Group lobbying for possible Amphibian pet trade ban in US

[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

[tgampper]

I know they will be coming after me - after all I keep a few of those fungus spreading frogs that will eventually destroy the world.

Seriously, the problem with groups like Defenders of Wildlife, they don't see the benefit of captive breeding programs. I would like to see zoos and other serious amphibian hobbyists get together and work on saving these animals.

[SludgeMunkey]

I know they will be coming after me - after all I keep a few of those fungus spreading frogs that will eventually destroy the world.

Seriously, the problem with groups like Defenders of Wildlife, they don't see the benefit of captive breeding programs. I would like to see zoos and other serious amphibian hobbyists get together and work on saving these animals.

Terry, i could not agree more. If I could figure out a way to convince the herpetologists and zoos once and for all that there are a good many "amatures" around doing real work with these animals that is just as valid as the work they are doing, I would. I feel this gap will ultimately doom the species the "big" budgets ignore.

The sheer pettiness of the scientific community and the zealots' lobby powers will ultimately be the downfall of us all.

As long as this animosity continues, the prospect of the science and the hobby becoming extinct due to blanket laws is a real as Bd extinctions.

In short, we all lose to ignorance and ego.

[JeffX]

From what I understand this isn't an outright ban, but a move to test all imported amphibians. Which should have been done years ago when this first crept up. We probably could have saved several species if something was done earlier.

[John]

From what I understand this isn't an outright ban, but a move to test all imported amphibians. Which should have been done years ago when this first crept up. We probably could have saved several species if something was done earlier.

And that is why:

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.

[JeffX]

Well hopefully an outright ban won't happen. We can always start writing to let our representatives know the facts.