I can see your point. However, if I collect a few this year I hope that nobody thinks badly of me. Turns out that the areas that most garters I have collected over the years came from, left their families and community behind to get bulldozed. Entire populations gone forever. In that context, did my collecting, before the bulldozer came, make any diffference? Perhaps it can if I pass a few snakes onto responsible breeders? When I say a few, I mean a few, and at no profit. Just a thought.

Ticks me off to no end. The habitat where I released most of my CB concinnus is now no longer existing. Any concinnus (and there were plenty) didn't stand a chance. Nowhwere to go but streets and parking lots. Sucks. but hey, the creek is clean now thanks to millions of dollars in local property tax on owners who didn't even contribute to the mess. Clean creek, but acres and acres of wetlands and snake habitiat is gone.

I have but one hope left for finding concinnus in my county. Salmon creek wetlands. Not easy to get to, even though it's close. Not even going to try that until we get to 70+ degrees. Mostly I'll be filming, but a few will be going home with me before the bulldozer comes, and come it will.