commercial collecting

[Andrew at CSM]

monarchsforever wrote:

> I think I can speak for the 9 individuals who make up 95% of the
> commercial butterfly sales in the US, when I say, no endangered
> species are sold with out proper permits and documentation. All
> countries require a CITES and export permit as well as a US F&W
> #3-177. All of us have had US F&W inspectors come to shops and look at
> everything. I've had as many as five agents at a time for the better
> part of the day come and open boxes and check paper work. No doubt
> some unscrupulous collectors will be out there, but the system works,
> the Feds are competent, and the industry is sincerely honest in it's
> attempt to keep a sustainable resource sustainable. In the last two
> years over 12 million people have gone through the exhibits I supply
> with butterflies (Field Museum of Chicago-LA Field Museum- Zoo New
> England ect.) many of them purchased mounted butterflies in the gift
> stores or from my company, on eBay under the trade name
> MONARCHSFOREVER. These people carried away with them a better
> understanding and compassion for all wildlife not just Leps. My point
> being you can blast over collecting all you want but leave the
> commercial collectors out of it, they do not deal in illegal bugs,
> guarantied. If you know of someone who is dealing in illegal insects
> or wildlife of any kind it is your duty to report them.Thank you David
> Bohlken owner of Monarchs Forever

I have seen somne of the E-Bay lots and it was the quality of these
specimens that led me to post on the subject of setting a few months
back. I re-iterate 'My 6 year daughter can set specimens better than
this.' If I worked for a museum the first thing I would do is relax and
reset them ALL.