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

[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.

[surf4life]

i had ball pythons ever since i was 10 years old..this is bull

[Colin Vestrand]

i've felt the same way... i think they're opening this to public comment strictly so they can gain more info on the demographics and types of people most directly affected by the ban. clearly they dont care what we think... they care about taking swift and decisive action and about abusing their democratically gained powers to the fullest extent possible.

[Colin Vestrand]

let me also say that i visited the everglades last year and florida has much much much bigger problems that a few burms... how about pollutants, drout, and the draining of their natural wetlands for irrigation and human consumption??? there is no everglades. i went in the spring and it was a big field basically. not a whole lot of fresh water there.

[icygirl]

Another thing. Realistically, BP owners need NOT worry about the interstate trade of BP's... simply because of their role in the pet industry. Think about how many BP's are sold by Petco and Petsmart each year... and those all come from out of state for most stores. Now think about how many Petcos and Petsmarts there are in America. That's a lot of snakes and a lot of business. (And, mind you, Petco sells baby normals for $80.)

It's the non-mainstream snakes that matter. They probably expect lots of owners to say, "Oh , well don't ban ALL of them, just ban the big ones like burms and condas." Then they can just go ahead and do it, saying they had public approval...

The whole thing is just scary. In my state, you need to have a permit for owning large snakes like retics and condas (not burms as far as I know, but could be wrong). If there's a burm problem in FL, that PARTICULAR state should consider a permit system, instead of a ban of ALL trade of these animals.

All of this just rubs me the wrong way!!

[Jake_Snake]

And I just recently decided to become a breeder! Looks like I'd better wait and see how this things plays out before buying that expensive piebald. I'll definately send a letter. The main reason I'm against this proposal is a simple matter of rights, but I'll cite economic reasons in the letter.

[BMorrison]

Keep in mind this is a consensus and not a bill and most people who aren't into snakes as a hobby are not even going to hear about this so it gives us a pretty good chance of keeping our hobby safe. Just my opinion.

[cgrinter]

I think the FWS has some ground here, and I don't necessarily think they are gearing this just to giant snakes. Just think of what the brown tree snake did to Guam...and the pythons in the everglades are becoming more and more of a problem. There are breeding populations that are rapidly growing and are increasingly making their impact known to native wildlife (as if there weren't enough problems in the first place).

I do agree that this sounds rather suspicious...their proposal only makes me think they are more inept at their job than previously thought. Anyone new to the hobby can find out this information in a week, yet the FWS has to undergo a massive effort to gather data as if it were hard to find. Basically they lack anyone educated enough or intelligent enough to handle this without bureaucracy and BS. After all they have to prove their jobs are worthy. God forbid they tackle real problems like our sieve quality port security. If they knock off some easy problems and make life hard for normal law abiding US citizens then they can prove they are doing their jobs.

I work for a major US institution...and because of this they play by the laws 100%. Every time some small problem occurs on the paperwork, or someone sends an unsolicited protected species in, or a mistake is made...it's reported. And all hell breaks loose from the FWS because they can crack down on us and make it look like they are there for a reason, to prevent the evil museum's from doing honest scientific research. They are busy slapping fines and watching over our shoulders while Mr. Smith down the street imports 1000 Amazon parrots illegally every week.