SWCHR Code of Ethics

As a member of the Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research, I subscribe to the Association’s Code of Ethics.

All applicable city, county, state and federal laws should be respected and obeyed in all cases when in the field.

Field activities should limit the impact on natural habitats, replacing all cover objects, not tearing apart rocks or logs and refraining from the use of gasoline or other toxic chemicals.

Catch and release coupled with photography and the limited take of non-protected species for personal study or breeding use is permitted. The commercial take and sale of wild-caught animals is not acceptable.

Collecting practices should include the respect of landowner rights, including but not limited to securing permission for land entry and the packing out of all personal trash.

Captive-breeding efforts are recognized as a valid means of potentially reducing collection pressures on wild populations and is encouraged.

The release of captive animals, including captive-bred animals, into the wild is discouraged except under the supervision of trained professionals and in accordance with an accepted species preservation or restocking plan.

The disclosure of exact locality information on public internet forums is discouraged in most circumstances. Locality information posted on public internet forums usually should be restricted to providing the name of the county where the animal was found. When specific locality data is provided to one in confidence, it should be kept in confidence and should not be abused or shares with others without explicit permission.

Fellow members of the Association are always to be treated cordially and in a respectful manner.