Non-native species ban

[Sporkthedork]

Has anyone been keeping up on this potential non-native species ban? The link is on the top of kingsnake's website:
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/US_HR_669.pdf

This has been a big buzz in the snake community mostly by the ball python and the big 5 community since fall of 2008. I'm not sure what to make of it, but it seems like there will be a congressional hearing on April 23, 2009 on whether or not to ban certain non-native species. From what I've read, it seems like they want to ban non-native species that has the potential to harm any region of the US economically and/or environmentally. Knowing how the introduction of Jackson chameleons has had a negative impact to the flora and fauna of Hawaii, chameleons can be at risk if this ban gets passed. Does anyone know any more about this?

 

[Rocky]

I honestly do not have a problem with this and I think if done right it can help the wildlife of america. There are many species that have been accidently introduced into an environment, and due to the fact that other species aren't used to them being around those native species are hurt.

I honestly think there should be a huge restriction on house cats. The feral house cat preys on shrews, squirrels, song birds, and many other animals that haven't adapted to this predator and is probably one of the top threats to local animals.

 

[Todnedo]

That is a "junk bill" if I ever saw one!
So cows, sheep and hogs going to be on the list, we all know how distructive they are to the environment.
Who comes up with this crap?

 

[BigR]

Just finished reading it, there's a link through lllreptile.com as well. I can't see this affecting chameleon trade, but other reptiles, specifically those considered more advanced as well as most snakes and those that breed and sell them coulld be in trouble. The US has such a broad range of habitats that almost anything could find a suitable environment and pose a risk to native fauna and flora, rendering those species on the unapproved list.

This is only punishing responsible keepers for something that an idiot has already done or has the slightest potential to do in the future.

 

[Rocky]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080808090313.htm

thats what happened in Guam when the invasive snakes had free rule over the island. Basically a species develops and adapts with its current evironment. The evolve with the predators they are used to and when a new species is brought in and the native species haven't evolved with it they have no protection against them.

In the galapagos islands the species evolved there with no land predators. So if any land predator (ie feral cats) were to go to the island they would decimate the population. That is why if you goto the galapagos islands you can literally take pictures of you right next to seals and turtles.

burmese pythons are a problem in the everglades as well.

 

[BigR]

License the animals. Small fee gives you a card saying "I have have permission to own X number of X species". Every six months either produce the animal(s) or produce a body so they know you haven't released it. I mean I've got animal license people at my door 3 times a year to check if I own a cat or dog, so the system is already in place, just needs to be upgraded. That is if the system does exist down in the US.

 

[kenya]

A bill like this is dangerous to everyone in the reptile hobby. I know that the HSUS is probably one of the major pushers behind it. The Humane Society of the United States is not to be confused with your local Humane Society, though the HSUS will gladly take your donations promising to "help homeless dogs and cats"...by lobbying for a radical agenda that pushes all animals to be ~*set free*~ (even domestic dogs and cats that have no chance of survival in the wild and would majorly harm the ecosystems they are put in) and want to totally ban pet ownership. They are as radical as PETA, but sneakier in that they masquerade behind the guise of wanting to help animals and use the name "Humane Society" so that people assume that they are associated with their local animal shelters, which they have nothing to do with.

This bill is a small stepping stone to ban "dangerous, alien reptiles" and they will be coming for other herps next. It is all one big slow moving plan to ban pet ownership and captive animals in general.

I won't go too much deeper into this, but if you would like to read more, here are some links to get you started:

http://www.cornutopia.com/Corn Utop...G ENEMY Cornutopia corn snakes cornsnakes.htm

http://www.arbreptiles.com/extremists.shtml

http://www.wnyherp.org/resources/legal-issues/HSUSBan.php

A law like this is just cracking open the door to ban all reptiles. It will probably pass because the general population is wary of snakes and other herps and sees dogs and cats as being "real pets" so the guise of being "for the better" and "oh, huge dangerous snakes" is there.

This makes my blood boil for so many reasons.

 

[laurie]

License the animals. Small fee gives you a card saying "I have have permission to own X number of X species". Every six months either produce the animal(s) or produce a body so they know you haven't released it. I mean I've got animal license people at my door 3 times a year to check if I own a cat or dog, so the system is already in place, just needs to be upgraded. That is if the system does exist down in the US.

It might exist someplaces in the US but not all places, I have 2 dogs that have been here 18 months without me registering them. It is your choice if you register them or not. My dogs never leave my home or yard so i don't bother. Californis is also VERY lacking on controls.

 

[Jellyman]

I honestly do not see any other way to create such a bill. It will have to be a blanket law which means if iguanas can destroy a niche in Florida then they will be banned for the country. Otherwise for every single animal it would have to be on a State by State basis and that just simply is not economically practical. This again is a law punishing those that are responsible. No different then our great mortgage bailout. I buy a house I can afford, I make all my payments on time or early, I get NO benefit from any of this Federal bailout. Who does, the abusers and irresponsible.

 

[dondeb562]

It is not only for reptiles. ALL ANIMALS WILL BE EFFECTED including hamsters, ferrets, guinea pigs and birds. This is the third or fourth time this has gone to Congress this year. I think there would be some major backlash should something like this go through. The pet industry itself brings in lots of taxable dollars to our already ailing economy, I think it would be ridiculous should something like this pass!

 

[BigR]

It might exist someplaces in the US but not all places, I have 2 dogs that have been here 18 months without me registering them. It is your choice if you register them or not. My dogs never leave my home or yard so i don't bother. Californis is also VERY lacking on controls.

At least tell me your dogs are up to date on all their shots. I had a huge issue trying to find out when I was bitten last year while officiating a soccer match. Tracked down the dog after a week, Things shots were 4 years out of date.

 

[Jellyman]

At least tell me your dogs are up to date on all their shots. I had a huge issue trying to find out when I was bitten last year while officiating a soccer match. Tracked down the dog after a week, Things shots were 4 years out of date.

This is exactly why this possible law is even being discussed. Irresponsible pet owners. Not only should that dog owner be liable for all your bills but for punitive settlement and fined for not taking care of their animal. You make the fines large enough and people will eventually do the right thing. Just think, noone would speed if it cost $500 for a 5 MPH speeding ticket!!

 

[dondeb562]

This is exactly why this possible law is even being discussed. Irresponsible pet owners. Not only should that dog owner be liable for all your bills but for punitive settlement and fined for not taking care of their animal. You make the fines large enough and people will eventually do the right thing. Just think, noone would speed if it cost $500 for a 5 MPH speeding ticket!!

I would have to agree on this. I know this was first being considered because of the large population of pythons living in the wild that are non naitive (escapees or people who let them go). Instead of targeting one type of animal they are going after all....

 

[Eric Adrignola]

It is a bad idea. The last thing anybody needs is MORE government interventionin our private lives, in any way. Look at what they did with prarie dogs.

I worked for government, I kow how it works. To prevent a veiled chameleon from eating a baby black-footed ferret, they'll ban them. That's how the government works.

Feral cats and dogs are far more damaging than any reptile could be. Invasive insects are far more dangerous than any animal could be. Invasive plants are far more destructive(and unstoppable)than anything else, save microbes.

The entire biology of the East was turned upside down when the chestnut blight came to the US. The result was so widespread and destructive, that it would be far less dramatic if every redwood and giant sequoia were to be replaced with oaks and pines.

A few lizards aint' gonna do squat. In hawaii - a more pristene environment, isolated geolgically, sure I can see the justificiation. But the rest of the US... Not worth the trouble. And it wil be a massive amount of trouble.

 

[DeFishy]

The only ban that should ever be put in place is for irrisponsible pet owners. Not only should every pet owner be screened for compatablility with pet, but someone should be able to go around at least once every six months to make sure the pet is safe/healthy/not being dumped. This bill would also have to include fish. I don't want to imagine how many pirrana are swimming around in our lakes. Poor fish.

 

[BigR]

No pirannah swimming in my lake. (I don't think there's much that swims in Lake Ontario)

 

[Rocky]

Well I really dont think anything like this will be given federal power. If anything it will be giving states more power over the issue. I'm sorry, but certain areas are correct in not allowing people to have certain animals.

When an invasive species comes into a new environment they have a 99% chance of not making it, but that 1% will destroy an ecosystem. Guam and the brown tree snake are an excellent example. I believe that even a 1% chance in destroying an ecosystem is good enough reason to try and eliminate that factor.


What did they do with the prairie dogs?

 

[DeFishy]

Ha ha, nothing but the three-eyed fish anyway. Didn't you hear about the ones in heart lake? I'm in your area too.

 

[dondeb562]

I remember when all that went down with the prairie dogs and the pet stores in Vegas had to hold onto them and keep them quarantined for months. I'm not sure what ever happened to them after the quarantine was lifted. I believe they are not to be sold anymore in pet stores.

 

[Rocky]

well prairie dogs were banned because of the "plague" >.< I know the ban was lifted and I have seen them for $200 which is crazy because i see about 10 million of them every day on my drive to school.

Also, prairie dogs are up for review on if they should be put on the endangered species list. they only occupy 3% of their native home range.