Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I just received my PIJAC alert about this. I knew about and responded to the inquiry of a couple of months ago, but I did not realize that it had become a bill. I don't see anything about this in the forums, did I miss something? This looks like a bill that will crush all keepers of non-native species as the only non-natives that will be permitted to be kept will be on a USFWS generated list. What do you folks think about this??

Will

Hi Will-

Actually, this House bill is a seperate issue from the USFW inquiry. And yes, it could be devastating to the herp hobby, that's for sure!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

I'd responded to the proposal also and at the time thought only about birds, fish, herps and exotic mammals being affected but now have to consider that there is less attraction to become an exotic animal vet and, since we're not likely to kill off our grey list/black list animals, will they never get vet care?
Will vets be required to report the "illegal" animals that are brought into their office?
Kudos to the Humane Society for taking their agenda to the Federal level - didn't see that coming.
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I hold it to be the inalienable right of anybody to go to hell in his own way. - Robert Frost, 1935

Will,

I agree. This "Act" is definitely in response to Florida and it was introduced on June 19,2008 as Hastings, Abercrombie, Kildee and Klein (all from Florida) are co-sponsors to the bill as introduced by Bordallo (Guam).

I knew there was something to that ROC list down there in Florida as well as the media blitz that I've seen on the National Geographic Channel on two occasions now...Why does the USGS have a "Biological Section" anyway? Two papers by the Barkers refute the assertions by the USGS's Biological Section data...In other words, mass migration by the ROC's across the US is pure HYPE!

Under Section 6 - Prohibitions and Penalities...

(a)(3) No person shall - knowingly possess (except as provided in section 3(f)), sell or offer to sell, purchase or offer to purchase, or barter for or offer to barter for, any nonative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1), any descendants of such a species, or viable eggs of such a species;

(a)(6) No person shall - knowingly sell or offer to sell, purchase or offer to purchase, barter or offer to barter for, release, or breed any nonnative wildlife species referred to in section 3(f).

Under Section 7 Permits...

The Secretary may use a permit authorizing importation otherwise prohibited by section 6(a)(1) for educational, scientific research, or accredited zoological or aquarium display purposes.

Under Section 3 - Risk Assessment Process for Importation of Nonnative Wildlife Species...

(f) Animals imported prior to Prohibition of Importation - This Act and regulations issued under this Act shall not interfere with the ability of any person to possess an individual animal of a species that was imported legally, even if such species is later prohibited from being imported under the regulations of this act.

Later,
Jim.

PS: Type "H.R. 6311" on your search engine for a complete read of the bill...
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CSRAJim