one thing that I miss about the traditional classroom is sitting around before (or after) a class shootin' the breeze. I found that those times are best for connecting with students and sharing ideas that are mostly just peripherally related to the class. Enter the Blog - I can now share ideas and happenings throughout the CCTC EVT program, as well as other environmental issues that come to my attention. I can share ideas and get feedback. This is going to be fun!I've had a lot on my mind this week, but one issue keeps popping up. See this beautiful old turtle? Doesn't she look delicious? Well, not to me, but to many Asian people she's a mobile meal on the half shell. I certainly don't have any problems with people eating turtles...per se. The problem seems to be unregulated collection of this and other 'non-game' species. You see, if I were to walk out of the woods with a bag full of quail I would be arrested and fined BIG. Conversely, If I were to walk out of the woods with a bag full of turtles hardly anybody would bat an eyelash. If it were a bag full of venomous snakes I'd probably get some strange looks and a few 'atta boys' for ridding the woods of such a 'horrible' creature. I am afraid that the general population just doesn't understand Ecology sufficiently to comprehend exactly what happens when ANY species is removed from an area en masse. It's just NOT a good thing. What we need is for all of the stakeholders (Asian food market providers, pet trade collectors, personal pet collectors, wildlife biologists, conservationists, and DNR/government) need to get together and have a little chat. We want everybodies needs to be met now - and in the future. That's a little concept we 'tree huggers' call SUSTAINABILITY :-)
Well that's enough of a rant for today. My next planned blog will probably be this weekend when I show and tell everybody about our field trip to Manchester State Forest. Hope to see you then.
