🐢 We brake for herps 🐍 - May Newsletter (USARK)

[Bogertophis]

May Newsletter Spring is almost done, and summer is right around the corner. Keep an eye out on the road for crossing critters, double-check the pool filter, and install a floating ramp, too. In May, The Reptile Talks held their first symposium in Anaheim, California. Below are just a few of the 2024 speakers. We look forward to many more, and the speaker list for 2025 already looks incredible. Thank you to The Reptile Talks, speakers, and attendees for their USARK and herp community support. www.thereptiletalks.com Green tree pythons by Bill Stegall (Phoenix Reptiles) Dr. Scott Stahl of Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services Planted Vivarium by Zoo Med Philippe de Vosjoli Volunteers Needed The first LA Pet Fair (which is promoted by the same promoter as the Reptile Super Show) will take place June 29-30 in Pomona, CA. This event will fill three buildings at the Pomona Fairplex with herps, fish, and birds. Plus, there will be an outside area for succulents and other plants. It will be HUGE! USARK needs volunteers for this massive event. Just send an email to vanessa@usark.org if you can help. We need the most help on Saturday to help us prepare for the auction held Saturday night. We can also use some help on Sunday. Volunteers are greatly appreciated! Thank you to all who can help. Upcoming Shows and Volunteer Opportunities International Herpetological Symposium in Knoxville, TN: June 19-22 Summer Crocfest at Tampa Zoo: June 29 USARK Board Meeting in Pomona: June 27 LA Pet Fair-Reptile Super Show in Pomona: June 29-30 - Need Volunteers NARBC Schaumburg: July 13-14 Reptile Super Show in Anaheim, CA: July 27-28 Daytona NRBE: August 17-18 AFA Conference in Costa Mesa: Sept. 4-7 NARBC Dallas: Sept. 7-8 NARBC Tinley Park: October 12-13 NAIA Conference in Dallas: October 18-20 NARBC St. Louis: November 9-10 TTPG Conference: Nov. 20-22 Phoenix Reptile Expo: Nov. 23-24 ALERTS & UPDATES Louisiana Herp Regulation Overhaul and Ban (tabled but ongoing): https://usark.org/24_la/ Lacey Act Amendments in House Report: https://usark.org/23laceyhousereport/ Washington Animal Program Ban: BILL WAS STOPPED! Colorado Pet Tax on ALL Animals: BILL WAS STOPPED! Arizona Warrantless Animals Seizure: BILL WAS STOPPED! Florida Ban on ALL Iguana Species: BILL WAS STOPPED! USARK FL YouTube Check out our channel here In the News & Upcoming Events Here are some recent news articles that may be of interest: ASU researchers first to fully sequence Gila monster genome, thanks to crowd-funding campaign Freaky bugs and venomous snakes: Why you may see more copperheads during ‘cicada-geddon’ Habitat loss for venomous snakes could attract them to unprepared parts of the world amid climate change, study finds Teachers rescue & release snake in Commonwealth Secondary School that was being beaten by cleaner Collecting live snakes in remote Amazon regions for study is no easy task—here's how we do it Could python farming be the next big thing in sustainable livestock production?