For this reason when I have anyone come to work around my house I tell them that they are NOT to kill anything they see, but to immediatelly come get me, because there are several endangered species in the area and Fish and Game keep an eye on them via tracking gadgets sometimes. If it's one and they kill it, major jail time etc etc.

It's total bullpuckey. But so far it's saved one tortoise from being taken home as a "pet" and two harmless non-venomous snakes from being hacked up. Of course, it's possible that I've had other critters killed and they just hid them or whatever. But I figure it might save a few and if the rumor spreads it might save a couple more.

Poor wild creatures. Yet they'd think a raccoon would be "Cute" while it could be spreading rabies or bite someone and give them infections. Stupid scaled fears.