Commercial Collection & Pit Fall Trap Updates Jason L. Jones Herpetologist 23 June 2017 Commission Update
Everyone collects
Everyone collects Some collections require permits Some are illegal.
16-17th Century Wunderkammern Cabinet of Curiosities
21 st Century Wunderkammern Cabinet of Curiosities
21 st Century Wunderkammern Cabinet of Curiosities
U.S. Reptile Stats (2009) 4.7 million households owned 13.6 million pet reptiles (1/20 houses had ~3 reptiles) vs. 37,397 hunters/anglers (1/2.5m) $1.4 billion annual revenues for U.S. reptile industry. 11.3 million live reptiles were exported from the United States. 900,000 live reptiles were imported into the United States. U.S. businesses dominate the global reptile industry. Wildlife smuggling (2 nd only to drugs) accounts for $8 - $10 billion in sales. Reptiles are arguably the most trafficked live animals. (Collins & Fenili 2011, USDI 2011)
Rare reptiles more profitable than heroin. J. O Kane $2,000+
Physiology ( cold blooded [no metabolic heat]) + Lack of international, federal, & state enforcement
But Illegal take methods* Species origin falsified* Species mislabeled Captive Bred misused
* * (Herrel & Meijden 2014)
* * (Herrel & Meijden 2014)
Top 15 Reptiles (*introduced/non-native) Top 15 Reptiles (non turtle) - 154,343/year (Herrel & Meijden 2014)
Export of U.S. (NV) Reptiles Year Reptiles* Exported 2005 111,463 2006 161,147 2007 208,407 2008 139,649 2009 125,400 2010 25,652 Total 771,717 (Collins & Fenili 2011 Herrel & Meijden 2014) NV Reptiles Collected NV - US Exports? *Non-turtle/Top15
Year Export of U.S. (NV) Reptiles Reptiles* Exported NV Reptiles Collected NV - US Exports? 2005 111,463 20,173 18% 2006 161,147 15,636 10% 2007 208,407 13,012 6% 2008 139,649 15,806 11% 2009 125,400 14,988 12% 2010 25,652 13,081 51% Total 771,717 92,696 12% (Collins & Fenili 2011 Herrel & Meijden 2014) *Non-turtle/Top15
Nevada Reptiles for Sale in the US
2015 (#) Species EU ($) US ($) Total EU ($) Total US ($) 2,347 Horned Lizards 1,150 Leopard Lizard 1,118 Collared Lizard 411 Zebra-tailed Lizard 222 Desert Spiny Lizard 212 Chuckwalla 170 Side blotched 159 Fence Lizard (2spp*) 58 Whiptails 21 Gopher Snakes 15 Banded Gecko 11 Shovel-nosed Snake 7 Red Racer 6 Desert Iguana 4 Patch-nosed Snake A Year in A Life of 1 Collector PET TRADE REVENUE:? (EU) or? (US)
A Year in A Life of 1 Collector 2015 (#) Species EU ($) US ($) Total EU ($) Total US ($) 2,347 Horned Lizards $110.00 $39.99 1,150 Leopard Lizard $77.53 $23.99 1,118 Collared Lizard $195.00 $39.99 411 Zebra-tailed Lizard $43.00 $14.99 222 Desert Spiny Lizard $64.63 $20.00 212 Chuckwalla $250.00 $109.99 170 Side blotched $41.98 $12.99 159 Fence Lizard (2spp*) $38.78 $12.00 58 Whiptails $51.67 $15.99 21 Gopher Snakes $380.00 $99.99 15 Banded Gecko $96.95 $30.00 11 Shovel-nosed Snake $96.91 $29.99 7 Red Racer $64.63 $20.00 6 Desert Iguana $141.00 $49.99 4 Patch-nosed Snake $80.79 $25.00 PET TRADE REVENUE:? (EU) or? (US)
A Year in A Life of 1 Collector 2015 (#) Species EU ($) US ($) Total EU ($) Total US ($) 2,347 Horned Lizards $110.00 $39.99 $258,170 $93,857 1,150 Leopard Lizard $77.53 $23.99 $89,154 $27,589 1,118 Collared Lizard $195.00 $39.99 $218,010 $44,709 411 Zebra-tailed Lizard $43.00 $14.99 $17,673 $6,161 222 Desert Spiny Lizard $64.63 $20.00 $14,348 $4,440 212 Chuckwalla $250.00 $109.99 $44,520 $23,318 170 Side blotched $41.98 $12.99 $7,136 $2,208 159 Fence Lizard (2spp*) $38.78 $12.00 $6,166 $1,908 58 Whiptails $51.67 $15.99 $2,997 $927 21 Gopher Snakes $380.00 $99.99 $7,980 $2,100 15 Banded Gecko $96.95 $30.00 $1,454 $450 11 Shovel-nosed Snake $96.91 $29.99 $1,066 $330 7 Red Racer $64.63 $20.00 $452 $140 6 Desert Iguana $141.00 $49.99 $846 $300 4 Patch-nosed Snake $80.79 $25.00 $323 $100 PET TRADE REVENUE: $670,296 (EU) or $208,536 (USA)
A Year in A Life of 1 Collector 2015 (#) Species EU ($) US ($) Total EU ($) Total US ($) Equivalent of Big Game Biomass? 2,347 Horned Lizards $110.00 $39.99 $258,170 $93,857 1,150 Leopard Lizard $77.53 $23.99 $89,154 $27,589 1,118 Collared Lizard $195.00 $39.99 $218,010 $44,709 411 Zebra-tailed Lizard $43.00 $14.99 $17,673 $6,161 222 Desert Spiny Lizard $64.63 $20.00 $14,348 $4,440 212 Chuckwalla $250.00 $109.99 $44,520 $23,318 170 Side blotched $41.98 $12.99 $7,136 $2,208 159 Fence Lizard (2spp*) $38.78 $12.00 $6,166 $1,908 58 Whiptails $51.67 $15.99 $2,997 $927 21 Gophersnakes $380.00 $99.99 $7,980 $2,100 15 Banded Gecko $96.95 $30.00 $1,454 $450 11 Shovel-nosed Snake $96.91 $29.99 $1,066 $330 7 Red Racer $64.63 $20.00 $452 $140 6 Desert Iguana $141.00 $49.99 $846 $300 4 Patch-nosed Snake $80.79 $25.00 $323 $100 PET TRADE REVENUE: $670,296 (EU) or $208,536 (USA)
A Year in A Life of 1 Collector 2015 (#) Species EU ($) US ($) Total EU ($) Total US ($) Total Reptile Mass = 7.6 Male Big Horn Sheep (200lbs) 2,347 Horned Lizards $110.00 $39.99 $258,170 $93,857 1,150 Leopard Lizard $77.53 $23.99 $89,154 $27,589 1,118 Collared Lizard $195.00 $39.99 $218,010 $44,709 411 Zebra-tailed Lizard $43.00 $14.99 $17,673 $6,161 222 Desert Spiny Lizard $64.63 $20.00 $14,348 $4,440 212 Chuckwalla $250.00 $109.99 $44,520 $23,318 170 Side blotched $41.98 $12.99 $7,136 $2,208 159 Fence Lizard (2spp*) $38.78 $12.00 $6,166 $1,908 58 Whiptails $51.67 $15.99 $2,997 $927 21 Gophersnakes $380.00 $99.99 $7,980 $2,100 15 Banded Gecko $96.95 $30.00 $1,454 $450 11 Shovel-nosed Snake $96.91 $29.99 $1,066 $330 7 Red Racer $64.63 $20.00 $452 $140 6 Desert Iguana $141.00 $49.99 $846 $300 4 Patch-nosed Snake $80.79 $25.00 $323 $100 PET TRADE REVENUE: $670,296 (EU) or $208,536 (USA)
Why?
High SW Desert Spp. Endemism Great Basin Mojave (Stebbins 2003)
Relatively High Species Diversity 53 spp. (Stebbins 2003)
Only Western State Allowing Commercial Collection Commercial (Regs) Greatest Mod-High Moderate Low (Stebbins 2003, Nanjappa & Conrad 2011)
Unique/Novel Species (can t get them anywhere else) + High Diversity + Unlimited Take 1,000+ Out of State Points Not Depicted
Commercial Collection 35000 30000 25000 20000 PET TRADE REVENUE: $10,511,548 15000 10000 5000 0
Commercial Collection 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 31,803 <450,000 reptiles self-reported to have been removed from landscape ~14,000 Reptiles Annually Removed
Commercial Collection 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 31,803 <450,000 reptiles self-reported to have been removed from landscape ~14,000 Reptiles Annually Removed 10000 5000 0 Select Spp. Commission Review Commission & Courts
Why The Decline? 35000 30000 25000 Collectors (N = 2-31) Reptiles Collected (N = 104-3,180) 20000 15000 10000 5000 0
308 1,559 8,028 760 288 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0
35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 308 1,559 8,028 760 7 25 55 22 288 5
Collected - 15,945 Herbivore/Saxicolous Annual recruitment 20% 15y Life Span 8.2y Generation 2-3y Maturity 92 in 1 day +5-9 Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater)
(Berry 1974)
Removal surveys found chuckwalla populations are slow to recover (small clutches, long lived, little/no migration, habitat specialists). These factors contribute to a population crash post removal. (Brodie et al. 2003)
Collected - 105,093 Ant Specialist* Delayed Reproduction 8y Life Span 4y Generation 2y Maturity >600 in 1 day +5 Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) -7
Collected - 105,093 Ant Specialist* Delayed Reproduction 8y Life Span 4y Generation 2y Maturity Top 8 NV Reptiles (5 SOCP) Average +5 and -8 >600 in 1 day +5 Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) -7
Amargosa Valley Ivanpah-Pahrump Valleys Days Days Reptiles/Day Reptiles/Day Total Take Total Take
Amargosa Valley Days Reptiles/Day Amargosa Valley Total Take
1994 2001 2009 2016 35000 30000 31,830 25000 20000 15000 10000 21,262 14.998 7,102 5000 0
368 (307) Traps Checked 2016-17 700+ Exist in SoNV
368 (307) Traps Checked 2016-17 197 Reptiles observed - 64% traps contained reptiles 96 mammals observed - 31% contained mammals 99 Scorpions observed - *69% contained scorpions
368 (307) Traps Checked 2016-17 197 Reptiles observed - 64% traps contained reptiles 96 mammals observed - 31% contained mammals 99 Scorpions observed - *69% contained scorpions Dead Live 3% 47%** 53% 96% 74% 27% Reptiles Mammals **Greatly Underestimate % Dead: Predation + Beetle Decomposition Scorpions
368 (307) Traps Checked 2016-17 Dead Live 3% 47%** 53% 96% 74% 27% Reptiles Mammals **Greatly Underestimate % Dead: Predation + Beetle Decomposition Scorpions
Pit Fall Traps - 309 100 s of traps destroyed in 2012 100+ destroyed in 2017 100 s remain
2017: Survey 30 Active Traps (40t) 0.5 Miles Dirt Road; May-June 17 Removed All Live & Dead Weekly
Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps) 1.00 Mammals (0/34) % LIVE ANIMALS 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 6/10 6/12 6/14 6/16 6/18 6/20
Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps) 1.00 % LIVE ANIMALS 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 Reptiles (27/30) 0.00 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 6/10 6/12 6/14 6/16 6/18 6/20
Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps) 1.00 % LIVE ANIMALS 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 Reptiles (27/30) Scorpions (8/13) 0.00 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 6/10 6/12 6/14 6/16 6/18 6/20
Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps) 1.00 0.80 % LIVE ANIMALS 0.60 0.40 0.20 Reptiles (27/30) @ $2.50-6.00* = $106 Mammals (0/34) Scorpions (8/13) @ $4 = $32 0.00 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 6/10 6/12 6/14 6/16 6/18 6/20
Imagine the impact of 700+ traps, open 365 days/year for ~20 years 100 s of traps destroyed in 2012 100+ destroyed in 2017 100 s remain
Why The Decline? 35000 30000 25000 Collectors (N = 2-31) Reptiles Collected (N = 104-3,180) 20000 15000 10000 5000 Captive Breeding Population Level Impacts 0
Reptiles play an important role in the economy, culture, & ecosystems in which they reside Reptiles are niche specialists & best indicators for assessing habitat & climate changes (ectothermic or cold blooded )
Collection targets & depletes population sources of long lived & reproductively limited species; requiring increased species diversity & collection areas (CA-AZ?) to match market demands Collection is additive to the ongoing list of current threats (e.g., habitat conversion/loss, drought, disease) Data has limited management/scientific value as the market not management dictates collection patterns & trends Given the increasing trend of captive breeding (90% US exports) there is a decreasing need for commercial collection Many of the top collected species fair poorly (die) in captivity (ethics)
Also of Concern: Disease & The Herp Trade Amphibians & reptiles are among the most commonly traded animals & this trade has raised concern because of its potential impact on natural populations, animal welfare & the spread of invasive species & emerging infectious disease. Snake Fungal Disease BSal 15 states; 30 spp. (England, Germany, & Australia) Chytrid Global (International pet trade) Europe & Asia (European pet trade)
Why NV is Great! Great Basin Mojave? Commercial (Regs) Greatest Mod-High Moderate Low Nanjappa & Conrad 2011 -Modified
Jason L. Jones Herpetologist Diversity Division jljones@ndow.org 702-486-5127 ext 3718 photo & literature references available upon request The End?