Reptile & Amphibian Forums

SUN-SENTINEL (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) 02 January 08 New rules in effect dealing with Burmese pythons, monitor lizards (Sallie James)
Owners of Burmese pythons or Nile monitor lizards have some new state rules to obey.
Regulations dealing with six species labeled as "reptiles of concern" went into effect Tuesday, requiring owners to have their pets microchipped for identification purposes.
Wildlife officers are hoping the rules will help them keep better tabs on Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, African rocky pythons, amethystine or scrub pythons, green anacondas and Nile monitors.
A breeding population of pythons has been found in Everglades National Park and the Nile monitors have established territory in Cape Coral on Florida's West coast. The critters are menacing native birds and mammals and harming owl and gopher tortoise populations.
"We are not trying to discourage ownership, but these pythons in particular can reach up to 20 feet in length. They are pretty powerful animals," said Linda Harrison, a captain with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's division of law enforcement in Tallahassee. "The Nile monitors can reach up to six feet and are carnivorous."
The legislation also requires permits for red-eared slider turtles, making it illegal to allow them to reproduce. It requires all eggs be destroyed.
The turtles have been widely available in pet stores for years but were interbreeding with native species, Harrison said. Anyone who owned such turtles prior to July 1, 2007, doesn't need a permit.
How many "reptiles of concern" are owned by the public is unknown because no permits to own the animals were previously required, Harrison said.
Before the stricter rules, anyone could walk into a pet store and buy a giant snake.
Now, they have to be 18 years old, fill out a questionnaire, apply for a state permit, comply with new caging requirements and pay a $100 annual fee.
The animal also must be microchipped for identification purposes by July 1.
Failure to comply is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine up to $500 and 60 days in jail.
New rules in effect dealing with Burmese pythons, monitor lizards

TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT (Florida) January 08 New rules mean steep fees for exotic pet owners (Tabitha Yang)
“A way for the sneaky animal rights activists to get their foot in the door” was what lobbyist Gloria Johnson called the new, stricter requirements for people who own tigers, lions and other potentially dangerous animals.
The new rules, which go into effect Feb. 2, say anyone who owns Class I animals, defined as any wildlife posing significant danger to people, must provide a surety bond or financial responsibility guarantee of $10,000 or maintain $2 million in general comprehensive liability insurance.
Johnson, who lives in Havana and owns a tiger and two cougars, said she now has to pay this $10,000 bond, and she’s not happy about it.
“All of my plans to enrich my animals’ lives - that’s all on hold now,” she said. “It hurts our ability to take care of (our animals).”
The increased insurance requirement follows on the heels of other rule changes passed by the legislature that affect animal owners. As of Jan. 1, anyone licensed to possess captive wildlife, nonnative venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern must have a written plan detailing how owners will evacuate their animals in case of a natural disaster.
Also, owners must report any escape of their animals immediately to FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement.
The rules also make it more expensive to exhibit venomous reptiles such as poisonous snakes. Exhibitors used to have to buy a $1,000 bond, but now they must purchase a $10,000 bond. These rules affect the Tallahassee Museum, whose fees to exhibit their two rattlesnakes and one cottonmouth snake have now increased tenfold. But Animal Curator Mike Jones said it was about time for an increase.
“The $1000 bond was probably nowhere near adequate,” Jones said. “It was needed. They were just doing like everybody else, changing with the times.”
Other rules that are now in place for animal owners include a fee of $100 per year that anyone who possesses a venomous reptile or reptile of concern must pay.
People who own these types of animals, such as green anacondas and Burmese pythons, will have to abide by new, stricter caging requirements.
Most pet stores in Tallahassee have stopped carrying Burmese pythons and other reptiles of concern because of the stricter rules.
“Pet stores can still sell them, but you have to document where they’re being kept, and I just didn’t want to get involved with it,” said Petland owner Bob Bazell. “If you came into my store, in the reptile section, you’d see a lot of empty spaces.”
New rules mean steep fees for exotic pet owners

I can understand microchipping, but what's up with the exorbitant price of the permit? As long as the animal has chip in it this will discourage owners from letting them loose in the wild.

The $100 permit is to go toward "enforcement and public education".

Just so I understand. The $100 goes toward "enforcement and public education", but the LICENSE TO POSSESS CLASS III WILDLIFE FOR EXHIBITION OR PUBLIC SALE only cost $50. Is this for enforcement & public education also? If so, why Does is cost $50 more to "enforce & educate the public" on venomous snakes & "reptiles of concern" than it does to "enforce & educate the public" on non venomous & smaller reptiles?

Don't shoot the messenger...

You'd have to ask FWC, I got that answer during an inspection in mid-2007 (for something unrelated to ROC).

Didn't mean to get angry, thought you were the "MAN". Just get pissed when someone does something stupid & now I'm being made to pay for it by people who either don't want me to have exotics in the first place or jump the gun & make rules without thinking things through. Don't like government, don't like politicians & don't like employers. Anything done by any of these is only done to benefit them by lining their pockets period

Nope...just a herp owner trying to sort through regs like everyone else. I have a herp related business so I try to toe the line pretty carefully so I don't jeopardize what I do.

I hope your herp related business is a side job, cause If government keeps sticking their nose in our business there will be no way for you guys to make a living. Not to mention the idiots out there who buy reptiles then let them go in the wild. Maybe if we would have policed ourselves 20 years ago we wouldn't be in this predicament today. Like pure bred dog breeders who only sell to people who they believe will be good owners, "for the betterment of the breed".