Wild Caught

Maybe a dumb question, but is it bad to catch wild hognoses? Before snakes, I had never been interested in animals you could just find outside if you lift up enough rocks and sticks, so the idea of a wild caught pet is kind of foreign and something I have zero knowledge of. The only animal I ever kept as a kid was an Arizona horned toad that someone found, but I kept it in a tub on the patio so... Not exactly a well-researched area for me.

I was wondering about hognoses specifically because I hear you can find them in Lubbock, where I live. And that in fact Lubbock is where the first albino western was caught, but I can't find the source on that so I'm not sure. Not that I would hope to find a morph in the wild anyway, lol.

Again sorry if this is a ridiculous question, I still don't know a whole lot about snakes but would like to learn.

http://tpwd.texas.gov/business/permi...dlife/#nongame

From the above link:
"Nongame Collection License For collecting and/or selling white list nongame wildlife, or for possession of 25 or more of a species of nongame wildlife in the aggregate. License holders may only sell to nongame dealers. Resident $19.00 Non-resident $63.00 (expires Aug. 31 following issuance date)"

Hognose are white list nongame wildlife.

It is not recommended to capture and keep wild snakes. These snakes can have unseen health issues and often have a less pleasant disposition than a captive born and bred snake. Bringing wild animals inside where you may one day have other snakes is a recipe for disaster IMO. You would have a much better experience getting a hognose from a reputable breeder.

Like here http://extremehogs.com/

Thanks KMG, I was going to say basically something similar but you summed it all up. I was thinking about the native species laws as well and their impact on wild caught collecting.

Thanks, I had forgotten the legal aspect completely. Good info! $20 is doable but considering the other points...

I figured about potential parasites/diseases but I hear of so many wild caught BPs that I guess I figured they take them to the vet and get them examined and dewormed/bugged/etc. I guess it's not worth the trouble then after all

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Originally Posted by cristacake

Thanks, I had forgotten the legal aspect completely. Good info! $20 is doable but considering the other points...

I figured about potential parasites/diseases but I hear of so many wild caught BPs that I guess I figured they take them to the vet and get them examined and dewormed/bugged/etc. I guess it's not worth the trouble then after all

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Nah, you have good points. You are also correct to a degree. But there are so many beautiful cbb (captive born bred) hoggies that are reasonably priced if you shop around. Why start out behind the 8 ball with a wild caught? Born free, live free is my thinking. It eliminates quite a bit of the temptation / aggravation. Haha.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Nah, you have good points. You are also correct to a degree. But there are so many beautiful cbb (captive born bred) hoggies that are reasonably priced if you shop around. Why start out behind the 8 ball with a wild caught? Born free, live free is my thinking. It eliminates quite a bit of the temptation / aggravation. Haha.

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Born free, live free is a biggee with me.

My heart just goes out to free animals that are caged.