SEEKING Amphibian Pet Trade and Disease Study Participants! GIFT CARD for your time!

[BsalResearcher]

Hi everyone! Please delete and message me if not allowed! (Cross-posting this)

I'm seeking participants for a research study on the current practices and knowledge of amphibian pet owners, amphibian pet store owners, amphibian breeders or suppliers, amphibian hobbyists, and veterinarians. The goal is to gather information for decision-makers from important stakeholder groups regarding the deadly salamander fungus, Bsal. We hope to use this information to create policies that reflect the wants and needs of stakeholders. This is an opportunity to voice your concerns, what you are in favor of, and what you are NOT in favor of as well.

If you and/or someone you know owns an amphibian and would be interested in taking part in a short interview(30min) OVER THE PHONE, fill out a brief survey at https://tinyurl.com/yx3jdpgh or contact me (haddock4@msu.edu) and Dr. Alexa Warwick(awarwick@msu.edu). A $15 gift card will be given to participants and anonymity is guaranteed. Feel free to ask me any questions over email!

This study is funding by the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resource's Undergraduate Research Program.

 

[Jake]

We hope to use this information to create policies that reflect the wants and needs of stakeholders. This is an opportunity to voice your concerns, what you are in favor of, and what you are NOT in favor of as well.

Hi BsalResearcher,

Welcome to the forum. Maybe you're not aware but this was already attempted by very many people (or "stakeholders") who wanted change in the policy before 201 species were added to the list of injurious wildlife. It didn't work in 2016 because the powers that be have made it abundantly clear that they simply don't care what we are in favor of or not, but maybe it will work now. There are several threads regarding this topic from almost four years ago.

I wish you nothing but good luck.

 

[BsalResearcher]

Hi Jake,

I'm sorry to hear that! I am actually currently working with the USGS and doing preliminary work for them. They are planning on using my initial data to create a survey that will be distributed to pet owners through PIJAC in the future. I'm well aware that much of our current regulations and management of wildlife treats non-game species as not important, especially herps. I'm also well aware that many wildlife managers are keen to strictly listen to biological factors rather than understanding the people that their decisions will affect. I'm excited to say that this project is working on combating these two norms. Thank you for your well wishes!

 

[michael]

You might get more of a response on faunaclassifieds amphibian classifieds section. It seems to have a lot a lot more traffic.

 

[BsalResearcher]

You might get more of a response on faunaclassifieds amphibian classifieds section. It seems to have a lot a lot more traffic.

Thanks for the suggestion, Michael! I'll try there too.