!!! LA herp reg. hearing, UPS BIG news, light bulb ban article (USARK latest)

[Bogertophis]

ALERT: Louisiana Herp Regulation Hearing The agenda for the next Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission Meeting was just posted after noon local time (CST) today. This gives only two working business days of notice before the meeting (since Monday is a federal holiday, Labor Day). The amended herp regulations will be presented on Thursday, September 5. The meeting starts at 9:30, and this is agenda item #9. See the agenda at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/louisiana-wildlife-and-fisheries-commission-to-meet-on-september-5-in-baton-rouge?. Watch for more updates at https://usark.org/24_la/. NEWS: UPS is now shipping non-venomous snakes! From UPS on August 30, 2024: "UPS is BOAstfully announcing that it will expand its shipping services to include live non-venomous snakes! Whether you're a breeder, a pet store owner, or an individual hobbyist, you can trust UPS to transport your snakes ssssssssafely and ssssssecurely within the U.S. or from the U.S. to Canada." Read the full announcement at https://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/24-UPS-snakes.pdf ARTICLE: "Light bulb ban threatens reptile, amphibian welfare" by the Veterinary Infomation Network snippet: "The ban should be a concern of animal caretakers for many species," said Latney, a senior veterinarian at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center who also is chair of the Association for Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). "This is particularly true for captive reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammal species that have limited exposure to natural, unfiltered sunlight." Read the full article at https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=12254509&f5=1. Light Bulb Ban Read more information with contact details at https://usark.org/24doe/. In 2022, the Department of Energy (“Department”) passed a regulation that banned certain incandescent light bulbs. Basically, light bulbs are deemed inefficient if they do not emit a certain amount of lumens per watt. This was meant to transition from less efficient bulbs to more efficient lighting, like LED bulbs. Reptile lighting is a specialty item and is not used for general-purpose lighting in homes and businesses. However, certain bulbs were reviewed solely on how many lumens they produced per watt. Herp keepers know that halogen and basking bulbs are not used in household lamps for general lighting. Read the rest at https://usark.org/24doe/. Grants for Teachers: Pets in the Classroom The Pets in the Classroom grant program supports teachers in enhancing students' educational and personal development through interaction with pets in their classrooms. Pets in the Classroom is now accepting 2024-25 school year applications. Begin the Application Process Here: https://petsintheclassroom.org/about-our-grants/ "We are excited to share our Pets in the Classroom program with you! Pets in the Classroom was founded to enhance students' educational and personal development through interaction with pets in their classrooms. Our no-hassle grant program supports Pre-K through 9th-grade teachers in enhancing students' educational and personal development through interaction with pets in their classrooms. If you meet the qualifications, you will receive a grant. And, not only will we help you purchase your classroom pet and set up its classroom habitat, but we will help you continue caring for it through its lifetime!" - Pets in the Classroom Find A Vet Need a good herp veterinarian? The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) can help. ARAV offers a free Find-A-Vet service at http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661. Get shirts and more! USARK Online Swag Shop Our shop is open at https://usark.org/shop/(or simply click the "Shop" link in the menu on our website). We currently have two shirts and three hats available for sale.

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[bcr229]

https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/sh...d-animals.page

Interesting - I'm not seeing a snake length limit on the UPS instructions, just that the snake not be venomous.

[Malum Argenteum]

The UPS Customer Center nearest me (Madison, WI -- pretty big city) is open four hours a day (weekdays only) and has an unheated package holding area (it is, in fact, a garage where they park trucks, and reeks like fuel). Hard no for me.

Those UPS regulations are something of a mess.

They prohibit "Any poisonous, venomous or threatening animal", but specifically permit "frogs, salamanders, toads", most of which are poisonous, some fatally so, and specifically permit "bees", which are venomous (also sometimes fatally so).

They give "sea turtle" as an example of a turtle, even though only one species in the world isn't ruled out by their prohibition on "Threatened or Endangered Species" (which means 'ESA listed').

They require that "Lizards and geckos should be individually contained in bags constructed of breathable material, such as burlap". Geckos get shipped in cups, not bags; snakes are sometimes bagged in cotton bags, although some species/sizes are better cupped. No reptiles should be shipped in burlap.

[Bogertophis]

I get the impression that UPS just finally decided to green light what some people have been doing anyway... And it's a pity they seem to have come up with regulations without first consulting those of us that are very knowledgeable in the herp world.