NARBC Tinley Park 3.18.14
NARBC in Tinley Park was another great show. The room was filled with vendors from across the country and loads of incredible animals. Friday night saw the first "ArchnoGathering," placing the invertebrate side of our community in the spotlight. This event featured presentations, raffles and plenty of discussion about tarantulas, scorpions and this segment of our hobby. The Saturday night benefit auction ...
NRAAC Symposium and NARBC: 3.12.14
NRAAC Law Symposium Many influential organizations, government agencies, businesses, scientists, veterinarians and herpers gathered last weekend in Washington, D.C. They all met at the National Reptile and Amphibian Advisory Council's (NRAAC) second Reptile and Amphibian Law Symposium. The event was moderated by NRAAC founder Jeff Barringer, who organized this meeting of varied viewpoints.The two day symposium allowed government officials and trade affiliates ...
Lawsuit Update and more (3/10/14)
USARK Federal Lawsuit Update Last week, USARK responded forcefully to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) motion to dismiss our complaint challenging the legality of FWS’ listing of the Burmese, Northern African, and Southern African pythons and yellow anaconda under the Lacey Act. Incredibly, the Government argued USARK and its members suffered no “injury” from its decision to ban importation ...
New York A9004 and S6903
Where: New York State Status: S6903 hearing scheduled for 5/13/14. What: A9004, sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, prohibits contact with "wild animals" (listed below) and was sent to the Committee on Environmental Conservation. S6903, sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, prohibits contact with "wild animals" (listed below) and was sent to the Committee on Environmental Conservation. These bills makes it illegal for any person to allow ...
West Virginia HB 4393 Update
West Virginia Action Alert/Update House Bill 4393 has been passed by committees in the House and the Senate. West Virginia residents must contact Governor Tomblin's office now and continue to contact legislators. Governor Tomblin vetoed the Dangerous Wild Animals Act previously due to financial hardships that would be placed upon the state. Similar legislation in Ohio in 2012 led to ...
Kansas House Bill 2737
Where: Kansas State What: House Bill 2737 was introduced 2/24/14 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. The bill amends the current law from 2006 regarding "Dangerous regulated animals" and will prohibit the following: all non-native, venomous snakes; lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and mountain lions, or any hybrid thereof; bears or any hybrid thereof; any nonhuman ...
Louisiana Action Alert & WV, SC, WI, MD Alerts
Louisiana Action Alert Louisiana Senate Bill 357 seeks to ban constrictor and venomous snakes. The constrictor snakes listed below currently require a permit from LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DW&F) once they reach 8' and can be kept by private keepers. This bill amends the current law and bans all species listed, regardless of size. The venomous species below would ...
2014: Louisiana Senate Bill 357
Where: Louisiana State What: Louisiana SB 357 seeks to ban constrictor and venomous snakes. The snakes are currently allowed to be kept by private keepers with a permit, but this bill amends the current law and bans the species listed. View more information at www.usark.org/campaign/2014-louisiana-senate-bill-357-action-alert. The bill was sponsored by Senator Chabert and sent to the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Contact information for ...
State Alerts: 3/1/14
State Action Alerts Act now! You must contact your legislators as your voices matter most. Your opposition will stop anti-reptile and anti-pet legislation! USARK has made it easy to contact the appropriate lawmakers at the links below, so take a few minutes to protect your freedoms, support your herp community and then share the Action Alerts with all pet owners ...
Lawsuit Update, WV Action Alert and more
USARK Federal Lawsuit Update and FAQ On Friday (2/21/14), the Department of the Interior (DOI) responded to USARK’s legal challenge on the current injurious species listings by filing a “Motion to Dismiss” our claims. This was expected and USARK has been preparing for this action. USARK counsel is currently working on our reply which is due within 14 days (March 7). Overall, Fish and ...
NRAAC Law Symposium, Lawsuit and Action Alerts
National Reptile & Amphibian Advisory Council (NRAAC) Law Symposium The Reptile and Amphibian Law Symposium & Workshop will be held March 7-8 in Washington, D.C. This is an essential event for anyone interested in the impact of law and regulation on the keeping, breeding, care, and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. The conference will include two days of panels, workshops, breakout ...
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ACTION ALERT: Cat Ex Deadline is 2/21/14 We need more comments! Be LOUD! This affects the entire exotic pet community and needs to be shared. Keepers of fish, birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, etc. should all be involved. This rule would allow USFWS to add any species as injurious (making importation, interstate commerce and interstate transportation illegal) without full due process afforded under the ...
Illinois House Bill 5648
This bill amends the "Fish and Aquatic Life Code." Changes the definition of "aquatic life" to include all fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, algae, aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates, and any other aquatic animals or plants that the Department identifies in rules adopted after consultation with biologists, zoologists, or other wildlife experts.View the bill at www.lga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=85&GA=98&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=5648&GAID=12&LegID=80759&SpecSess=&Session= ...
Illinois House Bill 5940
Status: Passed House and assigned to Senate Agriculture and Conservation Committee. Hearing scheduled for 5/13/14. Illinois HB 5940 amends the Criminal Code concerning "dangerous animals" which include: lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, bear, wolf, coyote, hyena, bear, any poisonous or life-threatening reptile. The bill adds and defines the term "animal refuge" and makes it illegal ...
Virginia Senate Bill 50
Where: Virginia Senate What: Virginia SB 50 would allow species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as pets. Listed species are already regulated at the national level but Virginia has a more restrictive law that makes it illegal to own these species. View details and text of the bill at www.lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+sum+SB50. Read a related article at www.hamptonroads.com/2014/02/virginia-bill-would-allow-endangered-species-pets.SB50 has passed the House ...
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ACTION ALERT: Cat Ex Deadline is 2/21/14 Now is the time to be LOUD! This affects the entire exotic pet community and needs to be shared. Keepers of fish, birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, etc. should all be involved. This rule would allow USFWS to add species as injurious (making importation, interstate commerce and interstate transportation illegal) without full due process afforded under the ...
Action Alerts and Legislative Updates
Q & A for Lacey Act/Constrictor Rule Challenge Process and Procedure On December 18, 2013, USARK filed a complaint against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint alleges that the Defendants’ listing of four species of constricting snakes as “injurious” under the Lacey Act ...
2014: Maryland House Bill 1124
Where: Maryland State What: Maryland HB 1124 amends the current “Criminal Law – Possession of Dangerous or Wild Animals.” A very similar bill was filed in the Senate (SB 827 viewable at www.usark.org/2014-blog/2014-maryland-senate-bill-827-amendments/). Action Alert: www.usark.org/campaign/maryland-house-bill-1124-action-alert Summary: Both bills provide that unless you qualify for another exemption, holders of a Class C Exhibitors License (Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S. C. Sec. 2131, et. seq.) would ...
2014: Maryland Senate Bill 827
Where: Maryland State What: Maryland SB 827 amends the current "Criminal Law – Possession of Dangerous or Wild Animals." The first hearing is assigned for 3/4/14 at 1:00PM. A very similar bill was filed in the House (HB 1124 viewable at www.usark.org/2014-blog/2014-house-bill-1124/). Action Alert: www.usark.org/campaign/maryland-senate-bill-827-action-alertSummary: Both bills provide that unless you qualify for another exemption, holders of a Class C Exhibitors License (Animal Welfare ...
2014: Indiana Senate Bill 230
SB 230 would no longer allow licensed commercial animal dealers to be exempt from holding state wild animal permits. SB 230 would also allow DNR to allow one blanket permit covering all wild animals at one location rather than a separate permit for each animal. View the bill at (click "Latest version" at the top left next to bill number): iga.in.gov/legislative/2014/bills/senate/230/. View ...
2014: Indiana House Bill 1090
HB 1090 would no longer allow licensed commercial animal dealers to be exempt from holding state wild animal permits. View the bill at (click "Latest version" at the top left next to bill number): iga.in.gov/legislative/2014/bills/house/1090/. View the current Indiana Wild Animal Law at: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-WildAnimalPossessionPermitReg.pdf. Permits are required for venomous reptiles and crocodilians over 5' in Indiana. If you would like contact legislators ...
2014: Oregon Senate Bill 1584
This bill allows the State Department of Agriculture to issue permits for keeping exotic animals. This bill makes small changes, such as a fee up to $300, to previous exotic animal regulations but permits are already required for these species through Oregon statute 609.319. View all pertinent exotic animal laws for Oregon at www.oregonlaws.org/ors/609.341 (NOTE: there are links on the left side of ...
2014: West Virginia House Bill 4393
West Virginia Action Alert THIS BILL HAS BEEN PASSED INTO LAW House Bill 4393 has been passed by committees in the House and the Senate. West Virginia residents must contact Governor Tomblin's office now and continue to contact legislators. Governor Tomblin vetoed the Dangerous Wild Animals Act last year due to financial hardships that would be placed upon the state ...
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 703 Action Alert and more
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 703 Action Alert Wisconsin Assembly Bill 703 was introduced January 31, 2014 and the first public hearing is February 4, 2014. View it at www.docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/related/proposals/ab703. This bill makes changes to the laws relating to the possession of certain wild animals. It impacts these reptile species (and other exotic species viewable in the bill link) immediately: Crocodylia: an alligator of any species, crocodile of any species, ...
2014: West Virginia Senate Bill 428
West Virginia Action Alert West Virginia SB 428 (Dangerous Wild Animals Act) was introduced January 24, 2014 and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources. This bill mirrors proposed Senate Bill 466 from 2013. View the bill text at www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb428%20intr.htm&yr=2014&sesstype=RS&i=428.According to the bill: "The possession of dangerous wild animals presents serious public health and safety concerns and shall be regulated for ...
2014: Wisconsin Assembly Bill 703
Wisconsin Assembly Bill 703 Action Alert Status: No longer active. This bill has died in committee. Read below before using the quick ACTION ALERT form at www.usark.org/campaign/wisconsin-assembly-bill-703/. Wisconsin Assembly Bill 703 was introduced January 31, 2014 and is currently in the Committee on Rules. View it at www.docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/related/proposals/ab703. This bill makes changes to the laws relating to the possession of certain wild animals. It impacts these reptile ...
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Cat Ex Update and Action Alert (Comment Period Reopened) Action Alert: This rule would allow USFWS to add species as injurious (making importation, interstate commerce and interstate transportation illegal) without full due process afforded under the law. This affects reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, small mammals and a huge portion of the pet industry. Any species listed would disappear from the pet ...
2014: New Jersey S381
This bill requires every applicant for a permit to possess a live potentially dangerous indigenous animal or a live potentially dangerous exotic animal to obtain and provide proof of liability insurance in an amount of not less than $250,000 for each potentially dangerous animal prior to the issuance of the permit. These animals were already regulated. It was introduced in the ...
2014: New York A2869
A2869 has again been referred to the Agriculture Committee (Assembly). The bill was introduced in 2013 and is back in 2014. A2869 will make “Any person owning, possessing or harboring a wild animal or reptile capable of inflicting bodily harm upon a human being” guilty of a class E felony. This bill is upgrading the penalty from a misdemeanor to ...
2014: West Virginia SB 371
West Virginia SB 371 Action Alert This bill was introduced January 16, 2014 and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources. According to the bill: “It is the intent of the State of West Virginia to protect the public against health and safety risks that wild and exotic animals pose to the community and to protect the welfare of the individual ...
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