Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Everyone needs to comment on the draft New Mexico regulations. They are utterly ridiculous! They think non-native corns, milks and kings could establish as invasives. They propose banning the importation of these and many other species.

Read and comment here:

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/documents/ProposedImportationrule2010.htm

USARK we need you here!

They propose banning the importation of these and many other species.

According to the lists, tarantulas and millipedes are reptiles and amphibians.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I gotta tell you from personal experience, that is an impossibility.

Back in the 90's I had a large getulus collection. The "goini" would dehydrate at twice the rate as the other getulus.

There is no way they can survive in New Mexico. Possibly in the dampest moistest montane micro-habitat, but that would be too cold and too short an activity season for them to survive.

This past year my YBS hatchlings succumbed to the cold and my RES did not. That is apparently a range limiting factor for the YBS.

Same range as L.g. floridana and "goini". Same intolerance to cold, I'd imagine.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

List Category 3 effectively shuts down the pet trade--all pythons, all chameleons, all box turtles, etc. If I'm reading the proposal correctly, anyone importing these animals (guess what--if you take a job in NM or are "forced" to move there for your job, as in governmental employees, you are importing) will have to obtain a certificate showing a clean bill of health for each animal (at what cost?).

We all know that most reptiles carry Salmonella; therefore, no clean bill of health can be issued. Sorry; I know that turtle's been in your family for 30 years, but we're telling you it's just not as important as the dog you've had for 2.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Above is the link for public comment. We need as much support as possible. The proposal is located on the NM game and fish website

wildlife.nm.state.us

You have to email Ms. Letitia Mee, Letitia.Mee@state.nm.us.

- - - - -

Ms. Mee,

I am not a resident of New Mexico. However, this new importation rule could potentially affect me and thousands of others like me.

I am in the US military. I am a veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq. I also happen to keep reptiles as pets, including a box turtle I've had for 27 years.

As a military member, I am required to move from base to base, usually every three years. I have little to no voice as to where I am stationed next. That means I could essentially be "forced" to move to one of several bases in New Mexico.

The new importation rule appears to make it illegal to import box turtles of all species (I have 1 of each species native to the US) without a certificate of a clean bill of health. The problem is that most reptiles are carrriers of Salmonella--while the risk level is the same as that of uncooked chicken (wash your hands after handling either reptiles or raw chicken, and you'll be fine), a reptile keeper would most likely be unable to find a veterinarian willing to certify ANY reptile as "clean" in the most literal sense, creating a de facto ban on all listed species.

This new rule means I would have to give up my pets--which I consider to be essential components of my household. Imagine being told your family dog is not welcome in your new home, and DOUBLE the amount of time you've had it--time your kids have enjoyed its company, and you'll be close to where I'm coming from.

Many other species of reptiles and amphibians are listed in the various categories, most of them with no apparent basis for listing other than someone took a previously-prepared list. That may explain why some species and categories of species appear in two or more categories! (Chameleons come to mind; I could find more if I scrubbed the list again).

I and many others would like to know the rationale behind the addition of seemingly innocuous species to the list; especially since the stated goal of the rule is to protect game animals (I've never seen a deer threatened in any way by a gecko!).

If the fear is salmonella, then perhaps the New Mexico lawmakers at all levels also think the public is not sufficiently responsible to eat chicken either and appropriate legislation is forthcoming. However, I have the sinking suspicion the proposed rule is merely uninformed and has been created at the behest of groups working against the interests of longtime reptile lovers such as my family and me.

The favor of a reply is requested.

Sincerely,
Chris McMartin
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Letitia.Mee did not work, but Leticia.Mee did.
Misspelling?
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Letitia.Mee did not work, but Leticia.Mee did.
>>Misspelling?

I got it sent to the correct department, whichever one I sent it to. I received the out-of-office reply so hopefully she'll have a full inbox come Monday.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

This is the email addy I get when I click the comment link:
Letitia.Mee@state.nm.us

If a link is embedded in text document(blue underlined text) on NM website, they can spell/misspell it any way they want to, as long as they have the surrounding code right.

I copied and pasted the address from your post here onto my own email (gmail) as addressed to, and it would not go. I respelled it as I previously stated and it went OK.

Hope this makes sense.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

FOR ANYONE THAT MAY BE INTERESTED, THE FOLLOWING IS A COPIED AND PASTED (with permission) SECTION OF AN EMAIL TO ME FROM AN INVOLVED CONCERNED KNOWLEDGEABLE STAKEHOLDER IN NM, WITH CONTACT INFORMATION TO VARIOUS AUTHORITIES:

==============================================================

"John, here are some e-mail addresses I have for N.M. Game and Fish

Permits
Eliza Gilbert
eliza.gilbert@state.nm.us

Promoted from Permits
Terra Manasco
Terra.Manasco@state.nm.us

Christopher Chadwick
christopher.chadwick@state.nm.us
He knows the most about the Import Rule"

==============================================
JSC
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

That is rediculous. Even if a pair of brooksi got loose in NM and mated with local kingsnakes there gene contribution to the local population of splendida would be quickly diluted and the originals would die off in time. It would take a very large number of brooksi to do any real harm.