Chat Week on Kingsnake.com
Sunday, December 8, 2002
Andrew H. Price, Ph.D.
Relationship of an Academic Herpetologist and Hobbyist to the State Wildlife Agency in Texas.

***************************** PHGinger: We would like to welcome Andy Price to our chat

PHGinger: For those who don't know Andy, here is an introduction: Andrew H. Price, Ph.D. is a Natural Resources Scientist for the Wildlife Diversity Program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He is also the author of Poisonous Snakes of Texas, numerous scientific articles, and is currently working on two future books.

AndyPrice: yeah, don't forget i like snakes too

PHGinger: LOL

AskAndy: Andy what book is currantly on your nightstand

AndyPrice: steven gould's latest

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: Andy; when is your next book coming out

AndyPrice: also turtles - we umm, well it was supposed to have already been out, but the best laid plans........

AskAndy: Andy; does being a hobbyist and a state Herpetolgist cause you conflict

AndyPrice: personally, no. but others sometimes do.

AskAndy: (oops Andy..whenyou're finished w/a repsonse, please type next

AndyPrice: nex5

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: What is your favorate area of texas to go herp'n

AndyPrice: big bend, absolutely. but so. tx is also cool. but if you want to find me in the field, its usally in bastrop

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: Are you currantly working on describing any more species of the Eurycea genus?

AndyPrice: no - not enough time right now. but sometings on the horizon....

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: What kind of educational job did you have to get the job you currantly have

AndyPrice: well, I have a Ph.D., but it's no a requirment for this job - may even be a handicap??

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: What other 2 books are you working on Andy?

AndyPrice: I'm working with colleagues on complete revisions of the Wright and Wright 1957 handbook of snakes and smith 1946 handbook of lizards for cornell univ. press

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: Are the annual rattlesnake roundups still a pastime down there..and what steps as a employee of the Natural Resources do you take, if any to prevebnt

jeffb: This chat is being moderated. To ask Andrew a question, please doubleclick on the name AskAndy and post your question there.

AndyPrice: yes, they are. as an employee, I give my input when asked about scientific issues on such subjects. in my view, there are two problems, only one of which tpwd can address. and that is what constitutes a sustainable harvest.

AndyPrice: my other problem is moral rahter than legal, and we can't legislate morality

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: What exactly do you do as a Natural Resources Scientist

AndyPrice: anything from research - i've been working on the houston toad for 14 years now - to answering the phone about waht kind of snake someone just found in their backyard - there's a lot of stuff to do.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: What, is any venonous snakes do you personally keep

AskAndy: if

AndyPrice: I keep several - i try to keep all of the native tx stuff because i give a lot of talks to various groups.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: What is the most unusual thing happen to you while on the job conducting research?

AndyPrice: scaring the hell out of a girl scout troop camped near one of my study ponds in bastrop state park during a severe storm comes to mind.....

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: Are you currantly involved in any TX native species programs Conservation programs..if so which?

AndyPrice: i'm on several federal recovery teams. there has been a big push to develop a habitat conservation plan in bastrop co. tx which hosts the largest pop. of houston toads known, and i've been doing mark-recapture work out there for 14 years.

AskAndy: As part of your job do you also capture venomous species from people's yards, porches, garages etc?

AndyPrice: nope, i have friends who'll do that.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: What sorta preperatuions do you do when working in the field w/vems

AndyPrice: ii'm not sure what you mean? i plan on starting a couple of radio-telemetry projects with timbers in bastrop and blacktails nr. san antonio this coming year, which requires getting equipment, ect.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: Assuming you like turtles and not just snakes..what kinda turtles do you work w/?

AndyPrice: don't do any fieldwork at this time - access to private land is a big problem down here, which cost me my last field project on big bend mud turtles - but i have some genetic work to finish up with them ans also sliders - but i do have a nice turtle pond in my backyard

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: what is your personal favorate herp?

AndyPrice: how can you pick one?

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: I would like to know how you scared the Girl Scouts

AndyPrice: a long story - they were huddled in their tents during the storm and one of the adult leaders came to the pond to see what was up, and I materialized out of ther gloom with a toad and asked her if they'd like to hear about it - you'd have to see what i look like dripping wet late at night....

AskAndy: the earlier question re: preprations: what personal do you take for personal safety

AndyPrice: I watch what I'm doing and use the proper equip[ment for catching them

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: Are there any types of reptiles that the mark-recapture is being done with..Box turtles for example?

AndyPrice: not with box turtles that i know of.

AndyPrice: next )

AskAndy: what are the specifics of the genetic work are you doing

AskAndy: ie for what reasons/results are your looking for

AndyPrice: mud turtles: the big bend mud turtle is not supposed to get up and wander overland like the yellow mud turtle - we can look at microsatellites comparing the 2 and see if that's the case. sliders: want to see how diverse the big bend slider is from redears in tx.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: what types of turtles do you have in your pond..are there any types that shoul not be together?

AndyPrice: geez, i hope not! i have red-ears, several maps,a couple of softshells - all hatchlings or yearlings except for a pseudemys texana i've had for 15 years.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: How much timedo you spend educational research programs

AskAndy: ..w.school childre or public in general

AndyPrice: quite a bit, actually. i get lots of requests to do snake shows, actually more than i should try to handle. but i probably do 10-12 a year on average. nothing like a live snake to grab people's attnetion, especially kids.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: when is the best time to go herp'n in TX

AndyPrice: depends on what you're after. and also what the weather's been like.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: Which is more rewarding to you - field work or labwork

AndyPrice: field work by far.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: what is the rarest or most endangered herp in the wuild you've seen

AskAndy: wild

AndyPrice: well, houston toads are still pretty rare - just so happens my field site supports the largest known population. and some of the eurycea salamanders i've workjed with occur only in a few springs.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: do you personally do any at home rehab/release of herps?

AndyPrice: no

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: are there any partic lizard species you'd lie to work w/

AskAndy: like

AndyPrice: i did my dissertation on whiptails in nm - but if you're asking about husbandry i'd say no - i'm not that talented.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: how are the horeny toads doing

AndyPrice: actually quite well - still good in south texas and west texas, patchy in north tx. don't do well with fire ants, big cities, large cotton fields......

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: what exactly do you have in your pers collection?

AndyPrice: snakes - graybands, other kings, elaphe, rosy boas, sand boas, crotalus, agkistrodon...

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: what is the most interesting you've seen while working w/herps in the field

AndyPrice: i had a wdb give birth in one of my can traps in nm and she and the babies hung out there for about a week until they all shed and went on their ways - published a little note on that in the southwestern naturalist

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: do you see the status of the Texas indigo changing anytime soon

AndyPrice: no

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: do you see any new changes next year/restric on Tx herp'n

AndyPrice: no new restrictions - nongame collectors and dealers permits still in effect but have been simplified - as to details, I'd have to get back with ya' or you could ask the permits folks - i try not to deal with that too much.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: what is the most endangered reptile in Texas.

AndyPrice: good question. I'd have to say the concho watersnake, only because it has such special habitat requirements and a very small range, it's endemic. but the situation is manageable.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: How difficult is it in Texas to find salamanders considering the various and sometimes harsh habitats

AndyPrice: it's not too bad - again access to private lands is a big problem. but the aquatic forms are always there if there's water (and even if there isn't, but you have to work harder). the terrestrial forms can be found rather commonly under suitable weather conditions.

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: what would you do to manage the situation if it were up to you (I assume herp).

AndyPrice: which situation?

AskAndy: the concho watersnake situation

AndyPrice: the big issue there is instream flows - water supply, etc. the entities involved are already committed to trying to work that out - but when you don't get any rain, and people still want to move there and drink........

AndyPrice: next

AskAndy: How long have you kept Agkistrodon and do you happen to know what is the oldest age of one in captivity?

AndyPrice: I've kept them for about 20 years now, and no I don't off the top of my head. i have a male pictigaster that i caught as an adult in 1985.

AndyPrice: next

PHGinger: Dr. Price, we are going past our time

PHGinger: we hate to impose on our guests

AndyPrice: ok - not a problem

PHGinger: this has been a very interesting chat

AskAndy: welp, folks, we're up on our time here..our special thanks to Andy Price, Ph.D for taking of his time to be here w/us tonight

PHGinger: I hope you will come again

AndyPrice: i enjoy it

PHGinger: obviously we have barely scratched the surface

PHWyvern: Quite an interesting profession to deal with so much variety of herps

AndyPrice: the grass is always greener.......

PHGinger: Thank you very much for being here

AndyPrice: my pleasure

PHFaust: Thank you very much for taking the time to answer everyones questions... Please keep up the good work!

AndyPrice: goodbye then - anyone can call me at 18007921112 or andy.price@tpwd,state.tx.us