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

21st Century Wunderkammern – Cabinet of Curiosities 21st Century Wunderkammern – Cabinet of Curiosities U.S. Stats (2009) 4.7 million households owned 13.6 million pet (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 .

(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* 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* NV Reptiles NV - US Exported Collected Exports? 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)

*Non-turtle/Top15 Export of U.S. (NV) Reptiles Year Reptiles* NV Reptiles NV - US Exported Collected 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 Reptiles for Sale in the US A Year in A Life of 1 Collector 2015 (#) Species EU ($) US ($) Total EU ($) Total US ($) 2,347 Horned 1,150 Leopard 1,118 Collared Lizard 411 Zebra-tailed Lizard 222 Desert Spiny Lizard 212 170 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 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 $208,536 (USA) A Year in A Life of 1 Collector 2015 (#) Species Equivalent ofEU Big($) GameUS ($) Biomass?Total EU ($) 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 PET TRADE REVENUE: $670,296 (EU) or $208,536 (USA) A Year in A Life of 1 Collector 2015Total (#) Species Reptile Mass = 7.6EU ($)Male USBig ($) Horn SheepTotal EU ($)(200lbs) Total US ($) 2,347Total Horned Reptile Lizards Mass = 7.6$110.00 Male $39.99Big Horn Sheep$258,170 (200lbs) $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 1,000+ Out of State + Points Not Depicted Unlimited Take Commercial Collection

35000

30000

25000

20000 PET TRADE REVENUE: $10,511,548

15000

10000

5000

0 Commercial Collection

35000 <450,000 reptiles self-reported to 31,803 have been removed from landscape 30000 ~14,000 Reptiles Annually Removed 25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0 Commercial Collection

35000 <450,000 reptiles self-reported to 31,803 have been removed from landscape 30000 ~14,000 Reptiles Annually Removed 25000

20000

15000

10000 Commission Review

5000 Select Spp. Commission & Courts 0 Why The Decline?

35000

30000 Collectors (N = 2 - 31) Reptiles Collected (N = 104 - 3,180) 25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0 308 1,559 8,028 760 288

35000

30000

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0 308 1,559 8,028 760 288 7 25 55 22 5 35000

30000

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0 Collected - 15,945 92 in 1 day Herbivore/Saxicolous Annual recruitment 20% 15y Life Span 8.2y Generation 2-3y Maturity

+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 >600 in 1 day Specialist* Delayed Reproduction 8y Life Span 4y Generation 2y Maturity

+5

-7 Desert (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) Collected - 105,093 >600 in 1 day Ant Specialist* Delayed Reproduction 8y Life Span 4y Generation 2y Maturity Top 8 NV Reptiles (5 SOCP) Average +5 and -8 +5

-7 Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) 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 31,830 30000

25000 21,262 20000 14.998 15000 7,102 10000

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%

27% 47%** 53% 96% 74%

Reptiles Mammals Scorpions **Greatly Underestimate % Dead: + Beetle Decomposition 368 (307) Traps Checked 2016-17

Dead “Live” 3%

27% 47%** 53% 96% 74%

Reptiles Mammals Scorpions **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)

1.00 Mammals (0/34)

0.80

0.60

0.40 % LIVE ANIMALS % LIVE 0.20

0.00 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/10 6/12 6/14 6/16 6/18 6/20 Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps)

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40 % LIVE ANIMALS % LIVE Reptiles (27/30) 0.20

0.00 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/10 6/12 6/14 6/16 6/18 6/20 Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps)

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40 Reptiles (27/30) % LIVE ANIMALS % LIVE

0.20 Scorpions (8/13) 0.00 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/10 6/12 6/14 6/16 6/18 6/20 Repeated Pit Fall Surveys (30 traps)

1.00

0.80

0.60 Reptiles (27/30) @ $2.50-6.00* = $106 0.40 % LIVE ANIMALS % LIVE Mammals (0/34) 0.20 Scorpions (8/13) @ $4 = $32 0.00 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 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 Collectors (N = 2 - 31) Reptiles Collected (N = 104 - 3,180) 25000

20000

15000

10000 Captive Breeding 5000 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, welfare & the spread of invasive species & emerging infectious disease.”

Snake Fungal Disease BSal

Chytrid 15 states; 30 spp. Global Europe & Asia (England, Germany, & Australia) (International pet trade) (European pet trade) Why NV is Great!

Great Basin

Mojave

Commercial (Regs) ? Greatest Mod-High Moderate Low Nanjappa & Conrad 2011 -Modified The End?

Jason L. Jones Herpetologist Diversity Division [email protected] 702-486-5127 ext 3718 photo & literature references available upon request