Endangered species act

[Eric H. Metzler]

Dave,

In Ohio you are entitled to collect and kill state listed endangered 
species.  Ohio law recognizes that you cannot tell the difference with 
many of the moths, and Ohio law wants your data rather than to put you 
in prison.  Your obligation, under Ohio law, is to report what you 
collected, in this case, to The Ohio Lepidopterists. And, you cannot 
trade or sell the specimens - you may keep them or donate them to a 
public institution.  Ohio is remarkably progressive in it's views 
towards endangered species.

This principle does not apply to federally endangered species. There are 
no federally endangered species of moths in Ohio.

Not all states are as enlightened as Ohio.  When collecting in other 
states, it is your responsibility to know which species are state 
endangered. Then you should plan your collecting accordingly, in other 
words, don't go collecting with general kill traps where you might get 
an endangered species.

I cannot advise what to do with an inadvertant capture of an endangered 
species in another state.    I know what I'd do.

As for federally endangered species, there is no place where it is legal 
to capture or harm any federally endangered species.  It is your 
responsibility to learn which endangered species might be in the area 
where you are collecting and then make certain you do not collect any of 
them.

This information is a bit brief, but because you live in Ohio, and 
rarely leave Ohio for collecting, you are in a great place.  You can 
thank The Ohio Lepidopterists for helping lepidopterists and the Ohio 
Division of Wildlife for taking such an enlightened approach.  The Ohio 
Division of Wildlife will be glad to hear from you.

The sun is shining in Columbus Ohio today, but there is a fog with a 
very nasty odor.  I rather suspect that pollution, rather than 
collectors, are harming our native species.

Cheers,

Eric  Metzler


David Smith wrote:

> Hello all,
>     I am interested in moths, especially micros. I frequently catch and kill
> moths that I do not know what species they are. What if one is an endangered
> species? What do I do with it? Should I destroy it so as not to be
> prosecuted? Could I turn it over to a museum?
>     What about people who use insect traps of various kinds? Are they liable
> if they kill an endangered species?
>     Maybe these examples would be considered accidental. If someone who
> doesn't know an ant from a butterfly stomps an endangered species on purpose
> because they don't like bugs can they go to jail?
>     Just curious as I truly do not know.
>         David Smith
> 
> 
> 


 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl