PARC promotes the responsible enjoyment of the amphibians and reptiles we all appreciate and work to conserve. To address and encourage the discussion of ethical recreational herping, PARC created the Ethical Herping and Observation Standards (ETHOS) Task Team. To be a mindful herper, we encourage all PARC members to review and adhere to our Ethical Herping Tenets, and review our Gold Standards for Ethical Herping.
Why Ethical Herping Matters
Recreational herping, or the activity of searching for amphibians and reptiles, is an engaging way to learn about, admire, and interact with species that captivate and fascinate people around the world. As the recreational herping trend continues to grow, so do the opportunities to share and learn about new species through social media – making wild amphibians and reptiles more accessible than ever. Whereas most interactions with amphibians and reptiles usually are well-intentioned and stem from a place of curiosity and interest, the ever-increasing and broadening trends of herping can have negative impacts on herpetofauna, their habitats, and natural areas.
Ethical Herping Tenets
PARC promotes five Ethical Herping Tenets (Tenets), which serve as Best Practices for mindfully interacting with amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna). Herping is a type of recreational wildlife viewing specific to the search and observation of amphibians and reptiles. While many of us enjoy observing amphibians and reptiles in the wild, it is important to understand the impacts to wildlife. These Tenets are designed to provide guidance which minimize risks to herpetofauna while they are being observed, and to encourage mindfulness of our own individual impact while enjoying and connecting with nature. PARC’s complementary Gold Standards for Ethical Herping and Strategies to Maximize Compatibility offer more in-depth ethical herping guidance and help establish a balance between recreational herping and mindful practices. Following these Tenets promotes mindful herping and the wellbeing of the animals we enjoy. Visit parcplace.org to learn more.
Tenet 1 – Respect Amphibians, Reptiles, and their Habitat
Prior to visiting a site, consider if conditions are appropriate to observe amphibians and reptiles while reducing negative impacts. Many amphibians, reptiles, and other wildlife depend on microhabitats created by various cover objects, such as tree bark, logs, and rocks. These microhabitats provide very specific temperature and moisture conditions on which these animals depend. Disturbing these natural features can interfere with and stress sheltering animals, alter or destroy the microhabitat conditions (e.g. dry out, warm/cool, silt-in, etc.), and in some cases, make them unusable. Disturbing microhabitats in search of amphibians and reptiles should always be avoided. As a best practice, objects, like tree bark, rocks, and logs, should be left in place, and animals should be observed when active.
Only capture or handle amphibians and reptiles when it is necessary for their safety (i.e., moving an animal directly across a road in accordance with regulations). When amphibians and reptiles are handled, it causes stress, increases the risk of injury or disease exposure, and may disrupt normal behaviors. Observing and photographing animals in situ (in their natural habitat, undisturbed)is best.
Native amphibians and reptiles should not be collected or removed from the wild. Doing so can negatively impact local populations.
Tenet 2 – Follow the Law, Regulations, and Permits
Laws, regulations, and rules are critically important in protecting wildlife and must be followed. It is equally important to note that while an activity may be legal, it can have significant and detrimental effects on individuals, populations, species, and habitats. It is always best to observe native amphibians and reptiles in situ.
Laws, regulations, and rules vary by jurisdiction, ranging from federal to state to local levels. Ensure your activities are legal for the specific location. Be aware of and follow all regulations and rules, which can differ based on who manages the land (e.g., National Parks, National Forests, State Parks, State Forests, Tribal Lands, Wildlife Management Areas, etc.).
Tenet 3 – Minimize the Spread of Diseases and Pathogens
To reduce the risk of spreading disease, follow PARC Approved Decontamination Protocols to clean and disinfect footwear and other items that come in contact with the habitat. Before and after visiting each new area, wash hands with soap and water and clean footwear and other items by removing soil and mud using a scraper and/or brush, and whenever possible follow up with a disinfectant.
Never move amphibians and reptiles (except to help them across a road), even if habitats seem similar or better for the animal. Moving animals can disrupt natural behaviors and spread disease.
Sick or dying amphibians and reptiles should not be touched or moved. Observations of sick or dying herpetofauna should be reported to PARC’s Herp Disease Alert System or to your state wildlife agency.
Tenet 4 – Minimize the Sharing of Locations
Do not share or make available the location or sensitive information for species, such as rare and protected species, species popular in the pet trade, denning or breeding sites, or charismatic species. This information can be used by poachers or lead to increased visitation to the site resulting in negative impacts to habitat or increase stress to local herpetofauna populations.
Prior to posting photographs on social media or other web-based platforms, consider if anything in the photograph, including landmarks, geotags, or metadata, could be traced back to the animal’s location. Turning off the location setting on your phone or camera can help limit accidental location sharing. For more detailed guidance, review the Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles (CCITT) guidance document and our Gold Standards.
Tenet 5 – Respect Others and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Community
Wildlife itself has cultural and intrinsic value that is appreciated by a diversity of people. PARC members have the opportunity to lead and influence others while herping and promoting amphibian and reptile conservation. Acknowledging potential impacts from herping and practicing ethical herping may resonate with long-held practices for some or might require a shift in practices or techniques for others. Be respectful of others while engaging in dialogue and promoting ethical herping practices.
Be a mindful herper. Ask yourself, is this action necessary, will it cause undue harm or stress, or will I unnecessarily impact habitat? How can I eliminate or minimize my impact while also enjoying and connecting with nature?
Downloadable Tenets Coming Soon!
Be an Gold Star Herper – Follow our Gold Standards
In some cases, encounters with amphibians and reptiles may be impactful to those species. In these cases, we have developed Gold Standards for Ethical Herping, and Strategies to Maximize Compatibility. This document addresses handling wild amphibians and reptiles, disinfection of field gear, photography, social media, and more. We encourage the recreational herping community to review and follow these Gold Standards, and for PARC members to help guide others in mindful herping.
View our Gold Standards here [Coming Soon!]
Ethical herping is an emerging conversation, and we encourage all recreational herpers to be mindful, minimize impacts to animals and habitat alike, and participate in responsible stewardship of all wild amphibians and reptiles.
Our Tenets Are Widely Supported
Many conservation partners support ethical recreational herping. You can help support this initiative too. This can be done by sharing PARC ETHOS resources, developing messaging to share with your partners, group members, and meeting attendees, and by having conversations with others. We invite all of our partners to join us in sharing and promoting mindful recreational herping.
Links and Helpful Literature [Check back for more updates!]
PARC National Disease Task Team
Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles
Northeast PARC Disinfection and Decontamination Protocols