Quote Originally Posted by djansen
while i agree partly to what you are saying, i really doubt if i catch a garter snake or tree frog near my house, keep it for a while and let it go its going to forget how to live and eat. Reptiles cant be tamed like a dog or cat and forget how to survive, its instinct. why do you think most baby sakes are so nippy when they are born? even captive hatched, they are born like that.
I never said that reptiles will 'forget' their 'instinct'. They just have a lower chance for survival.

There are two types of wild animals: those that are established in their environment and those that are not established in their environment.

The animals that are not established in their environment are at a greater risk of dying than an established animal.

A captive 'wild' reptile is not established when you release it....therefore, it has a low chance of success...I am not saying that the animal can not establish itself in the wild again....I am just saying that it is not the easiest thing to do.

...but lets forget about wild caught animals for a second....

What is another reptile that is not established in it's environment? A newborn.

When it comes out of the egg all it has only pure instinct to go by....no established shelter, no established food source, no established routine and it are 'prey' to alot of animals.

What chances of success does a hatchling snake, lizard, or turtle have in the wild? 100%? 75%? 50%? or 10%?

I know that most of us realize how dangerous it is to be a young animal in the wild. Does all the danger come from the lack of size and learned behavior? or is it more of an 'establishment' issue? I wonder.

Now compare a wild hatchling to a released wild caught captive? Both have only instinct to go by.....both have no established shelter, food source, or routine. Both have preditors that will kill them given the chance.

Once you remove an established animal from its environment, it has to start all over again when reintroduced. Instinct is just a tool.....it does not provide food, shelter, and protection.

This is a great discussion. I enjoy the topic. Good thread Mr. Warren