This is always the first major show of the year, and it is always awesome! The Reptile Super Show does it BIG! It happens in Pomona, CA, this weekend and you want to be there. There is so much to see at this huge event. Be sure to note the new show hours (below). Plus, a big shout out to Tortugo Brewing Company. Thanks to Tortugo and the Reptile Super Show, Tortugo Beer will be available during the show, and $1 from every can will go to USARK. Thanks, Tortugo! See the image at the bottom of this email.
Big auction news! The USARK benefit auction is right after the show on Saturday night. We will open the venue at 5:00 and the auction starts at 6:00. It will be in a new location at the Fairplex that will provide for a better auction experience. This will be a true after-party vibe, complete with a patio and tacos! Stop by our booth for details. Please stick around and support our work to protect your freedom to have reptiles and amphibians as pets. It is FREE, and all show attendees and vendors are welcome!
BIG thanks to the Reptile Super Show for sponsoring this auction!
We have a couple of great donation previews!
- Fiji iguanas with hibiscus original painting by Gamini Ratnavira. 18" x 24" acrylic on canvas. Value of $7.500! Donated by Gamini and Lisa of Hidden Forest Art Gallery.
- Lady Death Strike - AntsCanada’s first-ever hand-crafted limited edition plush collectible donated by Ty at California Zoological Supply!
There will be live and silent auctions, and we'll wrap it up quickly so everyone can enjoy the remainder of the evening. We appreciate everyone who donates and attends as USARK would not be possible without these auctions and our supporters. Volunteers can email vanessa@usark.org for details.
Thank you to Ramy and the Super Show crew for your continued USARK and herp community support.
Get full show details at https://reptilesupershow.com/.
January 11-12
Saturday: 10 am-5 pm
Saturday: Super Show After Party and USARK Fundraiser at 6:00 pm (new location at the Fairplex)
Sunday: 11 am-5 pm
Pomona Fairplex/Los Angeles County Fairgrounds
1101 W. McKinley Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
"There is no better place to make the decision about bringing home a reptile pet because all of the best animals and supplies are going to be available, along with professional breeders who can educate you about how to properly care for your new family member." - Reptile Super Show
UPDATE 1/7/25: The final vote was postponed because Mayor Lockhart and the Council want to ensure they write a sound ordinance. USARK President Phil Goss attended and spoke for responsible reptile and “exotic” animal owners. Since only a few species would fall under the proposed definition of domesticated animal, USARK wants to make certain changes were made. Even though Ashley is a small town, bad ordinances can spread quickly. USARK appreciates that the Ashley lawmakers want to do it right the first time without unintended consequences.
What it does:
- Bans all species “foreign and not native to the local area” and all species “not normally domesticated.”
- Creates a pet limit that allows no more than three dogs or three cats.
- Bans all livestock animals unless kept on a farm.
Full details and sample email at https://usark.org/24oh/.
Facebook alert at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=987040936785669&set=a.615159700640463.
ALERT: Final and Interim FWS Salamander Rules In January 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published an interim rule listing 201 species (20 genera) of salamanders as injurious under the Lacey Act. FWS has now finalized that rule and written an interim rule adding 16 genera (about 164 species), opening a public comment period regarding those species. The rule will appear in the Federal Register on January 10, 2025.
Read more at https://usark.org/25salamander/.
ALERT: ESA Listing for Blue Tree Monitors UPDATE 12/27/24: FWS has used emergency rulemaking to apply a 240-day temporary listing for the blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This is effective immediately. FWS has proposed that this listing will be permanent. They can choose not to list the species if the evidence does not support the listing, or they can modify the listing. This will now be an expedited process. Anyone working with this species, especially those who have successfully bred it, should submit information (see full alert for info) to FWS. Comments must be submitted by February 24, 2025.
Read more athttps://usark.org/23esa2/.
ALERT: CITES The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) may propose amendments to the Appendices for the upcoming Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from November 24 to December 5, 2025. NOTE: There is not yet a formal proposal from FWS to CITES. The comment deadline is 1/27/2025 at 11:59 pm EST (revised date).
Read more from our 12/27 alert at https://usark.org/25cites/.
Light Bulb Ban Read more information with action alert 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 and take action at https://usark.org/24doe/.
UPDATE 12/9/24: The Council voted to table (postpone) the final vote. USARK President Phil Goss was the only person present to represent responsible reptile and amphibian owners. He was joined by two mammal owners (who had great testimonies), and the three of them were the only people who spoke on this issue. Fortunately, this was enough to get the vote tabled. The Council directed the City Attorney to explore grandfathering and alternative language. Alarmingly, no owners of horses, goats, llamas, pot-bellied pigs, or any other animals on the ban list showed up. Assuredly, hundreds of Florence residents have animals that will be banned, and those animals will need to be rehomed, surrendered, or euthanized. The language that almost passed today does not allow current owners to keep their animals. People who own these animals need to contact the Council and City Attorney.
This may have a vote on Monday, January 13 at 1:00 pm – City Council Chambers at 324 W. Evans Street.
Florence, South Carolina, has proposed a ban on many species of animals (list at https://usark.org/24sc2/). There is no grandfather clause, so even current owners could not keep their animals. The ban list is long and includes many animals, such as ducks, common livestock, dart frogs, larger species of constrictor snakes, and more.
Website Alert: https://usark.org/24sc2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=970427231780373&set=a.753333170156448
ALERT: New York Senate Bill 252 (S252) makes some changes to the “wild animal” law in New York. It is sponsored by Senator Monica R. Martinez with Senators Andrew Gounardes, Leroy Comrie, Rachel May, and Luis R. Sepúlveda as co-sponsors. The was referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee.
Read more at https://usark.org/25ny/.
ALERT: Lansford, PA Read the full alert at https://usark.org/24pa3/.
The Lansford Council has directed the borough solicitor (city attorney) to draft an exotic animal ordinance. Anyone in the borough who owns animals other than dogs and cats should engage with their Council members.
ALERT: Amelia County, VA Read the full alert athttps://usark.org/24va/.
Amelia County is discussing potential changes to its exotic animal ordinance. Stakeholders should engage in the process.
ALERT: Colorado UPDATE 10/15/24: The stakeholder webinar was today. All PACFA licensees should review the draft changes and submit comments. There may be updated text at the November Advisory Committee meeting.
Read the full alert at www.usark.org/24co2. Below is only a snippet.
The Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) Program under the Colorado Department of Agriculture has drafted new regulations and amendments. Changes apply to herp, bird, fish, and mammal regulations. There is a link in our alert with the changes marked in red and described in detail (last several pages). This is a first draft for review, and PACFA is taking input from stakeholders. We appreciate PACFA working with stakeholders.
Rule changes include:
+ Enclosure requirements and minimum thresholds before requiring a PACFA license for certain reptiles and amphibians
+ Exemptions from sterilization requirements for cats and dogs in shelters and rescues
+ Vaccination requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets imported into PACFA-licensed facilities
+ Adding definitions and rules around foster homes and foster providers |
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ALERT: Diamondback Terrapin ESA Listing Snippet: On September 19, 2024, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service (informally known as NOAA Fisheries and an agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA) to list the Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA)...
Read the full alert at https://usark.org/24esa3/.
ALERT: Bill to Add Herps and Fish to the Animal Welfare Act On September 12, Representative Betty McCollum introduced HR9571, which will “amend the Animal Welfare Act to include cold-blooded species as animals, and for other purposes.” This will add reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cephalopods “as animals” under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), meaning the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must develop new regulations. Basically, the USDA would now be required to license and inspect facilities and breeders with these animals. Businesses would need to comply with new USDA regulations or lose their licenses. The USDA recently began inspecting and licensing aviculturists (bird breeders). The bill has been assigned to the House Agriculture Committee. We will post more information when available. Read the bill text at https://usark.org/24us1/.
Snippet: The term ‘animal’ means any live or dead warm-blooded animal (including a dog, cat, monkey (nonhuman primate mammal), guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or bird), cold-blooded animal (including a reptile, amphibian, cephalopod, or fish)...
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.
ALERT UPDATE: Burlington, VT Read the full alert at https://usark.org/24vt/. This is just an update.
UPDATE 11/5/24: STOPPED! Thank you to those who opposed this overreaching and unjust ban. The Dog Task Force presenter did not mention the proposal to ban tens of thousands of “exotic animals.” However, the Burlington Ordinance Committee highlighted the many messages received opposing the exotic animal ban and focused on that. The Committee asked questions and decided to remove the proposal to ban tens of thousands of animal species (which included fish, birds, reptiles, and more).
USARK was the only group allowed to testify during the limited public speaking session and had to correct some misinformation presented by a local attorney who is seemingly behind this ban. One local pet owner was able to attend in person to speak and did a great job.
These bans easily pass if no one is paying attention. This issue may resurface, but it will not advance at this time. USARK will keep you posted.
Fundraising Run Across Texas Marcin is a Marine on a Texas-sized mission (literally)! Marcin of Bigger Better Reptiles is going to take an 850-mile trek across the state of Texas. This will be his longest run, and he is doing it as a fundraiser for USARK.
From Marcin: "USARK is fighting for our rights as reptile keepers. Our way of life is constantly being threatened, and it is important that we have people fighting for us so that we can continue pursuing our passion with these animals. We want to raise money for them to help fund their cause. We plan to start running on March 21st, 2025. Let’s make this happen! Thanks, y’all."
SPONSORS WANTED: Anyone interested in sponsorships or contributing to this effort, please email biggerbetterreptiles@gmail.com. They have an online donation site (SpotFund) at https://www.spotfund.com/story/adaf23f2-7beb-43da-be49-45bb9dfdb96e. Thank you, Marcin and BBR!
.  BOA SHIRTS and NEW SWAG are now shipping! They just arrived, so get yours now! Three styles are available, but two are very limited.
Click the image or this link to BUY NOW! https://usark.org/shop/
This screen-printed cotton/polyester blend shirt is extremely soft and wrinkle-resistant.
FREE sticker and shipping!
Adeline Robinson created the artwork at https://www.adelinerobinsonart.com.
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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