54
Views: 13305

Re: Herps Sold at Wal Mart (in China)

Nor did I say anything about Walmart doing any of this knowingly. I'm not a conspiracy theory crackpot suggesting that they are intentionally involved in black-market trading of endangered species. What I am suggesting is this: The ordering of the stock for that particular Walmart is probably done ...