USARK in D.C. and Several State Legislative Issues/Updates

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USARK President Phil Goss spent time advocating and attending several meetings in Washington, D.C. this week. Upon arrival, Goss met with USARK's legal team to discuss our ongoing federal lawsuit. The case is now before its third assigned judge and has not seen action since late last year. Strategy was discussed to move the case forward and strengthen our complaints. This case is about much more than the species currently listed as injurious under the Lacey Act. We will provide updates as they become available. For FAQ regarding the Constrictor Rule, click here: www.usark.org/2014-blog/constrictor-rule-1/.

Goss met with several groups affected by animal rights legislation. A roundtable united like-minded advocates to discuss pending threats and critical issues. Local, state and federal concerns were all addressed, and USARK provided the voice for the herp community. Meetings such as this greatly strengthen our fight, in addition to providing crucial networking. Working with other groups and true advocates is essential to form an organized effort when battling the behemoth that is the animal rights movement.

We must realize that this is not just our fight and more than the herp community is being targeted. All pet communities (even dogs and cats), family farms, fishermen and many more are in the crosshairs. The AR movement has a final goal of ending all interactions between humans and animals. If you are a pet owner, horse rider or believe your life is enhanced in any manner thanks to animals, you are not an animal rights activist. If you give yourself this label, you do not have a full understanding of the animal rights movement.

Another meeting of note, in addition to advocating in D.C., included conference with the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA) and Marshall Meyers at Meyers' law office. The salamander fungus Bsal was the topic. Moratorium alternatives, quarantine protocols, most recent research, testing, etc. were all discussed. We'll provide updates as they become available. You can read more on Bsal from USARK at http://www.us4.campaign-archive1.com...&id=2a51d02304.

Pennsylvania SB 263

Senate Bill 263 has been introduced and assigned to the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. The bill would end issuance of any exotic wildlife permits after December 31, 2015, meaning no private keepers could attain additional animals after that date.

SB 263 amends Title 34 to define "exotic wildlife" as: "all nonindigenous animals regardless of whether the animals are bred or reared in captivity or imported from another nation or state." This broad definition would mean all mammals, no matter size, would be considered "exotic wildlife" in PA.

There are a few exemptions: The term does not include any member of the class Aves (birds), any member of the families Equidae (horses, asses and zebras), Camelidae (camels, alpacas and llamas), Cervidae (deer, moose and elk), Bovidae (wild cattle and spiral-horned antelopes), Muridae (rats and mice), Chinchillidae (chinchillas and viscachas), Leporidae (rabbits and hares), Petauridae (gliders and striped possums) or any member of the species Mustela furo (domestic ferrets) or Cavia porcellus (domestic guinea pigs) or any domestic animal as that term is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 5511 (relating to cruelty to animals)

The bill would make it unlawful to allow members of the public the opportunity to come into direct contact with exotic wildlife. It also adds language to the definition of an exotic animal dealer to include: "engages in at least five documented transactions annually involving exotic wildlife."

While the new definition of exotic wildlife outwardly seems to include herps, it doesn't. Herps are regulated under Title 30 in PA and fall under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Title 34, affected by this bill, dealing with mammals and birds falls under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. However, herpers should still lend support to those within the exotic pet community that will be affected.

Read the bill at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...r=0263&pn=0143.

Contact committee members at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...=11&CteeBody=S.

Contact the lead sponsor at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...io.cfm?id=1187.

Track the bill at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...&type=b&bn=263.

Kansas SB 132

As posted on our website, Senate Bill 132 was introduced on 2/2/15 and assigned to the Senate Natural Resources Committee yesterday. This is a re-emergence of HB 2737 from last year. The bill amends the current law passed in 2005 regarding "Dangerous regulated animals" which prohibited the following: all non-native, venomous snakes; lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and mountain lions, or any hybrid thereof; bears or any hybrid thereof; any nonhuman primate (added); any wolf (added), excluding hybrids.

This bill seeks to remove the exemption for USDA-accredited facilities from the "Dangerous regulated animals" law. It also proposes new restrictions regulating that members of the public must be separated by sufficient distance and protective barriers when near "dangerous regulated animals" of any age. More information at www.usark.org/2015-kansas-sb-132/.

Texas Exotic Animal Bill

A meeting was held on 1/22 with Representative Guillen's staff and those interested in an upcoming exotic animal bill. At this time, the bill will likely include a ban on private ownership of large exotic animals (i.e. big cats, bears, large primates) in urban areas and a statewide registration system for listed species. It was announced there will be another meeting for stakeholders to review the bill once it has been drafted.

Currently regulated animals requiring local registration certificates:

lions, tigers, ocelots, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, bobcats, lynxes, servals, caracals, hyenas, bears, coyotes, jackals, baboons, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, or any hybrids of the animals listed.

The current Texas "Dangerous Wild Animals" law can be found here (scroll down to Subchapter E): http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.u...htm/HS.822.htm.

Thanks to TXARK - Texas Association of Reptile Keepers, Texas Primate Owners United and others who have been active on this issue.

View our previous post with contact information at http://www.facebook.com/UnitedStates...type=1&theater.

Indiana SB 266

As announced on our Facebook page, Indiana SB 226 was killed in committee on 2/26 with a vote of 3-5. This bill would have required a double-regulation for USDA-licensed facilities. If passed, USDA facilities not only would need to be in compliance with federal law, but also state law, and would have been inspected by both USDA and IN DNR agents. More information at www.usark.org/2015-legislation/in-sb-226/.

View the current Indiana Wild Animal Law at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files...nPermitReg.pdf. Regulated under the law are venomous reptiles, crocodilians over 5′, and some mammals (viewable at link).

Action Alert: West Virginia
Repeal the Dangerous Wild Animals Act!

Click here for 2 Action Alerts: http://www.usark.org/2015-legislatio...irgina-sb-247/.

Now is your opportunity to make a difference. SB 247 has been introduced by Senators Trump, Blair, Walters and Nohe, and is a bill to repeal the WV Dangerous Wild Animals Act. View the bill at http://www.usark.org/wp-content/uplo...-WV-SB-247.pdf. It was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. All WV residents on Facebook should Like and follow the WV Chapter of USARC page at www.facebook.com/pages/WV-Chapter-of-USARC.

A late 2014 update covering USARK's work on the WV DWA Act can be read at http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=...&id=4f9ebe7935.

WV SB 222 and its companion bill HB 2361 have also been introduced. They place the amended DWA rule before the WV Legislature. These bills amend the rule proposed by the DWA Board and streamline the list of species as suggested by the WV Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee last November. For example, through the work of USARK and the Reptile Nation, this bill removes all constrictor snakes from the DWA list. However, current efforts should be focused upon SB 247. SB 222 moved out of the Ag. Committee with a "do pass" backing. Since these are rule-making bills, they must leave committees and be presented for full votes under WV law. HB 2361 went to committee today.

Canada Action Alert

USARK gladly assisted CANHerp with a proposed expansive ban in the municipality of Chatham-Kent. This is an ugly by-law proposal banning nearly all pets except dogs, cats and fish. You can view the Action Alert at www.usark.org/action-alert-canada-chatham-kent/.

Canadians should follow and contact CANHerp at www.canherp.com and www.facebook.com/canherp for updates and further actions.

SnakeDays Grant

For the first time, SnakeDays will be offering a Student Research Grant, which we plan to offer
yearly going forward. For those not aware of the event, SnakeDays is an educational gathering held in Sanderson, TX every summer which focuses on the herpetofauna of west Texas and the importance of contributions made by citizen science. In addition to a day of lectures, we have a fundraiser which, to date, has raised over $25,000 that has gone directly to herp conservation and research.

For more information on the grant, click here: http://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/...t-2015-PDF.pdf.

Reptile Events

NARBC: February 7-8 in Arlington, TX. Show details at www.narbc.com/Arlington/arlington.html.

Repticon: Feb 7-8 in Columbia, SC. Show details at www.repticon.com

Kentucky Reptile Expo: Feb. 7 in Bowling Green, KY. More details at www.kentuckyreptileexpo.com/.

New York Metro Reptile Expo: February 8th in White Plains, NY. Show details at www.reptileexpo.com/nyfirst.htm.

All Ohio Reptile Show: Feb. 14 in Hilliard, OH. More details at www.allohioreptileshows.webs.com.

Indiana Reptile Breeders' Expo: February 15 in Clarksville, IN. More details at www.irbexpo.com.

Repticon: Feb 21-22 in Southaven, MS. Show details at www.repticon.com

Midwest Reptile Show: March 1 in Indianapolis, IN. Show details at www.midwestreptile.com/index.php.

Cin City Reptile Show: March 8 in Mason, OH. More details at www.cincityreptileshow.com.

Cold Blooded Expo: March 8 in Overland Park, KS. Show details at www.coldbloodedexpos.com/kc-reptile-show/.

NARBC: March 14-15 in Tinley Park, IL. Show details at www.narbc.com/Tinley/tinley_park.html.

Lone Star Reptile Expo: March 20-21 in Arlington, TX. Show details at www.lonestarreptileexpos.com/home.html and www.facebook.com/LSRExpos.

PACNWRS - Pacific Northwest Reptile & Exotic Animal Show: March 28-29 in Hillsboro, OR. Show details at www.pacnwrs.com.

New England Reptile Expo: March in Manchester, NH. Show details at www.reptileexpo.com/nefirst.htm.

Texas Rattlesnake Festival: April 11-12 in Round Rock, TX. Details at www.texasrattlesnakefestival.com.

Cold Blooded Expo: April 12 in Broken Arrow, OK. Show details at www.coldbloodedexpos.com/ok-reptile-expo/.

OKC Elite Reptile Show: May 9-10 in Oklahoma City, OK. Show details soon at www.okcelitereptileshow.com.

International Herpetological Symposium: May 27-30 in San Antonio, TX. Details at www.internationalherpetologicalsymposium.com.

Snake Days: June 12-14 in Sanderson, TX. This is a lecture/field herping event. Details and more at www.snakedays.com.

Reptile Super Show: July 18-19 in San Diego, CA. Show details at www.reptilesupershow.com.

Portland Metro Reptile Expo: August 29 in Portland, OR. Show details at http://www.nwreptileexpos.com/portla...o-reptile-expo.

H.E.R.P.S. - Houston Exotic Reptile and Pet Show: October 3-4 in Conroe, TX. Show details at www.herpshow.net and www.facebook.com/HERPShow.

NARBC: October 10-11 in Tinley Park, IL. Show details at www.narbc.com/Tinley/tinley_park.html.