Please visit www.lgchs.org for the full story about HB1468 in Louisiana. The Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society is the only active Herp Club in Louisiana. There are none in Mississippi. We were unaware of any activity in the Louisiana Legislature until we recieved a call from the LA SPCA asking us to work with the LA Dept. of Wild Life & Fisheries to help formulate new regulations. Now we know what needs to be done. A simple vigilance of Legislative Fillings is crucial. We, as a Society, will be much more dilligent in this endeavor. This will work at a state level but we need to develop contacts to monitor the local and parish (county) levels. We are based in the Greater New Orleans Area and are watching about 10 areas right now. We have great support of local authorities, breeders, pet shops hobbyists and members; it was all cultivated. WE are happy with the results of our labor. The state is giving the Dept. of WLF the authority to enact laws concerning constrictors OVER 12 FEET and venomous snakes. If anyone owns any of these reptiles before July 1, 2003, then WLF MUST issue permits as long as it doesn't conflict with a local ordinance. AND, some members from our Society will get to sit on the committee to form those guidelines. I agree with the concept of networking Herp Clubs. I tried to contact many clubs but it was difficult because many do not put contact information on their websites. The Chicago Herp Society is one of the few that did respond. Kudos to them!

Our Society was reserected several years ago. It takes work to build one. If you want to know how we did it, email me for information. We went from 10 to over 100 members in two years. ~Bill Watts~ Board Member LGCHS and Legislative Committee.
The Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society, Inc.

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