ALERT: Orangeburg, SCUPDATE 12/13/25: This is on the December 16 agenda. We are uncertain what, if any, changes will be made and encourage local residents to continue their opposition. MEETING: December 16 at 6:00 PM. City Council Chambers 933 Middleton Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115
UPDATE 12/2/25: Thanks to some Council members voicing logic and reason, the ordinance was tabled (postponed) until some changes can be made. Specifically, concerned Council members want revisions to the “exotic creature” section and the addition of a grandfather provision. The City Administrator and a Council member noted the opposition and education from USARK. Thank you to everyone who spoke up!
More details at https://usark.org/25sc2/.
ALERT: Lincoln County, NC
UPDATE 12/11/25: Monday’s agenda was just posted, and the animal ordinance appears as item #9 for the 12/15/25 meeting.
Meeting: Monday, December 15 at 10:00 AM in the Lincoln County Admin Building, 353 N. Generals Blvd., Lincolnton, NC 28092
The new draft did make some fixes (it no longer falsely labels iguanas as venomous), but it is still a poorly written mess. This draft conflates a simple issue, making it confusing for law enforcement officers, especially because it includes both an allowed list and a banned list. UPDATE 12/1/25: Tonight was the first reading of the fourth draft of a new animal ordinance. It was changed from a regular agenda item to “for review only,” seemingly in response to valid points raised in pre-meeting opposition letters and calls. All public speakers were opposed.
The County’s legal counsel stated, “We have spent a lot of time on this,” even though iguanas were listed as venomous and “species Homo sapiens (humans)” was included as an exempt species that could be owned. She later stated, “We are talking about removing iguanas from the venomous reptiles.” That would be sensible considering they were never venomous.
Disturbingly, “I’ve seen this in ordinances in other places” was stated as a rationale for certain aspects, even though Commissioners felt it was unenforceable. Also, alarmingly, legal counsel again misinformed the Commissioners and the public about the draft's plain language, as witnessed during a hearing on the first version of this ordinance.
There was some debate among Commissioners. This may return for a vote at the December 15 meeting (10:00 AM) or at a January meeting.
Read more at https://usark.org/25nc/.
Wisconsin Herp Rule Review
UPDATE 12/9/25: A public hearing has been scheduled for January 12 at 5:00 PM CST. You can read the draft rule and the highlighted changes in our alert. The written comment deadline is January 13, 2026
Posted 7/16/25: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is initiating a comprehensive review of all herp regulations in an “effort to clarify and update existing regulations to better inform the public, law enforcement, and department staff regarding allowable activities, improve enforceability, and implement current management goals.” There may be additional rule changes reasonably related to what was mentioned prior.
Read more at https://usark.org/25wi/.
Endangered Species Act Amendments
Amendments to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have been proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) through rulemaking.There are four proposed changes: Threatened species protections (50 CFR part 17; section 4(d)): Eliminate the “blanket rule” option and require species-specific 4(d) rules tailored to each threatened species. This approach reflects the best interpretation of the statute under Loper Bright and ensures that protections are necessary and appropriate to conserve each species without imposing unnecessary restrictions on others. It also aligns service policy with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NOAA) long-standing species-specific approach...Read more at https://usark.org/25esa4/.
ALERT: Colorado Herp Rule Review
ALERT UPDATE: Borneo Earless Monitor ESA Listing
Posted August 13: On August 14, 2025, FWS will open a comment period on the proposed rule to list the Borneo earless monitor ( Lanthanotus borneensis) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Previous comments need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.
Full details at https://usark.org/25esa2/.
ALERT UPDATE: Blue Tree Monitor ESA Listing Get full details at https://usark.org/25esa1/. The emergency rule ended on August 25, 2025. Breeders can currently ship blue tree monitors. We will notify our members of changes or when the final rule is posted by FWS.
ALERT: Southern Hognose ESA Listing Posted 8/28/25: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). FWS has found that the southern hognose faces serious threats from habitat loss and degradation as a result of land conversion and fragmentation, causing loss of connectivity between populations, road mortality, invasive species (red ants, feral hogs, and cogongrass), and climate change.
Full details at https://usark.org/25esa3/.
Find A Vet Need a good herp veterinarian? The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) can help. ARAV provides a free Find-A-Vet service at http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661.
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