23/02/2021
USARK Newsletter 2/22/21
ALERTS & UPDATES: IL, FL, SC, OR, NY, federal
Read below or at https://mailchi.mp/usark/2021_alerts5
ALERT: Florida FWC Commission Meeting Species Ban
More details at https://www.usarkfl.org/rulemaking-update-2.
FWC has posted the agenda for the next Commission meeting on February 25-26. This will be another virtual meeting. The listing of 16 species of non-native reptiles (tegus, green iguanas, current Conditional reptile species including reticulated pythons and others) as Prohibited Species is first on the agenda (after the usual formalities) for Thursday, February 25.
Herpetoculturists can oppose the ban during the comment period following Staff's presentation. We need LOTS of h**petoculturists to be on the line. This goes beyond the 16 species to be banned. We need a strong showing or we will likely be facing broad bans affecting many more keepers and breeders.
Stand up now! USARK FL will be posting updates and details on its page and website: https://www.facebook.com/usarkfl and https://www.usarkfl.org/
FWC has now posted its draft rules, presentation, and summary memo on the agenda.
See the #5 on the agenda for draft rules at https://myfwc.com/about/commission/commission-meetings/february-2021/.
FWC has yet to post the link to the virtual meeting (at the time of distribution of this newsletter at noon EST on 2/22), so please check the USARK and UARK FL social media pages for updates. The link should eventually be posted by FWC on their agenda page at the link just above.
ALERT: Illinois Animal Program Ban
Illinois House Bill 3889 (HB3889) is a broad-sweeping ban on “traveling animal acts” which would include educational animal outreach and other programs which include any species not native to the United States. Animal rights and pseudo-animal welfare groups will again feed the legislators false propaganda and misinformation, so we must do our job to educate legislators properly. This bill amends the current law that forbids using elephants in such acts.
This goes far beyond animal outreach and educational programs to include bans at 4-H, county, and state fairs, along with other traditional animal exhibitions of common livestock species. Please see the links below for full details.
Very basic summary:
1. Ban on any animal species non-native to the U.S. being transported and then viewed by any audience;
2. the only exemption applies to programs in which the animal is not transported at a “non-mobile, permanent institution, or other facility;”
3. violation penalty is up to a year in jail and $2,500 fine (Class A misdemeanor);
4. This bill amends the current law (720 ILCS 5/48-11) which only applies to elephants but would include ALL non-native species and those of a “foreign character” if it passes.
Website Alert with more details: https://usark.org/2021-il/
Facebook Alert Post: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.3619186941496566/3709131312502128/
ALERT: New York State Animal Shipment Ban
New York Assembly Bill 4611 (A04611) has broad sweeping negative impacts on many animal interest groups including farmers, bird breeders, reptile keepers, mammal breeders, pet stores, and more. This bill seeks to ban the shipping of all mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. This includes shipments into and from the state (both import and export). Per the bill, shipping via any “mail carrier” will be banned which includes not only USPS but also the commonly utilized overnight services from major carriers such as FedEx and UPS.
A04611 was assigned to the Assembly Agriculture Committee. Fines can be $1,000 per violation. Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal introduced the bill and she sits on the assigned Agriculture Committee. The Committee members must be made aware of the broad sweeping repercussions of this bill and informed of the many shipping regulations, restrictions, and safeguards already in place.
Website Alert with more details: https://usark.org/alert-2021-ny/
Facebook Alert Post: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.398227663592526/3671097862972140/
ALERT: South Carolina tegu ban
Read the full alert at https://usark.org/2021-sc-tegu.
UPDATE from 2/18/21: The SCDNR Board just voted in favor of the tegu ban at their Board meeting. This new regulation must still go through the legislature before it would be effective. We will have more details when available.
All details can be found at https://usark.org/2021-sc-tegu.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has proposed a ban on the Argentine black and white tegu. This species would be listed as Restricted Nonnative Wildlife. The regulation will include restrictions on possession, sale, offer for sale, transfer of possession, import, release, reproduction, and escape of designated species and associated permitting. The deadline to comment is January 25. More details at the link above.
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/3623566931058567.
ALERT: Oregon Animal Program ban
Read the full alert at https://usark.org/alert-or-2021/.
UPDATE: HB3008 is assigned to the House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources. Please send your comments to Committee members even if you already contacted the sponsor! All contact details are under the Sample Messaging section of the alert at https://usark.org/alert-or-2021/.
Oregon House Bill 3008 (HB3008) has been introduced by Representative Nosse. HB3008 prohibits using certain animals (list at link above and even includes tortoises and small monitors) in traveling animal acts, which will include the educational outreach programs provided by many animal keepers. Essentially, animals could only leave your home for veterinary visits.
Regardless of what species are involved, this bill is unnecessary, redundant, and a waste of Oregon tax dollars. Animal welfare laws are already in place and measures like this bill only punish responsible citizens instead of actually penalizing criminals.
The unintended consequences are many. It is a ban on taking a Greek tortoise into a classroom for an educational program about turtles and tortoises. It is a ban on taking a dwarf monitor lizard into a library or to a Scout troop meeting for an educational show discussing reptiles.
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.398227663592526/3634347109980549/.
HR48 “American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act” and the SAVES Act (UPDATED)
Read the full alert at https://usark.org/action-alert-h-r-2603/.
UPDATE 2/9/21: The SAVES Act has been re-introduced this session in both the Senate and House. S276 and HR930 would amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to prohibit the listing of living nonnative species as threatened or endangered species. S276 was introduced by Texas Senator Ted Cruz. HR930 was introduced by Texas Representative Louie Gohmert.
U.S. Representative Biggs (Arizona) has introduced HR48. This is an act to amend the Endangered Species Act to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, to prohibit certain types of financial assistance, and for other purposes.
HR48 amends the Endangered Species Act by adding this text: “(D) NOT NATIVE SPECIES.—The Secretary may not determine that a species is an endangered species or a threatened species pursuant to section 4 if such species is not native to the United States.”
For many reasons, ESA should not include nonnative species but should focus entirely on native species. America must more efficiently utilize and protect the resources we have. We must tighten the reins and terminate wasteful expenditures of our money and energy. Regarding this issue, that means turning ESA’s focus solely to native species, while collaborating with CITES for nonnative species matters.
The linked webpage at https://usark.org/action-alert-h-r-2603/ provides a historical record of previous bills with the same intent but the messaging remains relevant. We will post an alert specific to HR48 soon.
Federal: Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2021
Read the full alert at https://usark.org/future-pandemics-act/.
This bill has been introduced again by Representatives Mike Quigley and Fred Upton. This Act has been introduced in both the House and Senate. The Act is reported to “address the public health risks posed by wildlife markets, and for other purposes.”
Stakeholders and advocacy groups representing affected members, including USARK, have been working to educate Congress about issues revolving around zoonoses (diseases or infections that are naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans) and animals. While animal rights groups flagrantly called for blanket bans on everything associated with animals, including pets, our side worked to educate rather than practice scare tactics...
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/3334231926658737/.
ALERT: New York AB2054
Read the full alert at https://usark.org/2021_ny_ab2054/.
Assembly Bill 2054 was introduced on 1/14/21 and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation. While the bill, as introduced, may not have overreaching consequences for h**petoculture, it is important to be aware and informed.
The bill would provide that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation must create an animal importation ban list by December 31, 2022. Initially, the list would include all bats, rodents, and primates (unless the species is listed as exempt). The Department may include other species if it determines that “prohibiting the importation into the state is necessary to protect public health and safety, native wildlife or fish, or agricultural interests of the state.”
A second portion of the bill covers “live animal markets.” The market definition is “a retail food market where, in the regular course of business, animals are stored alive and sold to consumers for the purpose of human consumption.”
AB2054 will need to be monitored to address possible unjust species listings. For example, banning the importation of all rodents is beyond problematic but there would likely be species exemptions. The same bill was introduced late last session as AB11144.
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/3615810541834206.
Find A Vet
Need a good h**p veterinarian? The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) can help. ARAV provides a free Find-A-Vet service at http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661.
Photo: boy learning about reptiles (legless lizard shown) via Roaming Reptiles. Programs like this and others would be banned in Illinois and Oregon if the discussed bills pass.
