CITES CoP 2025
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) may propose amendments to the Appendices for the upcoming Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from November 24 to December 5, 2025. NOTE: There is not yet a formal proposal from FWS ...
Pets as Presents
Pets As Presents: Thoughtful consideration of animals as gifts The holiday season often brings thoughts of surprising a child or loved one with the pet of their dreams, but here is the truth: animal keeping is a commitment that can span decades. Instead of an impulse buy, we can ensure our pets thrive through careful planning and making informed choices ...
ESA: Hellbender
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Read the Federal Register document at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/24-ESA-hellbender.pdf ...
ALERT: Ashley, OH
UPDATE 1/7/25: The final vote was postponed because Mayor Lockhart and the Council want to ensure they write a sound ordinance. USARK President Phil Goss attended and spoke for responsible reptile and "exotic" animal owners. Since only a few species would fall under the proposed definition of domesticated animal, USARK wants to make certain changes were made. Even though Ashley ...
ALERT: Michigan
Senator Polehanki has introduced a late bill in the Michigan Senate to classify all crocodilians as prohibited species. A grandfather clause allows the owner to obtain a permit from Michigan DNR. Owners who held crocodilians before the effective date will have 180 days to get permits. The bill language can be found here, and the bold text is new (the ...
ALERT: Lansford, PA
UPDATE Feb. 12, 2025: The City Council continues work on the exotic animal ordinance. There will be a meeting to discuss this issue, but the date has not been announced. The Lansford Council has directed the borough solicitor (city attorney) to draft an exotic animal ordinance. Anyone in the borough who owns animals other than dogs and cats should engage ...
ALERT: Florence, SC
UPDATE 3/6/25: No local residents appeared to speak at the hearing. The ordinance passed with some amendments, linked below. UPDATE 3/6/25: A new draft is scheduled to be heard at the City Council meeting on Monday, March 10. Some changes have been made but the draft still bans venomous snakes, a few large constrictor snake species, and lots of mammals ...
ALERT: Burlington, VT
UPDATE 11/5/24: Thank you to those who opposed this overreaching and unjust ban. The Dog Task Force presenter did not include the proposal to ban tens of thousands of "exotic animals." However, the Burlington Ordinance Committee highlighted the many messages received opposing the exotic animal ban and focused on that. The Committee asked questions and decided to remove the proposal ...
ALERT: Hancock, MI
UPDATE 10/30/24: The ordinance passed as drafted. While we would have preferred to see some amendments to remove the ambiguity, the City did confirm that pet reptiles and other animals are not banned. If it is not clearly an "exotic animal" (see definition), then it is not banned. Thank you to those who engaged. The Hancock City Council has proposed ...
ALERT: Amelia County, VA
UPDATE 10/15/24: This meeting aims to discuss potential changes to the exotic animal ordinance. There is no draft ordinance, and this is just an initial discussion. Anyone with non-domesticated animals should attend, if possible. The Amelia County Board of Supervisors will discuss exotic animal ordinance changes on Wednesday, October 16, at 7:00 PM in the Amelia County Administration Conference Room ...
ALERT: Colorado
UPDATE 5/21/25: Colorado PACFA Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda Date and Time: Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 10:00 - 12:00 (MDT) (In-Person & Virtual) Registration link and more details at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PACFA-Advisory-Committee-Agenda-May-28-2025-.pdf. Read the final rule changes at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25-PACFA-final-rule-8-CCR-1202-15-Bluelined.pdf. UPDATE: The formal proposal has been posted, and a hearing has been scheduled. You can read the proposed rule changes (changes in red) at ...
New Jersey Invasive Species Bill
New Jersey Senate Bill 1029 has been pref-filed for 2025. It establishes the NJ Invasive Species Council. The Council would be tasked with developing a list of regulated invasive species that are subject to permitting requirements. Those species would be banned from sale, distribution, import, export, or propagation without a permit from the Department of Agriculture. Read the bill at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25-NJ-SB1029.pdf ...
ALERT: Diamondback Terrapin ESA Listing
On September 19, 2024, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service (informally known as NOAA Fisheries and an agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA) to list the Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petition also calls for critical habitat to be designated for the terrapins ...
ALERT: Federal Herp and Fish Regulations
On September 12, Representative Betty McCollum introduced HR9571, which will “amend the Animal Welfare Act to include cold-blooded species as animals, and for other purposes.” This will add reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cephalopods “as animals” under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), meaning the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must develop new regulations. Basically, the USDA would now be required to ...
“Chevron”
AGENCY DEFERENCE POST-KISOR AND LOPER For the last decade, the Supreme Court has progressively altered the case law on agency deference. The two landmark decisions on agency deference are now Kisor v. Wilkie, 588 U.S. 558 (2019) and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 144 S. Ct. 2244 (2024), which respectively clarified and overturned the previous landmark decisions in Auer v ...
Animal Care Bulb Ban
UPDATE May 7, 2025: Reptile, amphibian, and other animal keepers will get some relief from the Department of Energy ban on specialty animal care light bulbs. Bulbs that were unreasonably banned will be available again, provided a special sticker is applied to the packaging. This is great news for animal welfare! We have an excerpt below and have included a ...
Notice: Illinois Herptiles Act amendments
Amendments have been proposed to the Illinois Herptiles-Herps Act. These changes are summarized below. Summary of changes (including but not limited to): writes a new Herptile Endangered and Threatened Species Propagation Permit section (specifically stating that morphs are included); adds a section on medically significant amphibians; adds new terms and definitions; adds a new chapter for herptile disease; amends taking ...
ALERT: New York ban on red-eared slider sales
New York Assembly Bill A10663 and Senate Bill S6621 ban the breeding, sale, trade, purchase, importation, and exportation of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Some exemptions exist, but not for private breeders. There is no grandfathering language, so any current breeders would not be allowed to continue. The bill does not ban possession, and current owners would not be affected ...
ESA: Pearl River map turtle listing
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will list the Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis) listed as threatened under ESA. The below species will be listed as threatened due to "similarity of appearance." Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra), Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys barbouri), Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti), and Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) Effective on 8/11/24. It will ...
Education: Salmonella
Salmonella The bacteria frequently discussed as Salmonella, the cause of salmonellosis, includes a few species, several subspecies, and more than 2,500 serotypes within the same bacterial genus. Salmonella bacteria are enteric, living in the intestinal tracts of most vertebrate animals, including not just amphibians and reptiles but also fish, birds, and mammals (this means humans, too). Outside of a vertebrate ...
ALERT: West Hollywood Animal Sales Ban
UPDATE 9/15/25: The retail sales ban passed on final vote. It is set to become effective on May 1, 2026. UPDATE 8/18/25: The Council voted to ban the "display, sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away or otherwise transfer or dispose" of any pet animals (applies to "any amphibian, arachnid, bird, fish, hermit crab, mammal (including any cat, ...
Light Bulb Ban
UPDATE May 7, 2025: Reptile, amphibian, and other animal keepers will get some relief from the Department of Energy ban on specialty animal care light bulbs. Bulbs that were unreasonably banned will be available again, provided a special sticker is applied to the packaging. This is great news for animal welfare! We have an excerpt below and have included a ...
ALERT: West Mifflin, PA
UPDATE 6/18: Thanks to a HUGE turnout, including USARK President Phil Goss, the Borough Council voted NO to this ordinance! Thank you to all residents who contacted the Council to voice their opposition and concerns. The Council was certainly aware of the outrage prior to the meeting. We will post updates if another ordinance is proposed but the message was ...
ALERT: Arizona – Warrantless Animal Seizure
UPDATE 2/15/24: The Arizona warrantless seizure bill was on today's agenda for the Senate Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee but it was not heard. Basically, it was tabled/held with no vote due to overwhelming public opposition. Thank you to everyone who submitted comments and made legislators aware of the unintended consequences of this bill. Senator Bolick of Arizona has ...
ALERT: Colorado Pet Tax for ALL Animals
UPDATE: After receiving overwhelming opposition from concerned Coloradans and animal welfare and interest organizations, the bill sponsor heard the opposition loud and clear and pulled the bill. Thank you to everyone who opposed this pet tax and informed legislators about its unjust consequences! Colorado House Bill 24-1163 enters a new level of big government and big taxes. The bill will add a ...
South Carolina H4874
Representative Hixon has introduced H4874 which is a bill that creates Chapter 17 under Title 50 of the SC Code. Reading the bill is quite alarming but please allow us to explain the intent of the bill. Briefly, the bill will allow the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) to create a permit system for wildlife rehabilitators, educators, exhibitors, ...
ALERT: Washington Animal Program Ban
UPDATE: These bills are dead for the year as they failed to be assigned hearings and clear Commitee before the cutoff date. Due to the many stakeholders who voiced their opposition, the bills were unfavorable in the legislature. Thank you to everyone who engaged and opposed these bills! Postcard Directions Just click this link and then mail postcards (three per Washington resident) to your ...
ALERT: Florida Ban on All Iguanas
HB1033 seeks to expand the ban on green iguanas (Iguana iguana) to include all iguana species. This would mean that rock iguanas, spiny-tailed iguanas, rhinoceros iguanas, and all other species would be prohibited species. It does this by changing statute from reading "Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)" to just "Iguana." The bill would also ban the sales of dogs and cats ...
ALERT: Louisiana Reptile Ban
UPDATE 8/26/25: The Department has finally written permit applications and released information on the new rules. "There are now permit requirements to possess prohibited and restricted nonnative reptile and amphibian species, as well as continued permitting requirements to possess Restricted Snakes (constrictor snakes greater than 8 feet in length, and venomous snakes which include both nonnative and native species). Each ...
Lacey Act amendments included in House report
Lacey Act amendments regarding injurious species are included in a report (read it at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/23-reset-prevent-rebuild-report-with-lacey.pdf) from the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. It is titled, Reset, Prevent, Build: A Strategy to Win America's Economic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party. This is not exactly the title of a document where these Lacey Act ...
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Recent Posts
- ALERT: Rhode Island tegu permit
- ALERT: Pennington County, SD
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- ESA amendments
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