Sonoma County infernalis

[chris-uk]

just seems like your saying S. Bol couldnt have the best stock cuz hes in Holland. All well.

Did you deliberately miss the point that I said you'd "normally" expect someone living closer to
have better access? I happen to think that Steve Bol is one of those exceptions, there aren't many European keepers who travel to local Thamnophis habitats like he does.

so the best garters come from U.S. collections?

Nope. Nobody said that. What was said was that you'd expect that to be the case. That's what makes Steve's collection unusual.

Somethings have become very difficult to get because of laws, its becoming harder and harder to get native reptiles. The mexican species of Thamnophis i have to import from Steven Bol if want to have them. If i want unrelated U.S. species to U.S. bloodlines i either have to collect it myself, import it from Euro or wait untill i become lucky and come across someone who has unrelated bloodlines or wildcaughts.
Ive been looking for some real nice Kansas parietalis for a couple of years now. Theyre nowhere to be found in U.S. collections. I guess my best option for that is to go get them myself.

So it's easier for a foreigner to come into the US and collect native reptiles?
Mexican species are a different matter, you're as much a foreigner there as Steve.
Some European snakes may well be related to your bloodlines, unless a line is imported privately there's virtually no traceability as to where the importer acquired the snakes. Again, Steve may be an exception as he keeps better records than most and I get the impression that he doesn't just pick up random snakes that catch his eye at reptile fairs.