Reptile & Amphibian Forums

They are going after Russian, leopard, sulcata, and redfoor tortoises in DE:

http://www.pijac.org/_documents/de_2375.pdf

So what do we do?
Is there someone we should call, a petition to sign, etc?

Send comments to
Acting State Veterinarian, Caroline Hughes, VMD, Delaware Department of Agriculture, 2320 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

I'm not from Delaware, but I may just send them a little letter, because I really am quite interested to hear their explanation for why Iguanas and Tegus made it to the exemption list, but not russian tortoises. Sounds like there's some people in the pet trade greasing some palms.

Such nonsensical laws as these often fail to include scientifically accepted categorization of reptiles and amphibians. They are written by individuals who are generally ignorant of animal care, pressured by complaints, some legitimate, others outrageous and sensational. What I couldn't believe was that hamsters and ferrets were in the legislation, and I also find it insane that they are banning the captive reproduction of these animals. As if exotics aren't facing enough pressure in the wild, now keepers won't even be able to breed these species in that state. Another example of people outlawing something they don't understand. And we wonder why kids in school today can't tell the difference between a reptile and an amphibian.

T.G.

Reptile or amphibian? You know... every so often i when i have a free sunday i will bring a sulcata to the park and let it graze while i read book. Being tortoise people yall can probibly imagine how many people think that my sulcata lives in the woods.