Reptile & Amphibian Forums

http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/billfile/HB0339.htm

This one will outlaw caimens, venomous reptiles (previously only venomous snakes were illegal, excluding copperheads due to the wording of the old law), and hybrid cats - so look to your Bengal cat and Savannah cat breeders for help in this one.

I've been told that a hearing will be Feb. 9th in Annapolis. More details to come.

Katrina

The key to fighting it will be to get it on an evidence based footing. Demand to see data supporting the ban. If no incidents have been reported, then there is no real need for a ban. It should not be dictated by peoples fears or biases.

Cheers
B
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
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Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit,
Museum Victoria
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http://www.venomdoc.com

http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/billfile/sb0296.htm

Has there been an outcome to these hearings yet? Is there a link to the current Maryland law as it applies to exotics?

The only thing I have read regarding the keeping of reptiles is the page on native species:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/captive.asp

I don't know where to go to find the current laws on keeping exotic pets.

Thanks,
Jason

For general knowledge - After some more looking this appears to be current Maryland law, unless a recent ruling has been made.

• MD. CODE ANN., NAT. RES. §70D

(a) Prohibited conduct. - (1) A person may not import into Maryland, offer for sale, trade, barter or exchange as a household pet any live:

(i) Fox, skunk, raccoon, or bear;

(ii) Alligator or crocodile;

(iii) Member of the cat family other than the domestic cat; or

(iv) Any poisonous snakes specifically in the family groups of Hydrophidae, Elapidae, Viperidae, or Crotolidae.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, a person may offer these species for sale, trade, barter, import, or exchange to a public zoo, park, museum, educational institution, or to a person holding valid State or federal permits for educational, medical, scientific, or exhibition purposes.

(b) Penalty. - Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, in the case of an individual, shall be fined not more than $1,000; or in the case of any person other than an individual, by a fine of not more than $10,000.

(c) Exceptions. - Exempted from the provisions of this section are those species of wildlife not being kept as household pets and which are individually exempted by a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources.

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• MD. REGS. CODE tit. 08.03.09, §03 - Rabies Emergency

A. A person may not import into Maryland any live raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, or any other mammalian wildlife species, or hybrids, for which there is no U.S.D.A. certified vaccine against rabies.

B. A person or incorporated or unincorporated organization may not harbor or move within Maryland any live raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, or any other mammalian wildlife species, or hybrids, for which there is no U.S.D.A. certified vaccine against rabies, without first having obtained a permit from the Service, except that it shall be lawful to transfer those living animals within a county or city to a designee of local government for the purpose of humane euthanasia.

C. This regulation does not prohibit the importation or possession of gerbils, hamsters, domesticated rats and mice, chinchillas, European ferrets, domestic rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and primates of the families Cebidae, Cercopithecidae, and Pongidae only.

D. This regulation does not prohibit or restrict the importation or possession of mammals into Maryland for use at a circus, carnival, or fair licensed under 9 CFR § 2.1 - 2.11, Subpart A.