& Pit Fall Trap Updates Commercial Collection

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

21st Century Wunderkammern – Cabinet of Curiosities

21st 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 (2nd only to drugs) accounts for $8 - $10 billion in sales. Reptiles are arguably the most trafficked live animals.

(Collins & Fenili 2011, USDI 2011)

$2,000+

Rare reptiles more profitable than heroin. – J. O’Kane

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 (non turtle) - 154,343/year

(Herrel & Meijden 2014)

Top 15 Reptiles (*introduced/non-native)

Export of U.S. (NV) Reptiles Year

Reptiles* Exported

NV Reptiles Collected

NV - US Exports?

2005 111,463 2006 161,147 2007 208,407 2008 139,649 2009 125,400 2010 25,652 Total 771,717

*Non-turtle/Top15

(Collins & Fenili 2011 Herrel & Meijden 2014)

Export of U.S. (NV) Reptiles Year

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%

*Non-turtle/Top15

(Collins & Fenili 2011 Herrel & Meijden 2014)

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)

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

A Year in A Life of 1 Collector

PET TRADE REVENUE: ? (EU) or ? (US)

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

A Year in A Life of 1 Collector

PET TRADE REVENUE: $670,296 (EU) or $208,536 (USA)

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 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

A Year in A Life of 1 Collector

PET TRADE REVENUE: $670,296 (EU) or $208,536 (USA)

Equivalent of Big Game Biomass?

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 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

A Year in A Life of 1 Collector

PET TRADE REVENUE: $670,296 (EU) or $208,536 (USA)

Total Reptile Mass = 7.6 Male Big Horn Sheep (200lbs)

Total Reptile Mass = 7.6 Male Big Horn Sheep (200lbs)

Why?

Great Basin

Mojave

High SW Desert Spp. Endemism

(Stebbins 2003)

Relatively High Species Diversity

(Stebbins 2003)

53 spp.

Commercial (Regs)

Greatest

Low

Mod-High

Moderate

Only Western State Allowing Commercial Collection

(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

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

PET TRADE REVENUE: $10,511,548

Commercial Collection <450,000 reptiles self-reported to have been removed from landscape ~14,000 Reptiles Annually Removed

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000 31,803

Commercial Collection <450,000 reptiles self-reported to have been removed from landscape ~14,000 Reptiles Annually Removed

Commission & Courts

Commission Review

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Select Spp.

31,803

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Why The Decline?

Reptiles Collected (N = 104 - 3,180) Collectors (N = 2 - 31)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

288 308 8,028 760 1,559

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

350005 7 55 22 25

288 308 8,028 760 1,559

Herbivore/Saxicolous Annual recruitment 20% 15y Life Span 8.2y Generation 2-3y Maturity

Collected - 15,945

+5

-9

Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater)

92 in 1 day

(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

+5

-7 Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)

>600 in 1 day

Collected - 105,093 Ant Specialist* Delayed Reproduction 8y Life Span 4y Generation 2y Maturity

+5

-7 Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)

>600 in 1 day

Top 8 NV Reptiles (5 SOCP) Average +5 and -8

Ivanpah-Pahrump Valleys

Amargosa Valley

Days Days

Reptiles/Day

Total Take

Reptiles/Day

Total Take

Amargosa Valley

Amargosa Valley

Days

Reptiles/Day

Total Take

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

31,830

1994 2001 2009 2016

21,262

14.998

7,102

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

368 (307) Traps Checked 2016-17

Reptiles

53% 47%**

3%

96%

Mammals

27%

74%

Scorpions

“Live” Dead

**Greatly Underestimate % Dead: Predation + Beetle Decomposition

368 (307) Traps Checked 2016-17

Reptiles

53% 47%**

3%

96%

Mammals

27%

74%

Scorpions

“Live” Dead

**Greatly Underestimate % Dead: Predation + Beetle Decomposition

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)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.005/

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

Mammals (0/34)

% L

IVE

ANIM

ALS

Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.005/

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

Reptiles (27/30)% L

IVE

ANIM

ALS

Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.005/

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

Reptiles (27/30)

Scorpions (8/13)

% L

IVE

ANIM

ALS

Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.005/

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

Reptiles (27/30)

Mammals (0/34)

Scorpions (8/13) @ $4 = $32

@ $2.50-6.00* = $106

% L

IVE

ANIM

ALS

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

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Why The Decline?

Reptiles Collected (N = 104 - 3,180) Collectors (N = 2 - 31)

Captive Breeding Population Level Impacts

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.”

15 states; 30 spp. (England, Germany, & Australia)

Snake Fungal Disease

Chytrid

BSal

Europe & Asia (European pet trade)

Global (International pet trade)

Great Basin

Mojave

Nanjappa & Conrad 2011 -Modified

Commercial (Regs)

Greatest

Low

Mod-High

Moderate

Why NV is Great!

?

The End?

Jason L. Jones Herpetologist Diversity Division jljones@ndow.org 702-486-5127 ext 3718 photo & literature references available upon request