road kill request

["James Farlow" <farlow@ipfw.edu>]

The following request is addressed to colleagues in North America:

As part of my paleoecological study of vertebrates from the earliest
Pliocene (late Hemphillian) Pipe Creek Sinkhole assemblage in Indiana
(cf. Farlow et al., 2001, American Midland Naturalist 145: 367-378;
Martin et al., 2002, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22: 137-151), I
want to compare patterns of osteohistological/skeletochronological
growth of painted turtles (_Chrysemys picta_) from this site with that
of modern representatives of the species from across its geographic
range.

I have no desire to sacrifice any turtles for this project, but
(un)fortunately during the summer there is a pretty significant sample
of chelonian road kill.  Consequently I am asking if any colleagues
around the continent would be willing to save specimens of road-killed
painted turtles for me.  All I ask is that you put the squashed turtles
in a freezer, along with a tag telling where and when it was found.  
Once it (they) is (are) nice and solid, then I would ask you to send it
to me (or let me come pick it up); I will remimburse shipping expenses.

Now, you need to be aware that at least some U.S. states require a
permit to salvage road killed herps (I was surprised to learn this, but
in retrospect I suppose I shouldn't have been).  If anyone is willing to
help me as a surrogate road kill collector, please let me know, and I
will contact your government's department of natural resources to see if
a permit is needed, and make the arrangements myself.

Persons willing to assist me in this should contact me off-list.

Jim Farlow
Department of Geosciences
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN  46805  USA