Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've read in a couple places about the attempt to ban importation of Boiga's from the US. Is this in effect yet? If it becomes law has that traditionally made it illegal to possess the species if you already have one when the law passes? Does the proposed rule allow for captive breeding and selling and just ban imports?
I'm asking because I'm considering getting a Mangrove within a year or so but may try to sooner if the law would ban it then and if I could be grandfathered in and avoid the ban.
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Ron

"What we do is but a shadow of what we want to do..." Peter Weiss

Hey Ron. You know, I've often wondered the same things myself. The law hasn't been put into place yet, and actually has only relatively recently been recommended, so it is likely to take quite a while before anything happens. It is also equally likely that nothing will happen because of it. Lawmakers aren't stupid (ok ok, most of them), and aside from Southern FL, Southern CA, and maybe Southern TX (doubtful though) no Boiga species could even hope to gain a foothold. I'd say even So. CA would be pushing it, as the climate is too arid. At best, Miami might have to worry about a "plaque" of mangroves, or blanding's, etc etc at some point, but don't they already worry about troops of monkeys around Miami airport and the whispers of a "colony of forest cobras" also in that same general area? To me that doesn't seem like it should bother them too much, lol. But no, I don't believe any of the Boiga species pose any sort of potential harm to the vast, vast majority of the continental US, as afterall these species are tropical and must feed all year round. They haven't evolved with a dormancy period like our native snakes. I think this is just one more way to try to inhibit our keeping abilities.

Now as far as the proposed law's effects on people who already keep them, I don't think they can do anything. Besides the fact that there is no national database of Boiga keepers, it would just be too difficult for them to gather up all the stray animals around the country. I'm sure you'd be allowed to continue to keep the snakes you already have, however the problem comes into play with selling offspring or buyer more captive stock. Unless done under the table (i.e. illegally) it would probably be difficult. But anyway, all these are just speculations on a law that is likely not to pass. Be ready for it if it does though. Don't sit idly by and watch yet another restriction be placed on your right to keep these animals when all the pit bull keepers in America enjoy the right of letting their dogs bite, maul, and even kill people occasionally without restriction.

Monkeys in Miami....Naw..that's just some of the residents (though there is the Cranden Park pop....Far as I know there aren't any loose pops of Cobra here (anaconda...maybe).
The point on this foolishness is that the proposed ban is on a snake that is not remarkably different(venom aside) from a red or yellow ratsnake. What was remarkable was that in (Guam) it was introduced to a habitat rich with food and with NO NATURAL ENEMIES. Any number of snakes sp. could have been established with the same result there.
As to establishment in South Florida....No Way. In the city the locals would kill them on sight. And the Everglades (unlike Guam) has a food chain that is heavily based on predation upon snakes. There has never been (inspite of over 60 years of reptile importation here)a single species of tree or vine snake established in S.F.
I was locally involved with the fight against this legislation but have no word on the outcome yet. The danger it presents is that it does open the door to further bans of "Boiga-like snakes" If you check the webpage for The Brown Tree Snake Group they are allready trying to gather information for that purpose.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Could you please link me to that site? and also I'm in so. Cal what can I do to help stop the thing? I've already written them as everyone from my family (lol)

The bad new is that the response date passed in November so it is too late. What Amazed me was the amount of people in this hobby (especially business people) who were completely unaware that this was going on. It was advertised on these forums which is how I got involved.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

"Don't sit idly by and watch yet another restriction be placed on your right to keep these animals when all the pit bull keepers in America enjoy the right of letting their dogs bite, maul, and even kill people occasionally without restriction."

I am just curious where you get this idea that pit bulls and their owners are getting away with anything. Nationally, Pits account for the same no. of bites as other breeds yet they are being singled out as a "bad" breed. Not to mention, I have yet to hear any owner of a Pit Bull that bites anyone getting away with it. At east not in my part of the world. The dog is always put down and the owner at the very least fined and subject to civil suits. While Pits are a very bold and loyal breed, they obviously are not for everyone and like all dogs, they need some form of training. Without this, even a Chihuahua will attack. Those stories just never make it to the evening news. So what is your side of this story? Just curious, not trying to argue.
Thanks.
-Yasser
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As a man who had his Irish Setter stolen and used (I found out) for training a pitbull to fight (they put your dog in a sack and let the bull kill it while defenseless). I think there is a big difference between a Bull and most other dogs. They were and are being bred to fight. While proper training can make them safer and sometimes excellent pets, There are a lot of people out there who encourage the aggressive nature of these dogs which has resulted in numerous attacks (and some fatalities). My Irish would not have atacked anyone and did not need to be trained to be that way. That is the difference.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

...do you believe that certain breeds should be outlawed or killed due to their lineage (whether purebred or mixed)?
I have different beliefs regarding many "aggressive" breeds, their origin and their behavior. You make a good point, but not one I entirely agree with.
-Yasser
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Certain breeds of Human...would be a good start. Dogs did not create Pit Bulls of their own choice. Certain Breeds of people did. If there was a way to get rid of those S.O.B.s that breed animals to kill so they can get off on it....I'm for it! The problem with the aggressive nature of Pits can be solved by breeding out that killer quality and carefully training them to be more gentle.

The best guard dog I ever trained was a 140 lb Belgian Sheppard. He would stand and protect, but our pet cockatiel could climb on him and bite his ears and he ignored it. A far cry from the savage sheppard that I ran into that was fed gunpowder by his owner to make him mean. in the end it is dumb humans that need to be controled.

You know....This actually belongs on the Open Forum, so I will talk there if you choose to continue this thread.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."