ALERT: Loudoun County, Virginia Loudoun County is proposing a ban on “wild or exotic animals” (see species list below) deemed as a public safety risk by the County. The proposed language will be added to the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County Chapter 612.
A public information hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 5th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Local animal owners should engage with their Board of Supervisors representative ASAP as it could be expanded to include other species. The county law would apply to all unincorporated areas (those living outside of city limits) of Loudoun County.
Animals proposed to be banned (exact text from the proposed ban): “Wild or Exotic Animal” means any live non-human primate, raccoon, skunk, wolf or wolf hybrid, coyote, squirrel, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, cheetah, bear, wild cat (e.g., bobcat, lynx and caracal, serval, ocelot) or wild cat hybrid, crocodilian (e.g. alligators, caimans, gavials) venomous snake, venomous reptile, scorpions (other than those in the genus Pandinus); widow, recluse, funnel-web, banana/wandering, sand or trap-door spiders and tarantulas (except those native to North or South America and the Mexican redknee variety) or any other warm-blooded mammal or marsupial that can normally be found in a wild state. All domestically bred or legally imported birds, ratites, non-venomous snakes, non-venomous reptiles, rear-fanged snakes, amphibians, fish, ferrets, rabbits, rats, mice, gerbils, chinchillas, hedgehogs, sugar gliders and guinea pigs which have been bred in captivity shall be excluded from this definition.
NOTE: The definition states “or any other warm-blooded mammal or marsupial that can normally be found in a wild state” so the ban could be applied to certain mammals not listed.
Full details at https://usark.org/22va2/.
Facebook post at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/5705089436239629.
ALERT: Suffolk County, NY Animal Program Ban Very basic summary:
- Ban on any animal except domesticated dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cows, sheep, or goats being transported and then viewed by any audience. This applies even for animals born and raised in human care.
- there are very few exceptions allowed: accredited zoos, aquariums, universities, colleges, or other such research facilities or environmental educational programs (note that environmental educational programs are not exempt if doing activities as common as giving animals food or treats);
- each offense holds a fine of up to $2,500.
Resolution Number 1777-2022 is a broad-sweeping ban on “animal traveling performances or shows” which would include educational animal outreach and other programs for most species of animals. The term “wild or exotic animal,” as defined in the proposal, is broad-sweeping. Similar animal performance and traveling animal act bans are being proposed across the country at the local, state, and federal levels. Once again, this proposal uses the language “include but are not limited to” in the definition to make it seem it only applies to a small list of animals, but that is not true.
Read more and take action at https://usark.org/22suffolk/.
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/posts/pfbid02o99AderXr2JjHr4XecHudwA9UcHQk4xFtoty5ihEBdYWFzr7uNUCfUyNEhUoa2KFl
USARK Board Meeting USARK will be holding a Board meeting at the upcoming Reptile Super Show. USARK members and herpetoculturists are welcome to attend. We plan to have another Board meeting at a show later in 2023.
Board meeting details:
Thursday, January 5 at 6:00 PM PST
Sheraton Fairplex in the Chardonnay Meeting Room
601 W McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
Show details can be found at https://reptilesupershow.com/los-angeles/.
USARK Shirts are Available Online Our shop is open at https://usark.org/product/shirttokay/ (or just click the "Shop" link in the menu) to purchase our current t-shirt (picture at the bottom of this newsletter).
This screen-printed, cotton/polyester blend shirt is extremely soft and wrinkle-resistant with a slightly modern fit (but true to size). U.S. domestic shipping is free! Plus, one USARK sticker per shirt is included.
USARK FLORIDA FUNDRASIER Enter today and you could win a trio of well-started, captive-born Borneo earless monitors (Lanthanotus borneensis) with cleared CITES import documents.
Peter Foulsham, a life-long and highly regarded herpetoculturist from London, has had multiple successful years of breeding this species and will provide the detailed care sheets for this trio. He has worked with earless monitors for over seven years and is happy to pass on his success tips to the winner of this group of super cool monitors.
All proceeds go to USARK FLORIDA (a separate 501(c)(6) organization from USARK) to fight for Florida keepers and businesses. January 1 at 2:00 PM EST is the deadline to enter and the drawing will be held on January 7. Follow USARK FL on social media for winner details and more.
Get full details and enter to win at https://www.tapkat.org/usark-florida-inc/NkXzX5.
USARK Florida Calendar Photo Contest
The deadline to vote for your favorite herp photos is December 24!
Click here to see the entries and details: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=usarkfl&set=a.862949255045589
You may cast one vote for a photo by donating $1 to USARK FL (Cash app $usarkfl, PayPal info@usarkfl.org, or by credit card at usarkfl.net/donate). We encourage you to vote as many times as you want.
Donate $1 for one vote or $100 for 100 votes.
Please specify the ID number of the photo you are voting for when you send your donation. The goal of this contest is to raise money to help USARK FL protect the freedoms of animal keepers. Please have fun and be charitable!
Winners will be announced on Christmas Eve Dec 24.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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