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Georgetown Economic Services (GES) has been hired by USARK to do the first comprehensive economic assessment ever done on the Herp Industry. This is very important because to date the economic data that has been portrayed by US Fish & Wildlife Service and Animal Rights advocates have been fundementally flawed and a gross underestimate. This is a chance to "Set The Record Straight". It will continue to be a vital tool in establishing the Herp Industry as a real and independant industry with real power as an economic engine. The trade in high quality reptiles must be demonstrated to be the valueable piece of the American economy that it is. Please participate by reading the letter from GES below, fill out the survey/s and forward to anyone else who might be able to contribute. Thank you!

Andrew Wyatt/ President USARK

Dear Industry Member,

Georgetown Economic Services is conducting a survey on the reptile industry on behalf of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. The purpose of this survey is to provide a profile of the U.S. reptile industry, including a description of the size, scope, and flow of the reptile trade across the United States. The information that you provide will not be shared with anyone outside of GES. Your data will be kept highly confidential and used only in compiling aggregate figures for the industry profile. GES will not report individual companies’ sales and expenditures.

If you have not been called or written to by Georgetown Economic Services please click on the link below that best applies to your business.

If your business is involved in promoting reptile shows, select the following link:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/Reptile_Show_Promotion

For all other businesses, please select the following link:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/Reptile_Industry_Survey

Both of these surveys should take about five to ten minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please feel free to write or call me at 202.719.6033.

Thank you,
Ariel Collis

________________
Ariel H. Collis | Economist
Georgetown Economic Services, LLC
ph: 202.719.6033 |f: (202) 342-8451
acollis@georgetowneconomics.com
http://www.georgetowneconomics.com

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USARK

I responded directly to the survey company but I wanted to address you also.
You left a small but the most visible group of herpers out of your survey all together. The educators. I include entertainers and birthday parties in this group. Those of us that really do offer an educational show might be able to get a special permit to transport big snakes across state lines. I'm not sure if that is why you did'nt include us or not. But this law would have a huge impact on my business. This summer alone I've had shows in MI,IL,MO,AZ,and TX. Big snakes feature predominately in my shows.
Even people who do birthday parties in their hometowns still have to buy animals on occassion and all the stuff that goes with them.
You guys need to add this catergory. In the reptile world I may be a no name. But in the real world tens of thousands of people see my show every year. And I'm just one fulltime educator. Think of all the parttime people who supplement their income with shows. Also people who provide animals for the film industry.
I'm proud and impressed with USARK but if you're thinking big lets think real big. Lloyds of London is my insurance provider I pay them a thousand dollars a year. That may seem like a stretch but I feel the survey is a little shortsighted. My god how about vets and pharmacudical companies. Not just provent a mite but the people who make Baytril.
Just a thought
Keep up the good work.
Danny Conner

"The educators. I include entertainers and birthday parties in this group. Those of us that really do offer an educational show might be able to get a special permit to transport big snakes across state lines."

It definitely impacts ones ability to do educational programs, especially if you live in an area in your state where you are near the border of another state - I am in such a situation, where my snakes sometimes travel to 2 to three other surrounding states with me, not to mention that my reptile vet is not located in the state I live in.

This survey is for big snake people and reptile product people. It will only analyize a small segment of the herp industry. Is that the goal? Since we work with colubrids, lizards, invertebrates, rodents and venomous I wasn't able to contribute much. Would rodents qualify as "reptile products?"

Welkerii

There are a lot of moving parts to the overall assessment... the survey monkey stuff is more directed to the rulemaking at usfws... if you have info that you think needs to be considered please call or email Ariel Collis. Thanks!
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USARK

Does how much we spend as hobbyists matter? Will all this be captured on the "sellers" side?
Rubbermade/Sterilite products and other WalMart purchases, paper liners, etc.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Andrew,

And don't forget to include the dedicated "herper" vetrinarian's in this "economy" equation as well...

Later,
Jim.
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CSRAJim

I know I've spent considerable amounts at WalMart over the past 3 years. A couple hundred Sterilte tubs, a couple hundred Van Ness crock dishes, trash cans, trash bags, spray bottles, bleach, Clorox Cleanup, paper towels...as well as water bottles, pine bedding, cat litter, and Old Roy dog food for the feeder mice. Bus tubs for the rodents came from a restaurant supply place. Hardware and furnishings from Home Depot and others.

The state of Texas and municipalities get their fair share of sales tax revenue on all these purchases. Let's not forget that.

While we're on the subject, how about water, sewer, solid waste, gas and electric utilities, as well.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer