Reticulated Pythons to be added to Lacey Act

poison123 · 12-05-13, 10:20 AM

From US Herpetoculture Alliance Newsletter:

UPDATE: Reticulated Pythons To Be Added To Lacey Act

The US Herpetoculture Alliance has just learned that reticulated pythons and green anacondas, along with two obscure species of anaconda, will be added to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. Boa constrictor will remain under consideration, but will not be listed at this time.
"We are making a final determination to list four species of large constrictor snakes as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act: Reticulated python, DeSchauensee's anaconda, green anaconda, and Beni anaconda. The boa constrictor is still under consideration for listing." ~ US Fish & Wildlife Service 7/23/13
The Herp Alliance has not engaged in advocacy for some time. Funding for a first class federal advocacy program is extremely costly. We have reorganized as a conservation and education organization.

The Herp Alliance broke this story yesterday. We are incorporating a news and commentary component to our mission. To that end, this information was first published last July in the Department of Interior Semiannual Regulatory Agenda. This notice provides the semiannual agenda of rules scheduled for review or development between spring 2013 and spring 2014. So this information has been available for some time.
Reticulated pythons and the anacondas will officially be added to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act when US Fish and Wildlife services publishes the finalized portion of the 'Constrictor Rule' in the Federal Register.

The reptile and pet trade associations cannot sit fat, dumb and happy while the rights of herpetoculturists are regulated into oblivion. By the time the collective coma is shaken off, the days of breeding Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons and Boa constrictors may be lost forever.

It is the opinion of the US Herpetoculture Alliance that the only real recourse is for one or both of the trade associations to file a federal lawsuit against the US Fish & Wildlife Service challenging the merits of the original 'Constrictor Rule' of 2012.

warehouse13fan · 12-05-13, 03:21 PM

whoever came up with this stupid act needs to be hit in the face with a chair -_- -_-

Sharlynn93 · 12-05-13, 04:27 PM

I agree. ugh

Wama · 12-09-13, 03:20 AM

Worms next.....fishermen look out

formica · 12-09-13, 03:44 AM

what provisions are they making for current owners (grandfather rights?), are they making any exceptions for people who can prove they can care for big snakes safely, via licencing, ID tagging, etc, or is this just a flat out ban?

guyabano · 12-09-13, 05:46 AM

This is so dumb. I'm not directly affected by this, but I feel for those who are.

Sharlynn93 · 12-09-13, 07:06 AM

I believe its just a ban on buying out of state and taking them across state lines...if there is a breeder in your state, you should be able to still buy them that way? I still find it ridiculous...it should be governed by state laws, not a countrywide ban...

Starbuck · 12-09-13, 08:15 AM

i doubt the really big-time breeders will be able to maintain a strong retic breeding program if the law passes. No way will they be able to make enough money selling morphs only in state, and it won't pay fr the cost to maintain the animals. Does anyone know if you can still airship the species of concern from outside the us? i.e. could you ship a canadian burm to Georgia, if you paid the import fees etc?

kwhitlock · 12-09-13, 08:30 AM

I would honestly be perfectly fine if they regulated it. Like permits and had documentation of where its going and to who. I wouldnt even care if they came in and checked on the animal to see if I was taking care of it properly.

blake76 · 12-09-13, 08:58 PM

Go here and sign the petition !!!!!!! It only takes a second and it cant hurt!!!! Please all we have to all try atleast to stop this !!!!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pet...-rule/XlnH0X6x

And tell a friend or 2 =)

LiL Zap · 12-10-13, 06:28 PM

Okay...so ban certain large constrictor species of snakes but allow dogs and cats that have and continue to attack people and transmit deadly diseases such as rabies? Way to go Lacey Act. Smh.

MDT · 12-10-13, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwhitlock

I would honestly be perfectly fine if they regulated it. Like permits and had documentation of where its going and to who. I wouldnt even care if they came in and checked on the animal to see if I was taking care of it properly.

What you are proposing isn't the Lacey Act. Permits/inspections are one thing. This is something else entirely.

If retics are added, I'm afraid they will go the way of the Burmese in the trade. Starbuck is correct in that it will be difficult for breeders to sell only in their state.

Starbuck · 12-10-13, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiL Zap

Okay...so ban certain large constrictor species of snakes but allow dogs and cats that have and continue to attack people and transmit deadly diseases such as rabies? Way to go Lacey Act. Smh.

Cats and dogs are regulated regarding rabies- it is.peoples stupidity and.penny p inching (not vaccinating healthy animals etc) whic leads to the.incidental occurances, that and the natural wildlife.reservoirs. most states require you to license a dog and provide proof of vaccination. It is not the law abidingnpeople that are exposing mm others tom dangerous animals (snakes and.unvaccinated dogs, etc) it is those.who think.the law does not m apply.to them.

I am on mynphone so apologize for all the typing errors .

LiL Zap · 12-11-13, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Cats and dogs are regulated regarding rabies- it is.peoples stupidity and.penny p inching (not vaccinating healthy animals etc) whic leads to the.incidental occurances, that and the natural wildlife.reservoirs. most states require you to license a dog and provide proof of vaccination. It is not the law abidingnpeople that are exposing mm others tom dangerous animals (snakes and.unvaccinated dogs, etc) it is those.who think.the law does not m apply.to them.

I am on mynphone so apologize for all the typing errors .

I understand where you're coming from as well. I actually work at an animal hospital as a vet tech and I constantly work with aggressive dogs/cats that are not vaccinated. It's always a huge risk to get bitten by them because their mouth caries so much bacteria you can possibly get an abscess.

My whole point is that way more damage is done by dogs/cats to humans than snakes but our lovely government wants to start banning species of snake.