ABBOTSFORD NEWS (British Columbia) 26 December 09 Reptile Guy on endangered list (Rochelle Baker)

Mike Hopcraft’s living room is actually a “living” room.

Its walls are lined with terrariums, aquariums, and caged enclosures which house a veritable cornucopia of animals.

There are snapping turtles, tortoises, a multitude of lizards of various species and sizes, iguanas, four caimans, boa constrictors – the list goes on.

Hopcraft also has a separate “snake room” and a “bug room,” which is filled with tarantulas, scorpions and the insects they eat.

“There’s a few miscellaneous things in here,” he says.

“I have some leopard geckos too.”

There’s also a portly canteloupe-sized African bullfrog named Tiny Tim.

The only warm-blooded animals in the house are his dog Baxter, and Mac – a ring-tailed lemur who is territorial and so acts as guard dog.

Hopcraft, better known as the Reptile Guy, runs a small business which involves the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of exotic pets.

He also focuses on public education around reptiles and responsible ownership by making presentations with the animals at schools, parties, youth organizations, and even seniors homes and correctional facilities.

The money from the presentations goes to the feeding, housing and medical care of the more than 70 animals in his possession.

Most of the critters are rescues or surrenders from owners who no longer want their pets.

Reptiles of all kinds end up on Hopcraft’s doorstep much like swaddled orphans.

A couple of weeks ago he got a call from someone in Surrey who had found a neighbour’s abandoned iguana.

“He was moving and had just put it out in the yard in a cardboard box in the freezing cold,” said Hopcraft, stroking the underneath of the animal’s leathery chin.

“If it had been out there much longer, it would have gone to sleep and never woken up.”

The reptile business is definitely a labour of love.

“It does not pay the bills, I barely manage,” Hopcraft said.

However, making ends meet is the least of his problems.

New provincial regulations which tighten conditions around owning and exhibiting exotic animals come into force in April 2010, effectively putting the Reptile Guy on the endangered species list.

The changes, which regulate the ownership of dangerous

animals such as big cats, venomous and poisonous snakes and large reptiles, were made after a woman was killed by a captive tiger near 100 Mile House in 2007.

Among other things, the new legislation demands owners of exotics must apply for permits.

Hopcraft is supportive of initiatives that promote responsible ownership.

However, if he wants to continue showing his animals, he must now get accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

To do so, Hopcraft must move his animals out of his home and into a facility or warehouse, something that requires more funds than he can muster on his own.

What’s more, he expects people will abandon their animals in greater numbers than ever, rather than meet more stringent ownership requirements and doing the paperwork necessary to get the permits.

That leaves Hopcraft in a bind, because if he takes in the animals, he can no longer adopt them out with the necessary paperwork.

“I’ll have to take more animals in, and have no way to earn the money to care for them,” he says.

Hopcraft hopes to generate the revenue necessary to afford an offsite facility for his animals.

If he can, he figures he can continue to generate enough income to continue his business.

He’s looking to get some corporate sponsors and to raise funds through donations.

Despite the rapidly approaching spring deadline, he believes he’ll find a workable solution that will allow him to rescue and adopt out his beloved reptiles.

“I’ll find some way,” he says.

“I have to.”

To learn more about Hopcraft’s animals visit www.thereptileguy.ca

'Alien' Animal Regulations

The new Controlled Alien Species Regulation – in effect April 1, 2010 – controls the possession, breeding, shipping and releasing of alien animals (those not native to B.C.) that pose a risk to the health or safety of people.

Some of the animals covered include big cats, poisonous snakes, large reptiles such as boa constrictors, pythons, or caimans, and primates such as monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, and lemurs.

Everyone in possession of an “exotic” animal will need to have a permit by April 1, 2010.

There are three different type of permits: personal and pet store; non-personal permits for film animal trainers, zoos and educational or research institutions; and rescue centre permits.

Penalties for possession without a permit for a first-time offender are:

• fines up to a maximum of $100,000

• a term of imprisonment of one year; or both a fine and a sentence.

Under the new rules an individual owner with a permit can possess and transport an exotic animal within the province.

However, individual owners can no longer breed, release, exhibit or transfer such animals into the province.

Owners of exotic animals must still inform themselves and adhere to municipal bylaws which may be more stringent than the provincial regulations.

For an extensive list of the new rules and the animals covered visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlifeactreview/cas/#
Reptile Guy on endangered list

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• BC Press: Reptile Guy on endangered list - W von Papineäu, Sat Dec 26 18:02:50 2009