Quote Originally Posted by BUSHSNAKE View Post
conservation efforts are hardcore in these parts, the subject may even be taboo, ive lived in this area my whole life and have herped almost every bit of illinois, ive never seen a massasauga in the wild and probably never will...and theyre out there and i myself would kill to see one but laws are protecting them very well, you need special permision and you better know somebody if you show up cuz if you dont it wont be good...and thats just how it is...
I don't believe that it's as hard core as you say. You probably heard about the walking path near Chicago that was built right through the middle of prime habitat, just feet from a den. That didn't stop them. They built it anyway. The snake is now being encountered by people walking on the path. Unfortunately, it doesn't usually end well for the snake. Not to mention all the snakes that were being killed by getting caught up in their erosion control nets during the construction process. People are seeing those snakes dang near every day. Just walk down that path. Plenty of photo ops.

You know, I'm not sure what's going on with this article that says it's "planned" Yikes: Planned $1.2 Million Bike Trail in Illinois Will Run Through Endangered Rattlesnake Area, $25,000 More Being Spent to Figure Out Problem « Frugal Café Blog Zone

But what I saw must have been a different location. They actually did build the path I saw, mere feet from a massasauga den. Snakes have already been killed and continue to be found dead on the trail. So where's this "hard core" conservation effort? Why spend $25,000 to "figure out the problem" when all they have to do is ditch the bike path plan. Problem solved.

They want to do this, all while harassing people for taking pictures? Well, you know I have a few choice words about that, but I can't say them here.