Original post by EricWI — 2011-07-09 23:15:51 GMT

After having had contemplated this, I have decided to make some changes (for the better) in the way I post legislative/legal news articles here on Kingsnake.com that I am hoping will result in a far more centralized, "one stop" and much more easily readable herp legislative/legal news digest hosted by Kingsnake.com. I am hoping that this will provide a better and more efficient means of conveying news pertaining to herpetoculture and our ability to own, trade, and propagate herps. Please see the below link to a posting containing more detailed information. I would also like to hear any other ideas or discussions one may have about this idea.

Kingsnake moderators, can one of you please make this post a Sticky Topic so that it remains at the top for all to see?

www.kingsnake.com/blog/archives/522-Changes-are-Coming-for-the-Better.html

Edited on July 11, 2011 at 23:26:45 by PHFaust.

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Original post by PHFaust — 2010-06-12 03:28:36 GMT

The purpose of this forum is to discuss legal issues as well as keep the herp community up to date on these issues.

The purpose of this forum is NOT to debate a single member, possible affiliations or finding a common ground with personal discourse. Those messages that I am referring to have been moved to the open discussion forum.

Secondly, remember what you say here and how you say it is a reflection of the community as a whole. Insults, name calling, etc will over all reflect on everyone. Just because you do not like someone is not reason to digress to name calling and insults. This results in threads that are dismantled to pull those posts that violate the TOS and often results in messages that are removed that had value. This is something I loathe doing. Debate, discussion, all that is more than welcome, but do not take it to personal insults.

I know emotions get heated however when irked, take a deep breathe, step back and reply in 5 minutes.

If you have questions regarding this please feel free to email.
General/Open Discussion forum

-----
Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

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Original post by EricWI — 2026-10-11 02:35:00 GMT

Action Item! WI Native Species Ban:
What You Can Do Right Now!
Contact the following Assembly and Senate Members, and let them know you support introducing a bill amending s. 169.12 and related sections pertaining to native reptiles and amphibians!
Representative Joy Goeben: Rep.Goeben@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 237-9105
Representative Duke Tucker: Rep.Tucker@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 237-9175
Senator Rob Stafsholt: Sen.Stafsholt@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 266-7745

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Original post by EricWI — 2026-10-06 17:15:53 GMT

Town of Harmony approves permit for reptile feeder business after loose python report

HARMONY, Wis. (WMTV) - The Town of Harmony has approved a permit for Z-Factor Reptiles to sell food to reptile owners, following concerns from residents after a report of a loose python.

The concerns began after someone posted about a python on the loose on a local lost and found Facebook page.

Concerns were brought up to the town, and the planning & zoning committee held a public hearing Monday to clear up confusion.

Officials say Z-Factor Reptiles was selling mice and rats to people who own snakes and other reptiles. They do not sell any reptiles.

People who live in Harmony say the business was operating without a permit. Some residents are calling for clearer rules on exotic wildlife businesses.

Loren Hanson, a planning and zoning member, said the permit review followed existing guidelines.

“It’s a matter of the application to do what they’re doing. Going by what we use as guidelines, everything looks to be pretty much in order. Again, we all have our opinions on what we like and dislike, and that’s not part of the process,” Hanson said.

The committee repeatedly had to clarify that the hearing was not about the snakes themselves, but the business and it’s permitting.

“Until we have an ordinance regulating pets, not much we can do.”

he town decided to approve Z-Factor’s permit to sell food to people with reptiles. The permit does have conditions that the space is capped at around 720 square feet, and any future growth, increased traffic or complaints could trigger review of the permit.

https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/10/06/town-harmony-approves-permit-reptile-feeder-business-after-loose-python-report/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUyC1lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWJyaWQRMWtkaHlQbGY3a1VjRDhmdWhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe4YGMWejTEw0CtNO64WVq6Vhr-plJfhomuvlkJpWKa2FSkcLfNBCCmzUpOwQ_aem_hgsvXowNkPUleAssukvf1w

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Original post by EricWI — 2026-09-23 18:32:07 GMT

The purpose of this group will be to seek legislative remedies to Wisconsin's native herptile regulaitons, known as the native amphibian and reptile rule recently passed through administrative rule earlier this year.

Recently, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) passed an administrative rule in 2026, CR 25-092. This rule effectively bans all new ownership of all Wisconsin native amphibians and reptiles, including even captive-bred animals. It also re-defines the definition of a "color variant" (or color morph) to only 3 specific traits, and also bans the use and possession of snake hooks and other handling equipment on DNR owned lands.

Exhibition and educational outreach with native species will also be greatly discouraged, as most people will not qualify under any of the listed permit exemptions under Chapter 169.07. This means that anyone that brings a toad or a garter snake into a school or library for an education presentation, and even reptile expos with captive-bred native animals and/or "color morphs" are now technically in violation.

Please stay updated to this group as we seek legislative remedies to these vastly overreaching issues the Wisconsin reptile and amphibian community is now facing.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2027068404826568

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Original post by EricWI — 2026-04-15 01:50:24 GMT

UPDATE 4/8/26: The Assembly Committee on Environment will hold a public hearing on the WI DNR’s new herp regulation on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM Central. We will post more details when available. Read the announcement at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/26-WI-herp-rule-leg.-hearing.pdf. See the calendar posting at https://committeeschedule.legis.wisconsin.gov/?StartDate=2026-04-14&CommitteeID=2919&CommItemVisibleName=-1&TopicID=-1&ViewType=listMonth&ReloadCache=True.

Location: State Capitol, 2 E Main St, room 300 Northeast, Madison, WI 53703

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Original post by EricWI — 2025-11-28 21:29:03 GMT

UPDATE 11/28/25: The Department has released a draft. Some will impact herpetoculture. Some of the biggest impacts are:

Ban on possession of wild-type native species (“color variants” are allowed but defined to include only albinos and completely melanistic morphs), Specifically: Beginning on January 1, 2027, no person may take from the wild or possess any live or dead native amphibians or reptiles or their eggs, except as provided… Read the exceptions in the draft rule linked below.
Permit required for exhibition (clarification and broader reach);
New registration is required for currently held native animals. Animals must be registered by June 30, 2027.
There are some allowances, mainly for a few amphibian species. Read all changes at the first link below.

LINK to draft rule: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Rules/NH0425DraftRule.pdf

LINK to Economic Impact comment survey: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Rules/NH0425EIANotice.pdf

Email economic impact comments to scottr.karel@wisconsin.gov by December 5.

Other comments may be emailed to Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov and DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov. No deadline set yet.

https://usark.org/25wi/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOW81BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExb21HODJLVU11cG5RNGRIc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlyWSNlROsoFsOJTz75qCcsBXnEP9WCITkSFcYDqwE_mDmKMedklkf2TzBbq_aem_uEzTCUslfX-G99CJmtoNNg&brid=KT7aVU8mr178g2OKmfuGnw

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Original post by gaiusjulius — 2020-07-17 22:42:42 GMT

Hello all,
I figured it is high time to stop lurking this forum and register.

My reason for addressing you all is I seek advise from any out there who has been granted a license or permit in the State of Georgia for Wild Animal/Wildlife Exhibition under the Special Permit subsection. I have reviewed the legalese posted on the offiial website and had a brief discussion with a representative of the GA DNR over the phone. I have some nuanced questions that I hope to have someone weigh in on before I contact the officials again.

I am exploring the feasibility of starting a small business concern dealing in the transportation of snakes through the State of Georgia. My first question would be whether such permits are actually issued to people.

Good to finally be here.

Thanks in advance.

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Original post by scottnokes2020 — 2020-02-26 02:11:12 GMT

Hi everyone

I want to keep a hognose snake and some people said that they are illegal to keep. I live in Missouri.
Please can anyone advise me, I've searched online but can't find a proper answer
Thank you
Scott

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Original post by nangmuithammy — 2019-09-18 09:57:39 GMT

đâsdas

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Original post by 4frogz1865 — 2017-03-01 14:33:35 GMT

Arlington County Virginia-limiting pet ownership-your opinion

Hi all!
Arlington County Virginia is attempting to pass legislation to make pet ownership of exotics like sugar gliders, hedgehogs, tarantulas, and snakes over 4 feet long ILLEGAL. Please voice your opinion of this attempt to control "alternative" pets! Please see the link below. Thanks for your time!!

https://arlingtonva.civicomment.org/code-change-prevent-keeping-wild-or-exotic-animals-pets
Link

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Original post by wendhend — 2016-02-25 23:12:41 GMT

Just wondering if it is legal to ship ultramel corn snake morph combos to New Jersey? I am aware that they do not normally allow corn snakes with dark pupils, but ultramels have darker or ruby colored pupils only due to a trait that was borrowed from the black rat snake, and I'm not sure if ultramels are okay to have in New Jersey or not. Anybody know?

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Original post by rodneynboalich — 2015-10-09 23:28:24 GMT

im writing this as a warning to the industry.. and im sure it will be met with the usual enthusiasm and gratitude that all my other warnings have received.. the usark lawsuit has two parts the arbitrary and capricious and the interstate commerce challenge... the first part is pretty self explanatory.. its challenging the necessity of the listing of the big snakes. the second is the commerce issue... usark is challenging fws claim that 18 usc 42 doenst give fws the authority to regulate interstate commerce... this aspect of the lawsuit as been the part that usark has been focused on heavily... the thing to understand is that the commerce issue isnt directly related to the big snakes... its saying the scope of application of 18 usc 42 doesn't prevent interstate commerce or grant authority fws to prevent it or prosecute people for engaging in interstate commerce with listed aniamls... so if usark wins there case on only the interstate commerce aspect it would mean the following... 1 it would affirm that fws can not impose any restrictions on interstate commerce under the lacey act..2 the big snakes can go across state lines again...3 it would also mean that all the other animals on lacey act; that are on there because they are considered invasive, would also be able to go across state lines... animals such as zebra muscles, asian carp, snake head fish and so on.. i.e animals that are actually invasive... 4.. anyone convicted of a interstate commerce violation via fws and 18 usc 42 will now have an opportunity for appeal.. and 5... if usark only wins on the interstate commerce the big snakes will stay on the lacey act as invasive........ point being the invasive status of the big snakes would remain the same.................................now if the courts rule fws is not given the authority to regulate interstate commerce via lacy act 18 usc 42, fws will have no choice but to seek to get an amendment to the lacey act either through the judicial system or executive order to have the authority to regulate interstate commerce... if fws doent do that any animals currently list or listed in the future will be able to be shipped around the country... and since the vague language in lacey act is what will have lead to this issue for the fws they will seek to have very clear language added, stating their new authority to regulate interstate commerce..personally i think they will do this via executive order... now what will that mean for the animals listed as invasive under lacey act... it will mean that anything listed as invasive will no longer be able to go over state lines again... and if usark only won on the interstate commerce part of the lawsuit the big snakes that were not removed from the lacey act will not be able to go across state lines again... in other worlds we will be right back to square one again after millions spent on a lawsuit.......................as far as i know usark never did much of anything to work on protecting the last big 5 snakes after the first 4 were add... no team of environmentalist, herpetologist, biologist and so on to have a case for when fws decided to add the remaining 5....nor did they do anything to prevent history from repeating itself with fws doing another executive order to add the retics green anacondas... after usark only fought the first lacey act listing by blocking and paying off senators to hold the bill that would go into law and add the first 4 big snakes to the lacey act; fws got irritated and exercised their authority to have the secretary of the interior add the snakes... they were able to do this via executive order 13112 that was put into effect in 1999... it was that executive order that was put into place to bypass the Judaical process when the judicial process was being held up... and usark was pulling the same stunt with hr511 that would have added the last 5 big snakes judicially... the problem was that in the house judiciary committee there was a knowing clause added to hr511 that made it so fws would have to prove that anyone violating they interstate commerce law was doing so knowing... fws worked very hard about 30 years ago to get a knowing clause removed from the lacey act and they were not about to get it back in there.. so hr511 was no threat to the reptile industry and as long as no one was trying to block it or kill it... fws would have no grounds to exercise their authority granted to them from executive order 13112 as long as hr511 wasnt being held up... but once wyatt set up the second hr511 hearing the house NRC... usark lead the entire reptile industry to believe that hr511 was an actual threat... so wyatt claimed another false victory.. and gave the fws the perfect opportunity to do another executive order and thats what happened.. thats how the big snakes were added to the lacey act...........................now im posting all this to try and show that there were a lot of mistakes made in this big snake lacey act issue... and im hoping that the industry will demand that usark do more then just push the interstate commerce issue of their lawsuit.... if usark doesnt focus on getting the big snakes removed the industry will be right back where it started and fws will walk away with even more authority...

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Original post by chris_mcmartin — 2015-01-19 16:02:54 GMT

At long last, the data have been analyzed and the report is now available. It can be downloaded at www.mountainboomer.com/2013_Fall_Herpers_Survey_Report.pdf. The file is 7.03MB.
-----
Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

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Original post by EricWI — 2014-12-21 13:25:37 GMT

We have been informed that the ordinance will be an ongoing process and that the department is open to alternative language. USARK and exotic pet owners will be presenting information and working with officials. A tri-county consortium committee discussion between Sauk, Adams, and Juneau counties held in Sauk county (the consortium's administrative base) was held on December 19th. The process continues, however, and Adams county Public health officials (see below) need to continue to hear from affected residents and stakeholders.

Sarah Grosshuesch (contact information below) is the Public Health Department representative overseeing the development of the ordinance for Adams County. The legislation implemented in Adams County will likely be proposed for surrounding counties.

You can get additional information at www.usark.org/adams-county-wi-action-alert.

Sarah Grosshuesch, Health Officer
108 E North Street
Friendship, WI 53934
608-339-4505
sarah.grosshuesch@co.adams.wi.us

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Original post by pseudosilence13 — 2014-12-19 19:16:25 GMT

what would it mean for Anolis.... allisoni, bartschi, krugi, sagrei, and porcatus.... can i get them now??

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Original post by EricWI — 2014-11-27 03:12:19 GMT

A rule that bans Minneapolis residents from keeping lizards, snakes, turtles and other reptiles as pets could be lifted next year.
The City of Minneapolis has confirmed that its wild animal code will be among the ordinances it will be reviewing next year, amid growing calls to loosen a rule some say is stigmatizing small reptiles.
Ordinance 74.50 states that “no person shall keep or allow to be kept any place in the city any wild, exotic, dangerous, or non-domestic animal or reptiles.”
Owners can get a special permit costing $750, the Minnesota Daily reports, but this is valid for just 21 days.
St. Paul reptile store manager Sara Szabo is starting to collect signatures for a petition to loosen the restrictions, even though she says the rules are rarely enforced.
“The only time they enforce it is if people are being really dumb,” she told the Daily. “If you decide to bring a 16-foot Burmese python to a park and scare everybody with it, you deserve to get hit with a fine.”
Rather than restrict keeping reptiles as pets, the ordinance was initially enacted to tackle animal abuse and restrict circuses, the Daily notes. According to MPR, the ordinance passed in early 2008.
The rules are somewhat looser in St. Paul, KARE 11 reports, with people allowed to keep non-venomous snakes as pets, for instance, though owners do need the approval of their neighbors before they can get a permit.
Chris Smith, president of the Minnesota Herpetological Society, told the Daily: “A change in the ordinance [in Minneapolis] not only helps private owners, but it also helps educators to dispel myths and fears.”
Man accused of letting snake freeze to death

A man in St. Paul could be hit with a felony animal cruelty charge after being accused of leaving a pet snake to die outside his home.
The Pioneer Press reports the snake was left outside a property in the 1000 block of Lawson Avenue East after a dispute on Friday.
Police say a 27-year-old woman and her boyfriend were staying at a friend’s place when they got into an argument, which resulted in the friend (a 38-year-old man) ordering them out of the house – along with their possessions.
She is said to have asked him to leave the 3- to 4-foot-long snake on the porch so it wouldn’t freeze, but he is accused of leaving it outside, where it died from exposure to the cold, the newspaper reports.
bringmethenews.com/2014/11/26/ban-on-keeping-lizards-snakes-as-pets-in-minneapolis-could-be-lifted/

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Original post by bcr229 — 2014-06-11 16:25:22 GMT

Article is absurd, I won't even comment on the mistaken first word in it.

I had no idea that dolphins or whales in pools had ever been a problem here. Who knew?

As for putting sugar gliders on the list... sheer idiocy.

I am so embarrassed for my state! Now I know why WV is considered to have the lowest-educated population of all the states.
Experts continue deciding what animals ‘dangerous’

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Original post by tlman12 — 2014-05-06 03:27:12 GMT

I have some questions about the class iii permit for Florida, hopefully there are some holders on this forum

I'd like to get the permit so that when I breed I can legally sell my animals to my local pet shop so I know they will go to a decent home and I won't get the craigslist crazies at my door. My breeding will be at the hobby level at best 1-2 clutches per year and only 1-2 litters per hedgehog if that, depends entirely on health, weight, and overall well-being. My collection is bigger then my breeding plans pretty much everything I make selling babies would go directly back into food/habitat for the rest of the animals.

I feel I meet all the necessary requirements of knowledge and caging requirements my questions come in with the disaster action plan. Technically my facility will be my house and my emergency action plan would be to close down my hurricane shutters. the house was built in the 60's and can stand up to most things nature can throw at it. If there were to be a fire that would require me to relocate i can take them to a friends.

but for ball pythons red tail boas and hedgehogs chemical capture equipment and physical capture equipment and have to post the emergency plan on my wall where only i could see it? same goes with other documentation they want to be available at the "facility"

and for the vet does that have to be a vet that actually knows me and/or has treated my animals before or can I list my local clinic that treats reptiles? I haven't needed a vet yet so I don't really have one on speed dial

does anyone else have a permit that maintains the "facility" at their house?

Thanks for the info

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Original post by Sbank114 — 2014-03-31 17:27:30 GMT

I heard in some forums that tiger salamanders are illegal to keep as Pets in Pennsylvania. While in other forums they are perfectly legal as long as they are not the eastern subspecies.Which is true?

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