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Thomas, R. , Operation shellshock. Unpublished paper presented at USFWS Workshop on Conservation and Trade Management of Freshwater and Terrestrial Turtles in the United States. 
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:17:25 UTC)
Resource type: Conference Paper
BibTeX citation key: anon2010.16544
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Categories: General
Keywords: Chrysemys picta, Emydidae, Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Trachemys scripta
Creators: Thomas
Collection: USFWS Workshop on Conservation and Trade Management of Freshwater and Terrestrial Turtles in the United States
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Abstract     
Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on earth. It is the life system that we as humans are part of. It is fundamental to our existence. Every living creature in each of the earth’s recognized biomes contributes in some significant way to the ecological systems of our planet, our individual health, and to the quality of our lives. Some species, such as the Bald Eagle, are considered glamorous and symbolize our nation, our freedom, our sporting heritage, and our successes at wildlife management. Some, like our reptiles and amphibians, are less admired and often considered slimy, ugly and dangerous by the uninformed. However, more than all of our “signature” birds, fish and animals that we as a society cherish, our snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs and salamanders tell us the most about the health of our environment. These “indicator species” are sensitive to pollution and habitat change. They tell us, through disappearance, disease and deformities, when things are not right. They are the species most directly related to public health and safety. Many, like the Timber Rattlesnake, bring us close to wilderness, and wildness, with even just a brief encounter. Our reptiles and amphibians are often the open gate leading our youth down a lifetime path of nature exploration and stewardship. They are critically important. And, they are under attack. During 2006 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement began to take a hard look at the illegal black market involving the State’s native reptiles and amphibians. Reports of disappearing populations of protected turtles, frogs, salamanders, lizards and snakes, an awareness of the market effect on wildlife through the internet, and the ecological necessity to protect our indicator species, were all factors fueling our concern. New York State’s reptiles and amphibians face habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, invasive species, pollution and threats brought on by global warming. The illegal collection and marketing of these animals often serves as the “nail in the coffin” for many populations as they try to survive. Armed that year with new legislation that now protects all of the State’s “herpafauna”, the Division began an aggressive pre-operational phase of research to determine if indeed there was a commercial threat to the wildlife species that tell us the most about the quality of our environment. What we found was alarming. A very lucrative illegal market did exist, fostered by a strong culture of enthusiasts, which amongst them exists an element with a desire to make money from ecologically significant species whose value grows on the black market as population numbers decline. Division investigators identified significant illegal buying and selling of native New York species on the internet, at large organized “herp” shows across the country, and through individuals’ intent on owning native species for their personal collections. Armed with a solid basis of fact, the Division assigned two investigators to full time covert status, with the intention to penetrate the illegal trade in reptiles and amphibians. The goal was to prosecute those involved, and bring about a renewed public awareness toward such a sensitive resource and the laws that protect them. The Division asked for and received the discreet and full support from Commissioner Pete Grannis and a small number of biologists within the Department, all of whom remained silent to the cause while working hard to assist the investigators in their mission. The two covert operatives spent countless hours afield with the Department herpetologist learning the natural history of the animals found in the illegal market. They spent as much or more time researching on-line to become familiar with, and associate with internet buyers and sellers of wildlife. Throughout 2007 and 2008, the undercover investigators slipped into the herp world and came back time and again with cases of a magnitude none would have guessed. They found New York’s snakes and turtles being shipped out of state and out of the country to support high-end markets for illegal collectors in places like Pennsylvania, Florida and Europe. They found thousands of New York Snapping Turtles being laundered through a turtle farm in Louisiana, and then shipped to China. They found thousands more being trapped illegally in New York and sold in Maryland to be shipped internationally as meat. The Investigators spent hundreds of hours afield and at shows with reptile poachers and illegal collectors. They were patted down for body wires, accused of being “Feds”, and routinely handled venomous snakes. They built cases from the ground up through initial contact with violators on-line, at shows, and in the field. They bought illegal Eastern Box Turtles, Wood Turtles, Blandings Turtles, Spotted Turtles, Timber Rattlesnakes, Massasauga rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and salamanders. Although Shellshock’s intention was to address the illegal trade in our native species, the investigators did not pass up the opportunity to make a felony case against someone selling federally endangered Yellow Spotted Amazon River Turtles. With the authority of the Commissioner, and the help of other Investigators and Environmental Conservation Officers, they collected and incubated hundreds of turtle eggs to integrate into poaching circles. A felony case was made against a Florida company that offered species native to New York for “adoption”, with prices in the hundreds of dollars per animal. And they successfully traded native venomous snakes with a smuggler from Canada and recovered an entire wild population of endangered Massasauga rattlesnakes. The Investigators worked very closely with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, as that agency ran a sister initiative side by side with New York. They also worked closely with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), agencies in Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Maryland, Environment Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The covert investigators working Operation Shellshock were not looking for those unaware of the laws. They sought out targets that had knowledge and intent to break the law to either personally possess a rare species or make money commercializing the resources. In fact, for each individual or company targeted by the investigators, there were many others that were discouraged from making an illegal sale and told they should read the law. Even covertly, the Department was working toward informing those that needed educating, and criminally pursuing those that knew exactly what they were doing. The culture of herp enthusiasts is literally hundreds of thousands of people with an intense interest in reptiles and amphibians, including their conservation. As with all special interest groups, the vast majority of the people involved are well intentioned. In fact, they are without a doubt an interest group keen on gaining knowledge and sharing expertise on the natural history, conservation and care of the animals they love. By late 2008 the Division of Law Enforcement moved on the groundwork done by the covert investigators. Numerous search warrants were executed in December and by the following March, 18 individuals and companies had been charged with New York felonies and misdemeanors relating to the commercialization of wildlife. In addition, the USFWS served notice on two additional individuals for Lacy Act felonies relating to the illegal cross-border trade in wildlife. The PA Fish and Boat Commission charged several individuals, and Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources charged three individuals tied to the poaching and trade of endangered Massasauga Rattlesnakes. And, it isn’t over. As of September 2010, more than 30 targets have been charged. A conviction rate of one hundred percent for the state and provincial cases has been achieved, with over $100,000 recovered in fines and forfeitures. Two significant Federal cases are still in court, and investigations continue on leads developed from Shellshock. In all, over 400 live turtles were kept in evidence, mostly under the care of the covert investigators. In addition, over 75 native venomous snakes were kept and cared for by a trained wildlife handler and educator working with the DEC. Ultimately, all the live evidence found a home through release back to the wild (after appropriate quarantine and evaluation), colleges and nature centers, zoos, and outdoor research facilities built by Department personnel to study individual species. DNA was actually used with the Ontario Massasaugas to insure their return to the right location. Operation Shellshock is the largest, most successful undercover wildlife operation the Department of Environmental Conservation has ever completed. It will stand out among operations done elsewhere as well, for both its magnitude and meaningfulness. Shellshock has become a springboard for positive change on all fronts involving ecologically significant species and biodiversity awareness. New York will no longer be regarded as a State of unregulated trade in reptiles and amphibians. A strong message has been sent that species native to New York, both wild and captive bred, from within or without the State, cannot be bought and sold here, as it encourages exploitation of wild populations. The public is more aware of the role creatures like timber rattlesnakes and spotted turtles play in our health and existence. The Division of Law Enforcement, armed with more knowledge of natural history, internet savvy, and site specific patrol areas, has increased it’s effectiveness to regularly find violators impacting the State’s biodiversity. And, the protection of the habitat’s needed to sustain reptiles and amphibians, such as our wetlands, vernal pools, grasslands, streams and lakes, have become even more important in the eyes of both our enforcement officers and our citizens.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich  
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