NEW Digital Membership Cards
Thank you to all of our members! Soon, you will receive emails with your digital membership cards. Just click a button to download them to your digital wallet. It's that easy!
We will be working on ways to bring our members perks and benefits. Breeders and businesses can feel free to offer their own perks to USARK members. Thank you for your support!
Colorado Herp Rule Review
UPDATE 10/7/25: On tonight's webinar, CPW provided likely steps moving forward, including creating a section in regulation specifically for native herps. No formal proposals have been posted, but CPW discussed some drafted frameworks regarding future regulations. We may see a formal proposal in January 2026, with the fastest timeline being an effective date of May 2026.
To provide comments, submit through the form by November 6, 2025: https://engagecpw.org/reptile-amphibian-regulations/surveys/reptile-amphibian-regulations-feedback-form
Posted 8/22/25: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is reviewing its herp regulations and will likely create a section/chapter dedicated to herps (reptiles and amphibians). CPW will begin a public input process this year and hopes to present some of that feedback to the Commission early next year. This information comes from today’s (8/22/25) Commission meeting. We will post updates as they become available.CPW Staff did present three potential approaches to future regulations, but no formal proposal has been submitted.
Full details at https://usark.org/25co2/.
ALERT UPDATE: Borneo Earless Monitor ESA Listing
Posted August 13: On August 14, 2025, FWS will open a comment period on the proposed rule to list the Borneo earless monitor ( Lanthanotus borneensis) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Previous comments need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. The comment deadline is October 14, 2025.
Full details at https://usark.org/25esa2/.
Wisconsin Herp Rule Review
UPDATE 10/2/25: Today’s hearing was just to state that DNR will be reviewing and possibly amending the state’s herp rules. There remains no public or formal proposal for changes. The scope will focus on Wisconsin native herps and possibly invasive species. We will keep you updated as this moves through the rulemaking process.
Posted 7/16/25: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is initiating a comprehensive review of all herp regulations in an “effort to clarify and update existing regulations to better inform the public, law enforcement, and department staff regarding allowable activities, improve enforceability, and implement current management goals.” There may be additional rule changes reasonably related to what was mentioned prior.
Read more at https://usark.org/25wi/.
ALERT: Lincoln County, NC
UPDATE 9/8/25: The Commissioners reported that the “exotic animal” section was pulled from the agenda because work continues on that proposal (presumably due to opposition to the previous draft). Only the other amendments were introduced tonight (see link below), and those will have a vote on September 15. The current exotic animal ordinance remains in place.
UPDATE 9/2/25: The draft has been released, and a meeting has been set for Monday, September 8. The new proposal bans ferrets, most aquarium fish, sugar gliders, Rock iguanas, and more. It has no grandfather provision for currently owned pets, and many species are in limbo as they are listed as neither allowed nor banned.
Full details at https://usark.org/25nc/.
ALERT UPDATE: Blue Tree Monitor ESA Listing Get full details at https://usark.org/25esa1/. The emergency rule ended on August 25, 2025. Breeders can currently ship blue tree monitors. We will notify our members of changes or when the final rule is posted by FWS.
ALERT: Southern Hognose ESA Listing Posted 8/28/25: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). FWS has found that the southern hognose faces serious threats from habitat loss and degradation as a result of land conversion and fragmentation causing loss of connectivity between populations, road mortality, invasive species (red ants, feral hogs, and cogongrass), and climate change. A 60-day comment period begins on August 29, 2025.
Full details at https://usark.org/25esa3/.
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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