Carolina Tips

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Field Collection of Living Organisms

While Carolina offers a wide selection of aquatic and terrestrial organisms suitable for stocking your River Tank Ecosystem and other habitats, you may wish to collect your own. Field collection is an interesting, educational, and rewarding activity for students so long as the students follow a few simple but critical guidelines. Students and educators should always be as conscientious and ethical as possible in their collection activities.

Failure to comply with county, state, or federal regulations that prohibit the collection of particular plant and animal species, or the collection of any species in a prohibited area, may be punishable by fine or imprisonment. Be sure to check state and county regulations with your local wildlife, forestry, fisheries, and/or natural resources department. Information on federal regulations may be obtained from the U.S. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

In planning your collection activities, follow these guidelines:

1. Do not collect any rare, threatened, or endangered species.
2. Obtain the owner's written permission to collect on private property.
3. Do not leave signs of your presence at any collection site. Pack out trash and leave no other signs of disturbance.
4. The Endangered Species Act and some state and local laws prohibit the collection or disturbance of certain plants and animals wherever they are found (whether on public or private property). Many public lands (state and national parks, wilderness areas, recreational parks) prohibit removal of any plant, animal, rock or mineral. Many species may be collected only with the proper permit. Know local and federal regulations.
5. Do not take all specimens at a site; always leave the majority of the organisms undisturbed. Never take more than you need.
6. Put rocks, stumps, etc. back in the position in which they were found (moist side down).
7. Release organisms at the collection site when finished with them.
8. Only release organisms into an area from which they originated. Even if a species is found in your area, if your particular specimens did not originate in that area, they must not be released to that site.
9. Treat all animals, collected or purchased, in a humane and ethical manner. Before removing animals or plants from their native habitat, prepare a suitable environment for them and be aware of their needs for survival.