Reptile & Amphibian Forums

These are all the big topics that need to be addressed concerning the Columbus raid yesterday. From what I understand (wasn't there), F&G treated it like everyone was a criminal.

No, wasn't there. But had some good friends there that were. Many of them, innocent, but treated like the lowest form of life for 5 hours because they were taking part in a hobby they truly love. But instead of ranting about how the innocent pay for the guilty's crimes, I'll address the important subjects that need serious attention here.

A vendor there was told by an agent, "that any reptile entering OH needs to be accompanied by a health certification from a qualified vet." When the vendor asked, "and what vets are qualified to do the certification?" His question was answered with, "Not our problem." The agent was also asked, "is Ohio the only state doing this?" The question was answered with, "No, at least Pa needs it now too." So, what does this mean? It means that any Pa vendor crossing state lines to go to the Columbus show needs health certification for every reptile they have with them. And the same for any vendors entering Pa to do those shows. This information is not publicly made (at least in Pa). So, who would have known? Basically, you can pretty much forget about alot of out of state vendors coming to your local shows at least for those two states, and any other state that requires it. If they stay within the law, it will cost them quadruple fold in vet bills to bring reptiles across state lines compared to what they would bring home from the show. And if this information is not made available to vendors, how the hell do they know which shows (by state) they are allowed to attend (cross state lines) without the certification? Call the F&G for every state and get to talk to their automated answering system I suppose? I'm not arguing the certification law. From the hobby's standpoint it can only strengthen the quality of the animals offered for sale. What I would like to know, is why the hell they can't make this info public so that vendors ARE able to do the right thing (as authorities deem the RIGHT THING), without facing fines ($500-$50,000), prosecution, confiscation, and harrassment???

The media plays this out as a raid on a show which offers endangered and threatened reptiles and amphibians. They make it sound like that's the only thing being offered at these shows.

This hobby is at it's peak as far as captive breeding vs. importation of WC animals is concerned. Never have more animals been captive bred than right now. Maybe it's just getting too big?

If anyone knows where UPDATED state by state laws can be found please make it available. Thanks.....

I was one of the vendors in columbus - and your description is very accurate. I was not cited - I have always strived to abide by the laws and resent the hobbist that bring in the wild caught,etc.
The other issue they were confiscating and citing on was any animal (mostly turtles/tortoises) over 6" native to the united states must be chiped to prove captive breed or properly collected. And they were demanding papers on each animal individuals had at their table - most could not produce these on the spot. They also had search warrents for numerous of the vendors homes and searched their houses during the same time.

These requirements and the vet requirement (althougth may help ensure healthy animals) will price out most of the vendors. Unless you have a family member who is a vet - the cost are outragious. To see a single animal it is at least $40 - for each additional animal they add $25. DO the math - End result is the largest longest running monthly show in the country was targeted to be shut down. Also what many don't know - because media as you said pushed this as a local ohio issue of "devestating the native environment" - there were mostly federal agents!!! And they made it clear they were targeting several state shows.

Here is a link to Ohio's regs.

kk
Ohio DNR link

The article you refer to only mentiones "Native" reptiles. A friend of mine that is a vendor was fined for selling a leucistic texas rat snake, and the animal was confiscated. I guess that a rat snake is a rat snake huh?

Another friend of mine had sent some corn snakes with another vendor to be sold and they questioned those as well.....come on, corn snakes??

That's what everyone is trying to say!! Everyone is divided here!!! Thinking is was only "law breakers" and there is no excuse, well guess what!!! These A$$holes can't identify any taxon, CARP & CATFISH!!!!! That's it!!! Ohio is changing, TRUST me!! We better stop saying, "they deserved it" because many of these breeders had their homes raided, and many, many animals taken (upwards to 3,000) most had all of the proper permits, etc...my guess is 70% or better where wrongly identfied, their "jerk of an expert" was walking around with penciled illustarions from a field guide 15 years old, going "duh..that looks like this" Jerks!!!! PERIOD!!