ALERT: Orangeburg, SC

ALERT: Orangeburg, SC

UPDATE 12/16/25: The ordinance was tabled at tonight’s meeting with the motion made due to hearing concerns from many local residents. USARK’s Phil Goss was there to represent responsible animal owners and received an acknowledgement from the Council,...

ESA amendments

Amendments to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have been proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through rulemaking. There are four proposed changes: Threatened species protections (50 CFR part 17; section 4(d)): Eliminate the “blanket rule” option and...

ESA: Southern hognose proposed as threatened

UPDATE 6/5/26: This update will be posted in the Federal Register on June 8. FWS is reopening the comment period for 30 days on the proposed rule to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Comments...
ALERT: Colorado Herp Rule Review

ALERT: Colorado Herp Rule Review

UPDATE 3/4/26: The CPW Commission voted to approve these rules today. Changes include allowing the sale, breeding, and possession of certain captive-bred herps, which are currently not allowed, including Western hognose, cornsnakes, kingsnakes, and others. The rules...

ALERT: LEMIS FOIA

Notice Pursuant to Executive Order 12600 of Receipt of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); Requests for Wildlife/Flora Import and Export Data stored in LEMIS The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has received multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests...

ALERT: Borneo Earless Monitors ESA Listing

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will post this document in the Federal Register tomorrow (9/14/25). It can be read on our website at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/25-earless-2.pdf. If you breed or work with this species, please email...