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  1. #1
    Bogertophis's Avatar
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    From USARK: Florida ALERT


    • USARK FL


      • 3 days ago
      • 4 min read





    ACTION ALERT: SB906



    ALERT: Ban on tegus and green iguanas in Florida
    Senate Bill 906 (SB906) will ban possession and any activities with both the green iguana (Iguana iguana) and the Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae). After not getting traction from the legislature in the last few years, this ban now has support and has passed its first committee. On 1/21, SB906 received a favorable vote of 4-0 by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources. A probable amendment to add Colombian (black and gold) tegus and red tegus was mentioned by the bill sponsor (Farmer) but not introduced yet. The amendment could include other species, too. The bill will next be heard in the Senate Committee on Community Affairs (where the amendment to add more tegu species will likely be introduced).

    PLEASE read everything below for full details and actions to take! AND SHARE THIS!!!
    UPDATE: A companion bill, House Bill 1415, has been filed. HB1415 would have the same consequences as SB906.
    While we usually see species listings go through a rulemaking process by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), this is a legislative effort that would then amend the FWC regulation. This bill has not passed in previous legislative sessions, but it will be back in 2020. It is sponsored by Senator Gary M. Farmer, Jr.
    You can read the bill at www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2020/906/BillText/Filed/PDF



    Sample MessagingPlease edit and personalize. Remember to be civil and professional at all times.NOTE: We appreciate the online petitions but they will serve no role in stopping this. The actions below and our future direction are all that can stop these bills. Also, if you have time to complain on social media then you have more than enough time to do what is below. Take action rather than just complaining!

    What to do:

    1. Call officials;
    2. Email officials;
    3. Fax letters;
    4. Make meetings with your elected officials;
    5. Attend hearings and voice opposition, if possible;
    6. Stay updated by joining our free email newsletter (signup at bottom of page) and Like and follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usarkfl ;
    7. SHARE!!!

    Remember that even if it is not your species of interest being banned today, it may be tomorrow! Support those in trouble now!

    We need to jump on this ASAP! The bill has never passed committee.

    Committee phone list (call your Senator, too):

    (850) 487-5034, (850) 487-5039, (850) 487-5001, (850) 487-5038, (850) 487-5009

    When calling, you can simply state you are opposed to Senate Bill 906 or you may add some of the messaging below.

    You can find all of Senator Farmer's contact information at www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s34?pref=full. Just click "Email the Senator" on the left side of the page to send him a message. Phone calls, faxes, and mailed letters should also be used and are more effective than emails.

    LINK to committee members: www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/CA

    Email list: farmer.gary@flsenate.gov, flores.anitere@flsenate.gov, broxson.doug@flsenate.gov, pizzo.jason@flsenate.gov, simmons.david@flsenate.gov

    You can find your Florida State Senator by simply typing your address at www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find. Send messages to your elected officials even if they are not in a committee hearing this bill.

    Email subject line sample:

    NO to SB906; tegu and iguana ban

    Sample letter/emailYou can easily copy/paste but please personalize.

    Senator and Community Affairs Committee Member,

    I send this letter as a Florida resident concerned with Bill 906. This bill includes two reptile species, with more suggested to be added: Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) and green iguana (Iguana iguana). As a responsible reptile owner, I must alert you to the problems with SB906.

    If you are unaware, the legislature is precluded from regulating wildlife by the State Constitution. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, holds supreme authority over what the State defines as wild animal life. This includes any species listed in SB906. My statement can be verified by reviewing Section 9, Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Florida.

    SB906 is loaded with unintended consequences. While the bill seems to be offering a solution, it is actually creating more problems and fails to address the current dilemma.

    SB906 consequences:

    1. This bill will encourage the release of non-native reptiles.
    2. This bill does nothing to remedy the current problems caused by these animals in the wild.
    3. Banning these species encourages a black market and underground, illegal activities.
    4. Florida business owners have millions of dollars invested in these species.
    5. The overreaching negative impacts upon these businesses must be considered as a termination of their future sales is a taking and they must be reimbursed, which means there must be an economic impact study and restitution.
    6. Protection of Florida's native wildlife is of utmost importance but this bill is a backward approach to addressing the issues.
    7. FWC has reported a preposterous and superfluous cost of $1,000 per tegu for removal purposes. Currently, independent trappers are catching and removing tegus and iguanas at no cost to the State. This current state revenue saving activity would be banned and the cost of future eradication efforts would sky-rocket. Florida legislators need to learn the full story to avoid ineptly spending tax money and FWC resources on this issue when no-costs options are currently in play.
    8. Additionally, Florida stakeholders have developed a plan in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide an expansive tegu and iguana removal program (at no cost to the State) but the Florida Wildlife Commission has failed to implement this proposal and we are instead facing this unjust recourse.
    9. This is a grand example of collective punishment in which good and responsible citizens are punished due to the actions of a few bad actors. Rather than actually finding and punishing criminals, a bad law is written which does nothing more than allow legislative grandstanding while creating bigger problems.

    Some points of clarification from misinformation provided:

    1. There is NO evidence that Tegus have taken eggs from sea turtle nests.
    2. A public health risk has been sensationalized. After being in our landscape for many decades we have yet to see evidence to support there is an actual public health risk from iguana feces on the ground as no salmonella cases have been recorded.
    Please realize the problems with SB906 and its companion bills (HB1415, HB777, and SB1414). All of these bills need to be stopped and replaced with common-sense regulations that both allow for responsible trade and eradication of any wild animals. SB906 is a very misguided effort!

    There is a reason this same exact bill has not passed (or even cleared committee) for the last several years and it because legislators realized this is not the answer. SB906 and its companions must be stopped! They are bad for Florida and its wildlife. Thank you for your time and have a good day.

    Sincerely,
    [YOUR NAME]












    Last edited by bcr229; 01-27-2020 at 10:31 AM.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  2. #2
    Bogertophis's Avatar
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    I have no idea why the printing came out in red & green. I didn't do that...it was black printing...oh well.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  3. #3
    bcr229's Avatar
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    Re: From USARK: Florida ALERT

    Quote Originally Posted by Bogertophis View Post
    I have no idea why the printing came out in red & green. I didn't do that...it was black printing...oh well.
    Fixed for readability.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to bcr229 For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (01-27-2020)

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