You have read about chytrid, ranavirus, and snake fungal disease. Here is the part that involves you. Those diseases travel. They ride from one pond or forest to the next in mud on boots, water in buckets, and dirt on nets and hooks. People who go looking for herps can spread disease without ever touching an animal. So cleaning your gear is part of herping, every time. Start clean. Show up with clean boots, tools, nets, and containers. Get the dirt off. Mud, leaves, and plant bits can carry organisms on their own, and they also keep disinfectants from working. Never move water or mud between sites.
This lesson is part of Certified Junior Herpetologist. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 30 hours).
