I am printing this letter exactly as it arrived, because in my opinon Joel is a remarkable person.
I was sleeping quite peacefully at 8am today when the phone rang and I discovered you had posted the letter I sent to you. I was making comment on your article written about the friendly 'gator (Croc) and did not think you would post it but that's fine. I would like to clarify one or two things I said and used the wrong terms.
Number one was the use of the word 'tame' I should have said 'docile'; my fault. Also I simply do not stroll into the woods and pick up the first snake I find; quite the opposite. The four pictures took about six hours to get. I find a snake; I then become acquainted with it. I always carry a frozen thawed mouse in a cooler. Snakes found around a rodent or rabbit trail are hunting for food. I give them the food and after it is consumed I become familiar with them. I have spent over seven hours on one sunny day attempting to become friends (so to speak) with an Eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Finally I was able to handle it and get the information that I was looking for. There are no tricks and I do not have any special gifts. I am not nervous; I
don't expect to be bitten so I am calm.
In 40 years I have taken 57 tags and that is enough as far as I am concerned. Had I started
earlier with the method I now use I would be willing to bet I would have had less then five tags.
A few people are going to be upset with you for showing the pictures. It is their beliefs that the pictures will encourage young kids to copy my methods and I hope this does not happen. I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry for any flack you might take because of my letter to you.
Joel La Rocque
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1 comment:
Joel is a remarkable person.He's trying to constructively interact with snakes, rather than just wind them up for some sensational footage a la Steve Irwin.
His films demonstrate that snakes don't just see everything around them as either threat or prey.
People still regard anything creepy, crawly or wriggly as evil, to be eradicated.Think of those stupid snake killing festivals they have in Texas and Arizona!
Joel is doing conservation a great service and I hope some forward-thinking TV producer sees his films.
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