Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just returned from the reptile show and unfortunately I was not able to get in the show. Ohio Fish and Game was there and blocking anyone from even entering the parking lot. I know that monkey pox has scared some people, but that is no reason to stop citizens from buying supplies for there pets, and participating in an event that has been around for over 10 years without any incident that warrants police involvement. The rights of exotic pet owners are being taken away.

They let us all in about 1:00. They busted a few people, one for transporting Indian pythons across state lines without the right paper work. I heard some prarie-dog related rumors too.
They apparently have undercover dudes there all the time.
It WAS pretty depressing, and I hope they never have to do it again.

it was on the news tonight, that 24 people were busted for having illeagl amimals there also 3 of the people that got busted at the show had there houses raided also.

Yep...be careful Cornsnake keepers!!! They look like Eastern Milks if you talk w/ their "expert" and anyone keeping Mexican Blacks...watch out, they'll get confiscated for evidence!! The ole' native Racer!! Texas Sally's...yep, you guessed it!! NATIVE to Ohio!! Oh yeah, and the disappearing Albino Ratsnakes, once in high numbers and thriving here in the mid-west!! Let me see, an "expert" with a Field Guide with penciled drawings of native species is their sure-fire tool used in gathering their "evidence" PIJAC, we need you!! Everybody give something!! Even if it's just a little!!

All of this is absolutely horrible.....and only the beginning. I expect this kind of activity to rapidly expand to every state and locality. What can we do? Who can we join with? What is the solution to the ever increasing laws and loss of freedom that is sweeping into every area of our lives? We who love our captive reptiles and other animals must wakeup and smell the coffee before it is too late.

Thats strange. I was at a show over here in Illinois the weekend right before the monkey pox situation and the weekend immediately afterwards. There were no restrictions on getting in and i only saw a few signs warning about monkeypox. I guess Ohio might be craking down harder than Illinois which is weird considering the the show over here is less than an hour drive from where the monkeypox infested rats and prarie dogs originated.

Please, everyone research this topic, it's HUGE to our hobby right now. There's a few forums here at Kingsnake that have great discussions going on about it, a few other sites have it as well. Why don't we all take a moment and visit the herp laws forum, scroll down throughout the pages, quickly read the thread subject matter. My oh my, what a list, it almost looks like THE WAR AGAINST REPTILES!! It's scary when you look at the big picture!! I can't express enough this was not so much of a "sting the bad guy" operation, this was sickening. The onsite "expert" wrongly identified NUMEROUS species of Salamander and Colubrids, and took them for evidence!! These guys don't know anything about anything but CARP SPAWNING!!!!! We really need to wake up and stop saying "well, it's too bad the bad apples ruin it for everyone" it's NOT the case here!!!! Sure there may have been some fuel for the fire, but this is far more than a "clean up" it's the tip of the iceberg. The whole nation will be experiencing things of this nature very soon!! It's pure 100% BS. Go research the Columbus raid, via KS as well as other herping sites, please!! Then give to PIJAC!!!