Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Representative Melinda Schwegmann has agreed to modify her bill, HB1468. The bill gives the LA Dept of Wild Life & Fisheries the power to make regulations concerning non-indigeous reptiles. This bill originally targeted non-human primates as requested by the LA SPCA. When the LA Wild Life & Fisheries was appraoched to formulate the regulations, they asked for non-indigeous reptiles also. This was in respone to someone who tried to keep a large Burmese python in an old camper on the back of a pickup truck. It escaped and ate a pet dog. WE as herpers need to be more diligent in our husbandry practices as not to invite unwanted legislation. WE don't need to attract unwanted attention to ourselves. Ms. Schwegmann agreed to having her bill read "non-indigeous constrictors over 12 feet long and venomous snakes" instead of "non-indigeous reptiles". This means that if you want to own such a snake in Louisiana then you will probably have to get a permit from the Dept. of WLF. Anybody already owning such a snake will be grandfathered in. What is interesting about the bill is that it also includes venomous snakes. It says that the WLF must provide you with a permit if you have these snakes before July 1, 2003. The Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society will have an input on the formulation of these regulations. Our many THANKS to all of you that helped to deafeat the original bill. ~Bill Watts~
The Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society, Inc.

That is the problem. I am trying to get a bill in VA to ban iguanas and such from being given as free prizes at carnivals. I have to collect info on the incidents. Most bills have an incident behind them. The permit can be a positive, if it prevents idiots form releasing their pets. This is probably the number one fear. The cheaper these pets become, the more likely they get into the hands of people who can't be responsible pet owners of anything.