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Undercover turtles busted reptile dealer

Fish Commission online sting operation led to arrest and fines

HARRISBURG — A Bucks County reptile breeder and dealer has pleaded guilty to charges by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) that he illegally bought and traded native spotted turtles.

Michael J. Lang, 42, pleaded guilty to the charges on March 11 in a Montgomery County Magisterial District Court, following a four-month undercover investigation late last year by a PFBC waterways conservation officer.

“Spotted turtles are native to Pa. and are highly sought after in the pet trade, which makes wild populations vulnerable to over collection,” said Jeff Bridi, assistant director of the PFBC’s Bureau of Law Enforcement. “To prevent over collection, Pennsylvania law prohibits the selling, purchasing or bartering of native reptiles and amphibians.”

Lang regularly sells reptiles at trade shows in Pennsylvania under the name Philadelphia Bearded Dragons. Bearded dragons are a lizard species native to Australia and are popular pets. In July 2010, Lang posted advertisements on the Philadelphia Craigslist website offering to trade baby bearded dragons for spotted turtles. During the course of the investigation, Lang traded for and purchased spotted turtles from the undercover PFBC investigator.

A search warrant served at Lang’s residence in December 2010 resulted in the seizure of 13 spotted turtles and five Eastern box turtles and uncovered evidence of an unpermitted reptile breeding operation. In total Lang pled guilty to two counts involving the purchase or trade of native reptiles; two counts of possession of over limit of spotted and Eastern box turtles; one count of artificially propagating and dealing in reptiles or amphibians without registering with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; and one count of artificially propagating spotted turtles, a species not approved by the PFBC for captive breeding.

Lang was fined approximately $1,100 and was ordered to pay restitution to the PFBC for costs resulting from the care of the animals seized or acquired during the investigation. Six of the spotted turtles were loaned to the PFBC by the N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation and have been returned. The remaining turtles will be sent to educational facilities, such as colleges, high schools or wildlife conservancies.
www.strausnews.com/articles/2011/03/25/pike_county_courier/news/14.txt

advertised on craig's list???.......REALLY?????.....could be up for a DARWIN AWARD

"Artificially propagating" without a permit.(talk about going backward in time, what do they think will happen with no captive born spotted turtles) Hope this doesnt catch on in other cities. Its getting to easy for them to take our animals! Constatutional???? Anyone know? This and "Hoarding" laws are going to be the quick end of us! USARK, What do you think our mission statement on these issues should be? How do we fight this locally. Vic Morgan

"one count of artificially propagating and dealing in reptiles or amphibians without registering with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture"

Does that mean if you breed any reptile or amphibian and PA you need this, even if you just have a few animals you breed for hobby purposes? I was under the distinct impression that exotics were exempt from this sort of thing...When did this come into being? This is crazy...

I remember it saying this -

"Is it legal to buy/sell/own an alligator, cayman or crocodile in PA?"

"The PA Fish and Boat Commission’s regulations do not regulate possession of non-native species of reptiles and amphibians. So long as these animals are not released into the wild, there are no state regulations regarding their ownership. Likewise, there is no state permit required to possess these animals. However, there may be local municipal ordinances, which regulate the ownership of “dangerous animals” and you should check with your local government before purchasing such an animal."

NOW -

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/058/chapter79/s79.8.html
This is BRAND new information to me!

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/AgWebsite/Search.aspx?navid=31&parentnavid=0&searchq=reptile&
So, do all people who sell or breed reptiles, even just as a hobby, or just a few individuals need to apply and pay for these permits now?

Haven't you heard, we're being regulated out of existence...we're harmful and invasive animal hoarding creatures...second class citizens...society's lowest...must be eliminated.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I just want to know what the real state of things in this state is? I talked to a person who breeds reptiles and he said its a mere 35$ permit, not a 150$ permit...I speak to another and she says there is no permit required for hobby breeders...

I'd sure like to know what is really going on!

Then there is this -
http://www.fish.state.pa.us/faqampr.htm

"I want to sell reptiles and amphibians. Do I need permit from the Fish and Boat Commission?"

Our regulations require that with the exception of common snapping turtles, no reptile or amphibian may be taken from the wild in PA for sale, trade or barter. To sell a snapping turtle, you would need to have a commercial snapping turtle permit (link to permit) Also, it is unlawful to possess, import or export species listed as endangered or threatened by the Fish and Boat Commission."

And this -

"I want to propagate bullfrogs. Where do I purchase a permit?"

The Department of Agriculture is responsible for issuing permits for fish propagation, which in this case also includes bullfrogs and green frogs. You can reach the Department of Agriculture at (717) 772-2852, their website is www.pda.state.pa.us."

THIS makes it seem that the Department of agriculture permit as stated above would only apply to Bullfrogs & Green frogs - I don't see how it would also include exotic species...They certainly aren't making any of this common knowledge to PA residents, and make it good and hard to find the information regarding these permits...

Found this as well - http://www.[url ban]/Public/Blog/Detail.aspx?uid=32934

"Any reptile sales in PA requires a dealers license. Breeding requires a propagation license. Buy one, get the other free. It is required whether you do shows or sell off your porch; however, you are just more likely to get checked at the larger shows such as Hamburg. If any shows in PA do not ask for the paperwork to vend, they are setting themselves up for fines. The state does monitor these shows and does random checks on vendors."

Seems to breed any reptile in the state of PA, its the 150.00 for 5 year permit.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/http;/10.41.0.36/AgWebsite/FormDetail.aspx?name=Reptile-Progagators-License-Application&navid=32&parentnavid=0&formid=213&

To sell any reptile in the state of PA, its a 50.00$ permit.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/http;/10.41.0.36/AgWebsite/FormDetail.aspx?name=Reptile-Dealers-License-Application&navid=32&parentnavid=0&formid=212&

These are the current applications, I am glad to know this is the case. They should really put this information on the states Reptile FAQ site.

In the form it asks if you are a "closed system" what does this mean ???
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Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

not connected to the actual environment????.......completely separate facility so pathogens wouldn't contimate any other wildlife????