Wild tetrataenia

[BUSHSNAKE]

its not about giving away locale info. its about giving the animal protection...and your not protecting them when your hunting them down to take a picture, if you could do it then everyone can and thats not leading by example. in my state the massasauga is endangered and HIGHLY protected...trust me when i say they are PROTECTED and yes even photographing them can put them at risk

[ConcinusMan]

Why would posting photo's of endangered creatures be in any way illegal :confused

It's not if it's done right. Photographing the SF garters, even on public or protected habitat is perfectly legal. People have been doing this for decades. It's not doing any harm. Also, I keep hearing people saying you shouldn't give away locales and I even got chastized for giving up the location of my favorite spot for finding SF garters. Well, that's ridiculous because it's not a secret. The spot is very well known already and lots of people do get photos there. It doesn't appear to be having any effect on the snakes. Also, there are plenty of officers keeping a watchful eye in those areas to keep people from doing harm or walking out with snakes. Believe me, in those prime SF garter areas, you are being watched.

What they don't like is people that engage in destructive behavior, such as flipping, or other harmful activity in their quest for photos. I don't see how the DNR can force anyone to take down pictures. Sounds like someone is overstepping their authority.

[BUSHSNAKE]

you just be quit Richard

[ConcinusMan]

Now, you know better than that. What do you really think the chances are that I will comply?

people want their wildlife protected but when the DNR does their job people dont like it...i do alot of field herping so i understand what it would take to get a picture of an endangered snake...you have to hunt it down...

What a bunch of bull. I disagree. Go out at the right time of year and right conditions and your "hunting down" becomes nothing more than walking around until you find one basking. Flipping and other destructive, invasive behavior should be illegal if it isn't already, but photographing without doing the destructive and invasive activity? I'd fight that. There's no way they would tell me I can't go though an area, doing no harm, and taking photos.

There are places for SF garters where they don't mind if people come to take photos if that's all you're doing. Here in WA there is a disjunct population of CA mt. kingsnakes at Beacon Rock State Park in the columbia river gorge. Plenty of watchful officers are there to protect the snakes. Heck, they'll even point out the good spots and remind you that flipping or habitat destruction is highly illegal. They don't mind people coming to see and photograph them if they are in the open. There's nothing illegal about the use of a State Park and taking photos.

Oh, and I might point out that there's not a damn thing they can do about it if you do this on private property. Many very good spots for seeing SF garters are on private property. You could sit there and slaughter the snakes and there's not a damn thing they can do about it. I would be telling those officers to prove that I didn't take the photos of those rattlesnakes on private property. There's nothing they can do to you for posting photos of them.

And to protect the place you found the snake you just post the snake itself, right. I haven’t heard anyone mention where they WC or seen the snake. So for DNR to strongly suggest you take the web site down … IMHO … is a bit extreme.

They have no authority to make you take them down, or any authority to tell you that you can't reveal the location. No authority at all.

[Didymus20X6]

What happened to the principle of "innocent until proven guilty"? If the only evidence the DNR has are the pictures of the snakes - and nothing to indicate that the photographer is disturbing them, putting undue stress on them, or damaging their habitat - then the photographer shouldn't be treated like a criminal.

To force - or threaten to force - a photographer to take down his pictures or shut down his website is outside of the boundaries of their responsibility. I don't care whose good it's supposedly for.

[ConcinusMan]

Exactly. It's like they're just bullying you into submission, or at least, that's what they're hoping for. Like I said, they have no authority to do this at all. I would have responded with a resounding "hell no" if they talked to me like that. I would tell them if they have a reason or enough evidence to charge me with something, then go right ahead. Otherwise, shut up and kiss my...

Of course, I say the same thing to any law enforcement that tries to intimidate me. I always tell them if you had enough to charge me, we wouldn't be having this conversation so if that is all, we're done here.

They do know however, that most people have idea what their rights are in a situation like this and they will, and do, take advantage of that any chance they get. First thing I do when I am pulled over is get out of the car and lock the door behind me. Most people do not know you can do that and let the cops intimidate them into a search for which they have authority. Bottom line is, if they have to ask your permission, then they don't have the right and my answer is always no. That doesn't imply guilt.

Didn't mean to derail the thread or change the subject. Just driving home the point that they do not have the authority to tell you what to do with your own photos.

[PINJOHN]

A very interesting group of reply's, to tell the truth when i saw bushsnakes answer i thought my wildlife/herping /photographic, moral compass must be somewhat skiwiff, but i am relieved to see my feeling of indignation at authority over stepping it,s boundaries is shared by other's
my apologies if my question has side tracked this fantastic thread

[ConcinusMan]

Side tracked in a good way.

[RedSidedSPR]

As long as the OP doesn't mind, side tracking like that (with interesting info) is great imo.

[BUSHSNAKE]

ok then, the massasauga, the snake that started this is highly protected, the laws in wisconsin are the same in Illinois(where im at)they exsist is such small poulations and are extremely fragile...you can not just show up and take pictures like you can with the SF garter or the moutain king as stated by Richard, thats a fact not my opinion