Pacific Northwest Meet and Greet

[katach]

What about Olympia Richard? Would that work, it's not too much farther than chehalis.

[Lisa4john]

We could probably figure something out someday. I too need a weekend, my son would love to come too. He's 13 and thinks it's really cool to try and catch them. Although I have him release again. We will become photo catch and releasers probably. My conscience won't let me keep after talking to the folks that said it was not allowed.

[Lisa4john]

Also I could not have an over night, just a day visit, so I couldn't go any farther than Chelalis. How many different areas are we looking at coming from?

[katach]

Steve spoke to someone at fish and wild life about2 months ago and he said there was nothing saying you couldn't keep native garters, so it's cool.

[katach]

Moses Lake, Vancouver, Shelton, Port Orchard, Bremerton, and Granite Falls, that I know of.

[ConcinusMan]

We could probably figure something out someday. I too need a weekend, my son would love to come too. He's 13 and thinks it's really cool to try and catch them. Although I have him release again. We will become photo catch and releasers probably. My conscience won't let me keep after talking to the folks that said it was not allowed.

Well, I have to tell you. There are also laws on the books making it illegal to spit on the sidewalk or to walk around with less than a few bucks in your pocket. In some places around WA, it's still illegal for women to smoke in public. I've had my fair share of encounters with WA wildlife officials. I've talked to quite a few. Even had a visit regarding my keeping native snakes. They do fall under the umbrella of "native wildlife" so technically illegal to keep or collect without an educational or research license.

But I have to tell you, they don't give a damn about garter snakes at all. They confiscated, or rather, I gave them up voluntarily, my rubber boas some years back. I let them in without a warrant, and let them inspect the facilities and the snakes. They were satisfied that the snakes were well cared for and maintained. They only took the boas because at the time they were on the state's "threatened" species list. (no longer). They let me keep the garters. It's more trouble than it's worth to confiscate them and not knowing for sure exactly where they were caught, it could do more harm than good to release them wherever.

They have "bigger fish to fry". Honestly, the law was really intended to keep people from say, raising a baby deer, racoon, etc. as a pet. They really don't care about anything except game animals. Garter snakes are so common that even if confiscated, they usually don't prosecute, and end up destroying confiscated snakes anyway. They don't really want to do that. As long as the animals are well cared for, they choose to not enforce. Too much hassle, not worth their time or money. Things are even worse these days. With the budget problems, they don't even have enough officers to effectively protect all game and fish. They only have the budget to concentrate on that, and then, only in "hotspots" where a lot of abuse (illegal hunting/fishing) takes place.

Now keep in mind, even though they are not concerned about garters, they will nail your *** if you take them from public land, wildlife refuges, parks, etc. If they are on private property, they won't do anything. They don't care.

The thing is, I never take garters from anywhere unless I can come back and release them where I found them. Not all garters collected end up making good captives. Some need to be released because they just don't adapt. I wouldn't take them from some place I won't return to, and I won't release them someplace they don't belong.

Steve spoke to someone at fish and wild life about2 months ago and he said there was nothing saying you couldn't keep native garters, so it's cool.

That's Iowa. Laws vary from State to State.

[ConcinusMan]

What about Olympia Richard? Would that work, it's not too much farther than chehalis.

Possibly. Depends on the timing. And you're right. It's only another 20-25 minutes north of Chehalis on the freeway.

[katach]

Sorry I should have clarified, he talked to WA fish and wild life.

I'm not looking at anything too quickly to do the meet and greet so we'll have time to figure things out and plan.

[kibakiba]

I would like to go, depends on the date though, if I don't have money I can't do anything or pay you back for gas. I might also have work.. I'm not sure. I'm still looking for a job.

[Lisa4john]

Thanks Richard, eases my mind a bit. I absolutely agree to know where you get your snake at since they are not all good captives. The welfare of the animal is the most important to me and my family. We would never intentionally put them in harms way. Besides, seeing them, taking pix and letting them be will be really cool for us personally since we do not want so many mouths to feed, breeding or selling.