December Recap + 2025 Year in Review (USARK)

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USARK's December Work One might think that during the holiday season, we see fewer issues popping up, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, we often see a rush to push through bans and other legislation at the year's end. USARK did not stop working through the holiday season, and December may have been our busiest month, including hearings on back-to-back days and work on over two dozen issues. CITES Conference of the Parties Art and David finished up the CITES Conference in Uzbekistan. You can read a recap at https://usark.org/25citescop/. IAFE Convention and Trade Show Vanessa G. attended the International Association of Fairs and Expos convention and trade show in Denver. While the majority of the presentations and workshops focus on fairs and carnivals, the trade show offers the opportunity for shows to meet animal exhibitors in person to hire them for their events. Vanessa had a great time getting to know so many handlers and their animals, which ranged from a traveling butterfly house to aerial acrobatics performed by a lovely lady Bateleur eagle. And yes, there were plenty of reptiles! A wild Suzy was found! What a wonderful surprise 2025 in Review Last year had us traversing not only the country but the world. We worked on legislation at all levels of government, testified at several hearings, provided expert guidance to lawmakers, and spent lots of time in Washington, D.C., all to represent responsible herpetoculturists. Thank you to those who support USARK and the responsible herpetoculture community!

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Your state. Your support! We are asking you to help us spread awareness of USARK and our work, one state at a time. If you have a pet store, veterinary office, or public exhibit that works with reptiles or amphibians, USARK will send you a FREE business package that includes brochures, stickers, and possibly more. Email vanessa@usark.org with your company name and address if you are in this week’s state and want to assist. We will randomly draw a new state every Sunday, so follow us on our socials to find out when your state is chosen.These are the states from December: Merch Alert!!! Do you want to flex on your haters AND direct traffic? Then this ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Beardie shirt is for you! https://usark.org/shop/ Add to that our new Leopard Tortoise design in gorgeous green! We even have a new collector's pin! POLL: 2026 is upon us. Chat - where are we with New Year's resolutions? Circling Back My mom says I'm fine just the way I am Hitting the gym Too many to count Less screen time and more productivityCheck back next month for poll results! November poll results: You've hear of Elf on the Shelf. Get ready for: Responses: Rat Snake on the Snowflake 30% Tokay in the Sleigh 30% Frog in the Egg Nog 27% Slider in the Cider 6.5% Basilisk on the Naughty List 6.5% ALERTS & UPDATES + Orangeburg, SC: https://usark.org/25sc2/ + ESA Amendments: https://usark.org/25esa4/ + Colorado Herp Rule HEARING 1/14: https://usark.org/25co2/ + Lincoln County, NC: https://usark.org/25nc/ + Wisconsin Herp Rule review: https://usark.org/25wi/ + Federal Herp and Fish Regulations: https://usark.org/25us/ + Blue tree monitor ESA listing, UPDATE: https://usark.org/25esa1/ YouTube Check out our channel here www.youtube.com/@usark_official Interesting Articles ZSI confirms presence of Yunnan Keelback snake in India for first time Sea snakes keep washing up on Australia’s shores and scientists are unsure why Pond frog as a predator of hornet workers: High tolerance to venomous stings Staten Island Zoo Releases 31 Diamondback Terrapin Hatchlings in Restored NYC Waterway Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discove .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discove .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discove .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discove .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discove .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125948901.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Rhinophis siruvaniensis: Rare shieldtail snake discovered in Kerala Papuan​*​**​**​*​**​** Olive Python: Could this snake really .. Read more at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/125933084.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Papuan Olive Python: Could this snake really change color like a chameleon? Meet The Only Snake Known To Cooperatively Hunt In Packs — A Herpetologist Explains