| HB 12 - A Texas Travesty! Who will save our snakes? Click to read article. Download
the petition today! Acquire signatures
and send back to: Help save wildlife and our rights as Texans. As of June 15, 2007 Texans are NOT allowed to pick up a turtle crossing the road, which will certainly become "road kill" without a human’s help. The HB 12 legislation PROHIBITS you from touching any WILDLIFE on public roadways or right-of-ways, ditches, etc. You are not allowed to protect or collect any reptile or amphibian according to section 44 of HB 12 except on privately owned land. This law targets wildlife lovers, especially reptile and amphibian enthusiasts. Texas Parks and Wildlife considers "hunting" and "collecting" equal, which is not true... hunting includes a weapon to kill wildlife, and collecting includes specialized tools to capture animals, to move off roadways, and does not harm or endanger wildlife. "We the undersigned demand the rewriting of HB 12 section 44 to include protection of reptiles and amphibians and allow collecting of non-game animals and we expect recognition as a legitimate segment of Texas Sportsmen, right alongside Deer Hunters and Fishermen. We would like TP&W to hire more Herpetologists and devote more time, energy, and resources for non-game species. We want tighter restrictions on commercial exploitation while finding a middle ground for Hobbyist collectors and allowing for the selling of captive born babies and expanding the species in captivity. Finally, herpetologists must be involved in drafting regulations that work for everyone: the General Public, Legislators, TP&W, Herpetologists."
Contact Clint Pustejovsky
at 713-934-7668 or clint@texassnakes.net |