And nobody here catches Reptiles even though they have not been licenced or trained to do so?
If you spotted an Elapid basking on a road would you swerve to avoid hitting it but keep on driving past letting the next car to come by possibly kill it? Or would you attempt to relocate it off the road? And if so would you deserve no compassion & no sympathy for being stupid if your were tagged & died?
It was a mistake on his part, a child doing what he loved to do, what most of us love to do, see, photograph, or capture reptiles. Unfortunately he didn't have the training and educating behind him to help him along the way. Many Herpers experienced & in-experienced have made mistakes. The best of the best have been tagged on atleast one occasion. He probly had as much experience with wild Herps as the majority of this site has, VERY LITTLE, yet that hasn't stopped many members here from bragging about their catch, photograph & release now has it.
Get off the high horse boys & girls, not everyone has learnt to become a professional Herper by reading APS posts
PS,
Good to see most posters on this thread have enough common sense to see it as an unfortunate mistake that cost the little dude dearly. Those that need to pipe up with "I told you so's & I knew so's" ummm we all had our suspicions about what had taken place, but we don't all need a badge or recognition over it. IMHO the dude sounds like he could have made a good contribution to the hobby had he had someone behind him to show him the ropes. Instead he had to gain his own experiences hands on with no help. It is a real shame we have to outcast & dishonour the little guy rather than accept the fact he was no different to the rest of us on this site with the exception that we have each other for support/information/education etc.
