CITES Amphibian Trade Survey
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is conducting a review of the global amphibian trade. As part of this effort, CITES and The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have developed a questionnaire to gather information on amphibians, including the following: the levels of international trade in amphibians (legal and illegal); ...
Gary Bagnall Resigns as Chairman of the Board
Gary Bagnall, the founder and CEO of Zoo Med, has played an integral role in USARK for more than fourteen years and was most recently serving as USARK’s Chairman of the Board. After so much time and attention devoted to ensuring USARK could succeed, Gary has decided to resign from the Board and focus his energy on other projects. One ...
ALERT: ESA listing for two reptile species and two others
UPDATE 7/15/25: FWS is reopening the comment period on the proposed rule to list the blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei), as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. The comment period will last for 30 days. Public hearing: On July 31, ...
ESA Modernization Bills
Endangered Species Act Modernization Bills The Saving America’s Vulnerable Endangered Species Act, or SAVES Act, has been re-introduced this session in both the Senate and House. S771 and HR1558 would amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to prohibit the listing of living nonnative species as threatened or endangered species. S771 was introduced by Texas Senator Ted Cruz (Texas). HR1558 was ...
APHIS Nonnative Herp Environmental Assessment Comment Period
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has posted the below. We will have more details soon: NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY – Florida: Wildlife Services (WS), a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) titled “Managing Damage and Threats of Damage Caused by ...
ALERT: Ann Arbor, Michigan Animal Sales Ban
UPDATE 6/20/23: The ordinance passed. Only two people spoke in opposition (USARK and one local pet owner) while several spoke in support including four people from a single animal rights group. One Council member mentioned that almost every local person who sent emails supported the ban. Directions for speaking on June 20: Call 877-853-5247 or 888-788-0099, then enter Meeting ID 942 1273 ...
ALERT: Austin, TX Animal Program Ban
UPDATE 7/11/23: The Austin Animal Advisory Commission has made several changes to the proposal, including an exemption for an "owner of a household pet who derives less than the majority of their income from exhibiting an animal." The Commission (not the City Council) passed this language on 7/10/23. Read it at https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=411678. UPDATE 6/12: The Austin Animal Advisory Commission voted to ...
Lacey Act Amendments FAQ 2023
This is a compilation of questions and incorrect statements from social media and emails. Our original alert will always be maintained/updated at https://usark.org/23lacey/ Updates will be made to this FAQ as necessary. Q: How do we know about these issues? Our legislative alert system found these bills/reports and we posted our alert ASAP. Q. What are the bill numbers? The ...
ALERT: Lacey Act Amendments
UPDATE 9/16/24: Rep. Kat Cammack was added as a cosponsor to HR4922. Florida, District 3 (Gainesville area) UPDATE: Luna's HR4922 has 5 cosponsors: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Carl, Jerry L. [R-AL-1], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] UPDATE July 24, 2023: Representative Anna Paulina Luna (FL) has introduced HR4922 which ...
ALERT: Tennessee Regulation Changes
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is amending Rule 1660-01-18 which covers animals kept under human care. The biggest concern is the requirement to tattoo or microchip any Class II animal (Tennessee native species) that is being propagated/bred. This poses health and animal cruelty risks for some species. Please note that much of this text (link below) is already current ...
FWC Comment Deadline!
Shared from USARK Florida: We encourage every Florida animal owner to email the Commissioners regarding the “whitelist” proposal that will be heard during the May 11 Commission meeting. Comments must be submitted by 5:00 on Friday, May 5. Please remember to be civil and professional, but feel free to make your concerns known. Submit your comments here: https://myfwc.wufoo.com/forms/s1g2xh6f009a30i/. If this ...
ALERT: Richmond, VA
UPDATE 7/24: The ordinance passed but was amended with changes such as a grandfathering clause and other provisions pushed by stakeholders, including USARK. UPDATE 5/23: This is the grandfathering amendment that has been added to the proposal: https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/23-Richmond-amendment.pdf. NOTE: Current through 1:00 PM EST on May 24, there is an article from the Richmond Times Dispatch stating that this proposal/ban ...
ALERT: Denison, Iowa
UPDATE 5/3/23: This proposal has been stopped! Thank you to everyone who opposed this horrible and overreaching ordinance! This was easily one of the worst bans we have seen introduced. Even though this was a small city in Iowa and may not have affected you, these bad bans can spread quickly if they get passed anywhere. That is why it ...
New York: additional species ban
UPDATE 4/9/24: Passed Senate and referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. UPDATE 4/14/23: A hearing has just been scheduled for Monday, April 17 at 12:30. Location: Capitol Building room 123 CAP, State St. and, Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12224 Senate Bill 6211 makes some changes to the "wild animal" law in New York. It is sponsored by Senator Monica R. Martinez ...
Suspension – All Commercial Trade in CITES species with Mexico
NOTICE TO THE WILDLIFE IMPORT/EXPORT COMMUNITY Subject: CITES Trade Suspension – All Commercial Trade in CITES species with Mexico Background: The Endangered Species Act prohibits trade in specimens contrary to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Article I of the Convention defines “trade” to mean export, re-export, import, and introduction from the sea ...
ALERT: Illinois turtle trap bill
Update 3/30: The bill was "postponed" at today's hearing. The bill is likely dead but we will need to watch for other action on this issue. Thank you to everyone who opposed this bill! The formal "witness slip" opposition to support ratio was 64 to 1. Update 3/24: A hearing has been scheduled for March 30. Now is the time ...
ALERT: Houghton, MI
The Houghton City Council has proposed an animal ordinance covering many species, including chickens and bees. There is a rather vague definition for "exotic animal" (see below) that could lead to enforcement on some commonly kept animals. Bird feeding and other restrictions are even included. Please note that the list of animals included in the definition of "exotic animal" is ...
ALERT: Texas snake and wild animal permit notifications
UPDATE 5/11/23: This bill failed to advance before the deadline. It is now dead for this session! Thank you to everyone who engaged in the process! UPDATE 4/14: This bill was heard again without notice and without being placed on the meeting agenda. The sponsor introduced an amended bill during the meeting, so no public notice was given. It passed ...
ALERT: Illinois Animal Program Ban
UPDATE 3/10: The bill was sent to the Rules Committee (Illinois Rule 19(a)). UPDATE 3/1: HB3695 has been placed on the hearing agendas on both March 7 and March 9. Now is the time to voice your opposition by submitting a "Witness Slip." Do so at both links below (slip for March 7 and slip for March 9). Click here: ...
ALERT: Rhode Island Animal Program Ban
UPDATE: The Committee recommended that the bill be held for further study (i.e. it was tabled). UPDATE: This bill has a hearing on March 2 at 4:00 PM. Room 101 in the State House, 82 Smith St., Providence, RI 02903. First step. Go here and send your opposition quickly. Then return to this page and follow the Sample Messaging steps below. QUICK ...
ALERT: Oregon Animal Program Ban
UPDATE 4/4: Oregon had an April 4 deadline for bills to clear their first Committee. This bill failed to meet that deadline so it is now dead. Thank you to everyone who testified and opposed this bill! UPDATE 3/25: This bill was removed from the 3/30 meeting agenda and it should be dead for this session. Thank you to everyone ...
ALERT: New Mexico Animal Program Ban
UPDATE 2/8: After a long debate and discussion, this bill was tabled again. It could return this session but hopefully, that is all for this year. Thank you to everyone who voiced opposition! Your voices made a difference! UPDATE: This bill has a second hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 1:30 MST. You may voice opposition via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9124526531 ...
ALERT: Connecticut Animal Program Ban
UPDATE 3/10: The bill was held/tabled at today's Committee meeting. UPDATE 3/9: With short notice, HB5123 should be having a Committee vote tomorrow (3/10). This is a Committee Meeting and not a Public Hearing (which happened on Feb. 27). Any stakeholders should be emailing (again) and/or calling Committee member offices today and asking them to vote NO on HB5123. You ...
ALERT: Washington Animal Program Ban
Step 1: Submit messages through the Washington Legislature website It only takes a minute! Go here to oppose the Senate bill: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5148 Complete the required address fields Click VERIFY ADDRESS Click the boxes by all three state legislator names that appear Complete the name and email address fields Click OPPOSE Copy/paste the sample message (you can edit it) below or ...
ALERT: Loudoun County, Virginia
UPDATE 3/7/23: The Board voted and passed the proposal. Read the proposal at https://loudoun.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=88&event_id=3589&meta_id=225151. UPDATE 1/30/23: The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing on this issue for February 15 at 6:00 PM. Directions for signing up to speak are below: Loudoun County is proposing a ban on "wild or exotic animals" (see species list below) deemed as a public ...
ALERT: Suffolk County, NY Animal Program Ban
UPDATE 2/7/23: This remains with the Committee on Ways and Means and has not seen action since December 1. UPDATE: This issue was tabled (postponed for further discussion) at the December 1 meeting. Very basic summary: Ban on any animal except domesticated dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cows, sheep, or goats being transported and then viewed by any audience. This applies even for ...
ALERT: Northampton, MA
UPDATE: The ordinance passed on December 1 with a unanimous vote. UPDATE: Hearing on December 1 at 7:00 PM. LINK to agenda and web access: https://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12012022-6836?html=true UPDATE 11/14/22: The Legislative Matters Committee passed the ordinance. It now must pass the full City Council. Northampton is proposing an “exotic/wild animals in entertainment ban.” The proposal is straightforward and simply states, “It ...
ALERT: Sioux City, IA
UPDATE 10/10/22: Thank you to all Sioux City residents who contacted the City Council to voice their opposition! The new definition of "domestic animal" (which would have created the new ban on more than three of any combination of most pets) was voted down tonight. However, the City Council is still discussing pets so local residents should be sure to monitor ...
ALERT: Village of Pewaukee, WI
The Village of Pewaukee (not the neighboring city of Pewaukee) will be discussing a ban on the breeding and selling of most animals in certain areas of the municipality. Animal owners should be opposing this in addition to any breeders and sellers. If a ban of breeding and selling passes, then a ban on ownership will likely follow or even ...
ALERT: Georgia
UPDATES: Breeders and sellers of the reptile species added to this list can continue to sell animals until December 3, 2023. Importation is not allowed after December 4, 2022, but intra-state sales are allowed until December 3, 2023. GDNR will be posting updates to their website regarding tagging/micro-chipping and registration (which must be done by December 3, 2023). NOTE: GDNR previously ...
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