Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We need everyones help!

This proposal will:

-Ban the importation and sale of every color morph and every subspecies of native PA species! There is no question about the inclusion of subspecies in the prohibition.
No Cal kings or other L. getulus
No L. triangulum milksnakes. ect. ect.

-Make you guilty of a crime until you prove your innocence if you carry tongs or a hook in the woods outside the six weeks of rattlesnake season. Ridiculous.

-Lower the native reptile possesion limit from 2 to 1 with NO scientific support for this action.

If we as citizens let this go on eventually this will result in these folks making a reg that bans the keeping of reptiles completely because that's the way they THINK it should be. We must insist on scientific accountability or we are surrendering!

With the exception of the timber rattle snake changes, there is no science behind any of these changes.

Captive breeding protects wild populations by fulfilling demand for desirable species. Do you really think that there are still folks out commercially collecting corn snakes or pine snakes, or cal kings? Of course not. It is more profitable to call a large breeder and buy them wholesale for resale than it is to collect them.

An analysis of the reptile market through the internet shows that the VAST majority (90 %) of domestic reptiles for sale in the US are CAPTIVE produced. Pa Fish and Boat does not refute this FACT. The choose to ignore it.

This whole thing is based on a tradition in conservation agencies of preventing commercialization. It originated early in the century when bird feathers were in great demand for ladies hats. Feathers don't reproduce in captivity. Reptiles do. It is apples and oranges.

PLEASE CALL:
(email if you can)

PA. Fish and Boat Executive Director Douglas Austin 717-705-7801
Go here to email - https://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?a=1093&q=438119

PA. Senate Game and Fisheries Com. Chair. Joe Conti 717-787-7305
email - jconti@pasenate.gov

PA. House Game and Fisheries Com. Chair Bruce Smith 717-783-8783
As far as I can tell Rep. Smith has no email.

If you are a PA resident please call your own state senator and representative. You can find who they are at:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm

Thanks to all in advance for your help!!!

Fred Bruckman

Can I forward this to the Pet Law list?

Don't forget this will also cover any subspecies of T. carolina box turtles as well as painted turtles, and likely various subspecies of spiney softshell.

Katrina

EVERYONE who lives in PA and owns reptiles, or is even thinking about owning reptiles in the future needs to take part in. CALL ALL of your local petshops, friends, family and anyone else--get their support.

I would really like a link to this proposal so I can get all the facts about this, as apposed to second hand before sounding the alarm.

As Ace posted in another thread, "the proposed changes can be seen at sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/mpag1.htm
Click on the "agendas/minutes" link on the left, then on "agenda" inder April 25-26. It's in PDF format so you will need an Adobe acrobat to read it."

Now, this is my own comment: Read the full text. I noticed that box turtles will have a ZERO possession limit, so I'm assuming that means none can be kept?

There will be an official public comment period later, if the commissioners decide to persue an update in the regs. PA does need an update, but this isn't it!

Katrina