Legitimate release/repopulation programs

[mtolypetsupply]

Is anyone a part of anything like this?

If so, please share:

how you got into it
what agencies you worked with
what protocols you had for acquiring/breeding/keeping/releasing
volunteer or paid
established program or were you a pioneer

and anything else you can share

[adamanteus]

Can I just point out that the indiscriminate release of captive Garters (or any fauna) is not only illegal, it is harmful to the local eco-system and may well be detremental to any existing local Garter population.
I strongly advise that no one enter into any kind of well meaning but ill-advised 're-population programme'. It won't work. At best the animals you release will die. At worst half the local fauna will die. If there are few (or no) Garters local to you, there will be a very good reason for that. You can't just flood an area with snakes and expect a population to develop.

I'm sure that's not what you were advocating, Stephi. I just wanted to 'put that out there'.

[Stefan-A]

Habitat loss is the #1 threat to reptiles and amphibians. If you want to help them, protecting the habitat is the one thing you need to focus on.

[gregmonsta]

I don't think you'll find any programs close to what you're looking for. Even in the case of the giant garter snake the focus has been on habitat conservation above all. It's been discussed with tetratania as well ... you just don't know that it wouldn't have a detrimental effect.

[mtolypetsupply]

I find it very interesting that everyone who said there aren't any programs like that in the USA all live across the pond....

In our area, we have had coyote reintroduction programs, raccoon capture/vaccinate/release programs, fish reintroduction/stocking, not to mention the other programs across the country, such as the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone. Bison were endangered, and are now so plentiful they are a food source, because of captive breeding efforts. And integrated pest management is all about introducing living things that are beneficial to the environment into locales where they did not exist before, or did not exist in as plentiful numbers to create the desired impact.

How can one advocate something if they are asking others merely to share experiences?

Actually, about the tetrataenia, the last study I read said they were looking for MORE captive breeding projects, and released populations. It seems because they are "only" garters there is no funding, and many hobbyists have been told that we're "only [stupid (implied)] hobbyists," so we feel defeated and don't pursue it. I personally believe that I have met some of the smartest people as garter hobbyists, and that it's a shame we often feel so discouraged because we love "just garters".

So not one member studies at a school that even explores the idea? Not one person on here is a wildlife official who knows about these kinds of reintroduction programs, and can even *hypothesize* about it? Not even one "I wish they had something like that here, I loved seeing them in the wild and don't anymore" post??????

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol i wish they had that here..... the population im my area has gone down alot since recent housing developments have started....

[Stefan-A]

Actually, about the tetrataenia, the last study I read said they were looking for MORE captive breeding projects, and released populations.

Would you happen to have a link or a title handy?

many hobbyists have been told that we're "only [stupid (implied)] hobbyists,"

Frankly, that's what we are. Without proper control and guidance from professionals, it's pointless to dabble in nature conservation. In fact, it's likely to be counter-productive and potentially devastating.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

All I can really add to this is what james already mentioned: if there are not a large number of garter snakes thriving in an area. There is a reason for it. Garters will thrive ANYWHERE, provided there is steady supply of clean food, water, and shelter. If they no longer live in a certain area, surely they once did and they simply died off or moved on for one reason or another. Human interventions, forest fires, bodies of water leaving, or changing course, are all reasons things like that can happen.

For one, I will say that I live right smack next to a man made massive dam (its made out of sand, dirt and grass though, probably about 1/2 to 3/4 a mile long) that cuts across a big creek and simply prevents a highway a few miles away from flooding when we get massive rains. The area surrounding is a wildlife reserve and is totally off limits to fishing, collection of specimens, etc. I have been down in there many times simply for observation purposes, and in my younger years, could never figure out why there were absolutely no snakes, turtles, birds nests... nothing!! Until I went to the other side and found all of these things in abundance. I love going down in there in the spring and watching the water snakes breed. after that I realized that the reason that no snakes populate the other side is because a few times a year, it massively, and I mean massively, floods and turns into a lake for a few days... complete with tree-tops sticking out of the water's surface. Some people would go down in there, see how barren it is, and want to "repopulate". The animals avoid that area on purpose, even the birds, because every time it floods, every living thing in there is either drowned, or forced up and away. This is my example of an unstable habitat. It's only one example of one type of unstable habitat, but you get my point (I hope).... It's my educated opinion that release programs would do absolutely no good for even the san-francisco garters. Simply because their habitat is diminishing and far too close to far too many dangers and morons. A released coyote or condor is far less likely to be smushed on a road or have its head mashed off with a shovel. So maybe reintroduction tings work with larger birds and mammals, but for reptiles, especially snakes, I see it as a waste of time. A snake is a snake to many people, especially ones with shovels and small children. The San Fran actually has a LOT of publicity, I know many people who will associate garter snake with them and ask me if I have any "of that endangered one". I wholeheartedly believe they are doomed as a separate subspecies, and that they will eventaully fade out and intergrade into infernalis for good.

[mtolypetsupply]

Link to original plan:

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/850911.pdf

Looking for subesquent reveiws

[ssssnakeluvr]

I have heard of no breeding/repopulation programs for reptiles...unfortunately they aren't as "popular" as reintroducing wolves or condors. those types of aniimals get better recognition, therefore more support. the main thing with reptiloe populations is conservation of habitat. putting snakes where there are no snakes will generally end up with no snakes there in the future as they will die or get eaten.