Just wanted to pass this on:
Just a friendly reminder. Only ten more days to comment. PLEASE SPREAD THE
WORD!!!
Please distribute this as widely as possible. I have posted it on Kingsnake
in the C.I.T.E.S. forum and to the PA list. Any help you can give spreading
the word is greatly appreciated.
Herp Law Action Alert, Action needed by 1-15-2006
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has proposed regulations that
would:
Ban the importation and breeding of all native species including all
subspecies of milk snakes, rat snakes of the Elaphe obsoleta ssp., all North
American box turtles, and other reptiles and amphibians commonly bred in
captivity.
Reduce the possession limit of native reptiles and amphibians from two to
one for common species and zero for 23 species including box turtles, wood
turtles, and other species common in captivity without provision for those
already held.
And impose numerous other unjustified restrictions, to numerous to elaborate
here, on those of us who enjoy interacting with these animals in captivity.
These proposed regulations may be viewed online here:
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fis...gs/175nprp.htm
Protect your Rights
When originally proposed, letters and emails from reptile hobbyists and
professionals resulted in the formation of a public work group. This group
is in the process of attempting to revise the proposal to make it more
acceptable.
In the meantime the Commission voted to publish the initial proposal for
public comment. It is possible that this will be your only opportunity to
express your opposition (or support) for these overly restrictive
regulations.
The commission is not bound to accept any recommendations from the work
group.
It is very important that we let the Commission know that there are many of
us who would be negatively impacted by these regulations. In many cases we
will instant become criminals if these regulations take effect as currently
proposed.
Please send comments by mail to:
Executive Director
Fish and Boat Commission
P. O. Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000
Or go here and fill out the PAFBC online comment form.
www.state.pa.us/Fish/regcomments
Please take the time to do this. Your ability to interact with native
reptiles and many non-native subspecies depends on the action you take
today. The public comment period ends 1-15-06.