Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you object to the handling of the Columbus raid by state and federal officials. LET THEM KNOW! Call or write your state and federal elected officials and the agencies involved.

Ohio ODNR has solicited comments on their website. Contact Jim Lehman, ODNR Division of Wildlife, 614-644-3925 and Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations, 614-265-6882.

Let them know that the way to get the bad guys is not to harass the good guys.

Agreed.Bad thing about our wildlife resources is,they see all herp keepers as bad.A past associate of mine once said they were told directly from wildlife services that they believed that no one should be allowed to keep any herps due to their "dangerous nature"!Ive found the best way is to avoid the wildlife people all together ang go straight for the legislators,but even that can have its drawbacks.Unless you create a big stink,you just get tossed back to the wildlife people.Sometimes its a catch-22.

Don't forget about the animal rights people. They are making sure their voices are heard.

what we need is some uniformity across the states dealing with the keeping and handling of venomous reptiles. Hopefully they would model it after Florida where a citizen can at least apply for and obtain a permit if they meet the guidelines.

It would also be helpfull to have the definition of "domestic" or "lab animal" defined with regard to reptiles and amphibians that have been reproduced in captivity for many many many generations!! F30+

Another point is for states such as Colorado, that do not recognize subspecies of non-venomous or venomous species. Additionally all venomous are against the state law to "keep" (except for the Gila and Beaded Lizards). Without an avenue to barter (ship out of state) captive bred subspecies of hognose, milksnakes or "illegally reproduced venomous" of a subspecies not occurring in Colorado, the chance of releasing the juveniles into the wild to mingle with the other wild ones becomes more attractive. Imagine the authorities mixing up a milk snake from central or south america that is 5 ft. plus with the native milksnake found in Colorado and calling it the same snake!!! All C.viridus from any population if your tired of it can be safely released since they have been redefined as a single species by the state!

Maybe they just need a lesson in who is paying the taxes that keep them employed and in a house etc.

Just making a point but think about the ramifications of what these state "biologists" are attempting to control.

I'm glad I don't live in Colorado or Florida. I think that rather than increasing restrictions in some states to create uniformity we should be banding together to reduce restrictions in the states where they are unreasonable. The reality is that the risk posed by captive reptiles, venomous or otherwise, to people other than their keepers is insignificant. These regulations are created based on emotional response not facts. If every person interested in keeping reptiles in Colorado and other states with unreasonable restrictions would become an activist I believe the laws could be changed in our favor. If we continue to sit back with the attitude that we can't fight city hall the hysterics and the PETA types will continue to erode our right to pursue happiness by imposing their values on us through the government.

Take a moment today and let your elected and wildlife officials know that you object to ANY regulation of reptiles and amphibians. The opposition's goal is to ban the keeping of reptiles completely. I believe we need to promote the opposite view to wind up with laws that realistically protect wild populations without interfering with those of us who act responsibly. They are making criminals of the good guys in their efforts to stop the bad guys.