the trafficking of snakes

An article by Tim Vanderpool in the Nov. 28, 2016 issue of High Country News discusses the trafficking of snakes such as twin-spotted rattlesnakes in Arizona.  Although Arizona has taken steps to detect, arrest, and punish traffickers (the snakes are sold online), the article outlines the many difficulties. It takes extensive time and effort to catch a poacher. Even when they are caught, the trafficking is treated as a misdemeanor (unless it involves an endangered species) and thus only a relatively small fine (no jail time) is levied that traffickers treat as a “cost of doing business.” Moreover, if the poacher can move the snake to states that do not care as much as Arizona, they are unlikely to be punished at all, thus pointing to the need for national action. The article is available at http://www.hcn.org/external_files/digitaledition/48-20.pdf
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