Kiss your hobby goodbye!!!! USFW Proposed ban!!!!

[slither9192]

Regarding this proposed ban, it states importation into USA and transportation interstate. Wouldn't this allow for breeders to breed their current animals and sell within their own state? In other words, wouldn't owners technically still be allowed to legally purchase and/or keep these animals - provided that they were not imported into the US and/or transported between states?

Yes but there would be so little buyers in one state the breeders wouldn't be making any money.

[Kerig3]

If you haven't done so already, please read this article:

PIJAC Interviews USFWS
Seeks to clarify notice of inquiry on constrictor snakes.

Maybe this will clear up some confusion as to what this is all about.

[West Coast Jungle]

If you haven't done so already, please read this article:

PIJAC Interviews USFWS
Seeks to clarify notice of inquiry on constrictor snakes.

Maybe this will clear up some confusion as to what this is all about.

Very imformative link. From what that article says they are trying to educate themselves what species may be a long term enviromental threat. In my opinion south Florida and Hawaii(where snakes are illegal any way) are the only places in the US tropical enough where most of the boa and python species could
survive in the wild and have a chance of establishing themselves long term. Florida has already adjusted laws to try to curb the problem in the everglades and that is a very localized enviromental issue.

The fact that they are also interested in economic info sounds like uncle Sam feels he might not be getting his share of an industry no one was paying to much attention to.

At least thats what I got out of the article.

[bait4snake]

What I find "interesting" is that the American Alligator can go from their low numbers to over 1 million and that's a good thing, but a couple hundred Burmese pythons can be let go in the Everglades and suddenly they're disrupting the balance of nature!

If there was a 20ft python naturally in the Everglades and their numbers were in the hundreds, it would be put on a critically endangered species list for fears of its extinction! And environutjobs would blame humans for it. Yet for some reason just because these pythons weren't naturally put there, they're going to overpopulate and kill off native species. HUH?????

Don't you think the over 1 million alligators are eating more of those native species than a couple hundred "critically endangered" pythons?

Just helping us all think out of the box a little.

[Albey]

PIJAC Recommendations on the Ban.

I posted this in it's own separate thread but thought it could of use here also.

As a PIJAC member I just got an email notice from them on the FWS Large Constrictor Ban. Following is their recommendation on responding to it.

Recommended Action.
We ask that you withhold submitting your comments until close to the April 30 deadline in order to allow PIJAC time to provide you with guidance and information that will help you prepare effective comments. PIJAC is currently engaging in meetings with the FWS and gathering information to assist you on this issue. Again, please note, that this is not a proposed rulemaking notice – it is only a notice to gather information, especially biological, on these particular snakes.
PIJAC is also undertaking an extensive literature search of peer-reviewed articles, lay magazines, and books to gather relevant information to respond to the questions raised by the FWS. Anyone who has copies of articles or other pertinent information on the biology of any of the species should send them to PIJAC at info@pijac.org AND to PIJAC’s Senior Science and Policy Advisor, Dr. Jamie K. Reaser pijacscience@nelsoncable.com. Dr. Reaser is compiling a database which PIJAC will use to develop a formal science-based response on behalf of the industry and hobbyists, as well as to provide guidance for people to use in crafting their comments.
Thirdly, PIJAC is conducting a survey of concerned members of the herpetoculture community and the industry to collect data to answer the questions posed by the FWS regarding numbers of breeders, animals sold, economic questions, etc. This information will be consolidated and presented as data summaries without identifying individuals supplying the information. The FWS is very aware of the concerns of many people about revealing their identity. If you are interested in providing herpetoculture data to PIJAC, please contact PIJAC at info@pijac.org.
All proprietary data (i.e. contributors’ identity, numbers of animals, financial data) will be treated as confidential information and will only be seen by PIJAC staff.
We urge you to review this notice carefully and consider the implications that could come as a result of listing any of these snakes as injurious wildlife. If you have further questions concerning this matter, please contact PIJAC’s Marshall Meyers by phone at 202-452-1525 or by email at mmeyers@pijac.org. Those who are not members of PIJAC and desire further information about membership may phone Nancy Knutson at 1-800-553-PETS (7387) or visit the PIJAC website at www.pijac.org.
Where to send your comments:
FWS will be receiving comments and other information on this issue until April 30, 2008. You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: RIN 1018-AV68,
Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203; or • Website: www.regulations.gov (Follow instructions for submitting comments. In the “comments or submissions” box type in keyword: “injurious wildlife”. This should take you to the comment page.). FWS will not accept e-mail or faxes, and will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov.
This generally means that FWS will post any personal information you provide. For further information contact Erin Williams, Branch of Invasive Species at (703) 358-2034 or erin_williams@fws.gov.

I hope this helps,

[icygirl]

Something smells fishy to me here. Does FWS normally go looking for scientific data from the public? Or public comment for that matter? Why wouldn't they gather data themselves?

It seems altogether too *nice* to me. Whenever a government organization does something rational, like ask the public for information and opinions before they make a rash decision, I hesitate to trust it.

I mean, they're the FWS! Shouldn't they KNOW in the first place that a ban on trade of all species of Python/Boa/Eunectes is just ridiculous? I'm sure they've heard of ball pythons and RTB's as they are in just about every pet store that sells reptiles, and in the vast majority of cases are harmless. And, wouldn't they know the obvious fact that in nearly every state except Florida, these snakes can't survive in the wild for long and thus pose no threat to the wildlife?

OK, so some of you are saying, "It's obvious to YOU, but not obvious to non-herpers." But think about it: The Fish And Wildlife Service. They MUST have at least one semi-knowledgable animal biologist employed under them who'd be aware of this stuff!!!!!!

Furthermore... if this all started around burms in Florida, why does it make any sense to extend one small problem in one state to an entire country? This should all be basic knowledge to the folks at the FWS, which makes me believe there is something involved behind the scenes.....

What's everyone think?

[mwedgley]

I completely agree. It has been my thought the whole time. It feels to me like they want us to feel they are being fair so when it comes down to taking them away they can say do to the facts gathered from us. I don't plus if you read the interview with them and pijac it didn't sound very good either. Pijac didn't ask the questions that matter and the ones that were answered were vague. I don't want to give up any of our rights to own or transport any species that are already common trade.