PR: Invasive Species Hearing

[USARK.Jonathan.Brady]

PR: Invasive Species Hearing
House Committee Considers Lacey Act to Shut Down Reptile Trade; Thousands of Jobs Could be Lost

Washington DC, 23 March 2010- Today the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife will hold a joint oversight hearing on "How To Manage Large Constrictor Snakes And Other Invasive Species." The Subcommittees will receive testimony on efforts to monitor and control Burmese Pythons and other invasive species in Everglades National Park.

At the center of this debate is the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed rule change adding 9 snakes (including Boa constrictor) to the injurious wildlife list of the Lacey Act. The big question is whether federal regulation via the Lacey Act is the way to address a problem that is localized in the southern tip of Florida. Justification for the rule change is a highly controversial US Geological Survey report criticized as, “not suitable as the basis for legislative or regulatory policies” by a panel of independent scientists in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee.

Legal experts have questioned whether the complicated Lacey Act designed to stop poaching at the turn of the century is now being abused by USFWS. Never before has a Lacey Act listing been proposed for animals that are so widely held by the public. The United States Association of Reptile Keepers estimates that there are now approximately 2 million animals in captivity in the US that would be subject to the USFWS proposed rule change. If enacted tens of thousands of Americans would be in possession of injurious wildlife and could be subject to felony prosecution under the Lacey Act.

The effect on thousands of small businesses would be swift and devastating. There would be many bankruptcies and tens of thousands of people would be negatively impacted. Thousands of jobs would be lost.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

I certainly hope those points can drilled into their heads. They just dont seem to think its as big as it is. Thanks for posting.

[twan]

Thanks for the post very informative.

[Big Gunns]

Big Gunns is waiting for the update. BG doesn't like to wait.


What happened yesterday?

[Sariel]

Big Gunns is waiting for the update. BG doesn't like to wait.


What happened yesterday?

^^^^^^^^^^^^

[rabernet]

Two days now and no updates?

[Raptor]

Two days now and no updates?

Things went either really, really good or really, really bad :/

[USARK.Jonathan.Brady]

Andrew's very busy traveling to Orlando to attend the world pet expo that starts today.
I did speak with him yesterday and he said he was VERY pleasantly surprised with the outcome of the hearing.

He did say that what happened yesterday would not affect the process of rule change with the USFWS, but it did get a lot of great talking points and rebuttals "on the public record" to be used when fighting it.

Sometimes my memory isn't 100% so I hate to post details of what happened based on my conversation with Andrew. I'm sure he will post a press release in the next few days (perhaps after the expo) to give some details.

But definitely take away that this was far more good, than bad.

Oh, here's a fact I can share. 9 out of the 10 "judas" snakes being tracked in the Everglades died because of the cold. Also, there is rumor that the 10th animal was "removed from the park". I don't know if that means it was taken inside for some reason, or what, but all I know is that it wasn't in the park. Pretty good stuff, huh?

I know that's not the level of detail you were hoping for, but I hope it was helpful.

jb

[USARK.Jonathan.Brady]

Just sent Andrew a text and asked when he thought an update might go out. He said he's hoping to get it out tonight.

jb

[kc261]

Thanks for the updates! Looking forward to getting the whole story!