Group lobbying for possible Amphibian pet trade ban in US

[Kurt]

Before signing on here tonight I read Amphibian Ark's proposal and from what I can gather there is no ban being proposed. What is being proposed is regulation of amphibian trade in and out of the country. Under the proposal, amphibians shipments will be tested for Bd and ranivirus. I have no problem with this. My question I will ask when the time comes is, what happens when a shipment tests positive? Will the animals be treated or destroyed?
I think with the proposed regulation, that we will be receiving higher quality/healthier amphibians. They may be a little bit more expensive then before, but at least the risk of sick animals will deminish a little bit.

The outright ban on large Boids is wrong and was proposed by a Florida senator Bill Nelson (D), due to established populations in the Everglades of non-native Burmese pythons, Python molurus bivittatus and red-tailed boas, Boa constrictor ssp. and African rock pythons, Python sebae elsewhere in Florida. The HSUS gloom and doom prophecies of these snakes spreading out of over most of the US has scared a few people. So the ban has gained some support even though it is a Southern Florida problem and not a problem for the rest of the country. The bill is now up for review before the full US Senate. I know Kevin McCurley at NERD/Zoo Creatures is upset about this, as he breeds designer reticulated pythons.

[Paul Rust]

I agree with everyone so far. I am all for testing but they will be destroyed. Maybe this will make it even harder to smuggle animals now that more eyes will be focused on the trade. This brings into sharp relief my involvement with TWI/ASN. I have my animals registered with them. If a ban goes into place will they be required to give up our names and have our animals destroyed while everyone else keeps theirs because they don't know about them? I am second guessing registering any more.

[Kurt]

Well, the python ban only includes the sale of these animals across state borders.

[SludgeMunkey]

While worried about this (it is one of the factors contributing against my N. kaiseri program I have started here...). I do not see any reason to panic yet. It is time to get to writing letters. Unlike boss and pythons, there are far too few of us to not do so now. I will add more to this when I get to a real computer.

[Paul Rust]

While worried about this (it is one of the factors contributing against my N. kaiseri program I have started here...). I do not see any reason to panic yet. It is time to get to writing letters. Unlike boss and pythons, there are far too few of us to not do so now. I will add more to this when I get to a real computer.

Please do, I have never really gotten involved in stuff like this but I will go to war over this one. Oh, for the record I want everyone to know that I only have a Fire Bellied toad, that's it, nothing else, really!

[John]

I think the press release makes a good point - when have you known legislators to care enough to fairly regulate for a topic like this of marginal voting consequence? Easier to ban outright.

[SludgeMunkey]

I agree wholeheartedly, John. Too often in the recent past have we seen "blanket laws" passed pertaining to the pet trade. While it seems draconian to us keepers and hobbyists, to the "average joe" on the street, they could care less.

Most of you know exactly what I am talking about- "Yeah, I have a basement full of salamnders and frogs." "You have what?". Unless you find a lawmaker with a critter room full of dart frogs or newts, for all intensive purposes everyone involved in the legislative process is an "average joe".

Add in the detrimental effect of a token few zealots with big funding backing them and things like the California Ambystomid Ban and the Washington State Invasive Aquatic Species Ban happen.

There is hope though. Forgive me for dredging up old news and perhaps even riding on laurels, but the success of the write in campaign against HR669 a while back is a prime example of how to win.

Thankfully, in this case, there is plenty of time to raise objection the proper way as detailed in this posting by Jen Macke over at Caudata.org. Pay special attention to the release by Amphibian Ark she includes:

Amphibian Ark has prepared a summary of the facts, implications, and opportunities for people to comment on the petition:
http://www.amphibianark.org/pdf/US_a...e_proposal.pdf