Cold Blooded Chronicles
The newsletter of kingsnake.com
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From the Editor:
Howdy!
This has been a rough year for us herpers. Fresh on the heels of the Texas change in laws, Florida has enacted some rough ownership and sale laws in regards to invasive species. Now the US Fish and Wildlife is looking for feedback on the possible impact adding species of the Python, Boa and Eunectes to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act. What this would basically do is end the import of these animals but also end any interstate travel of these animals. This includes sale and purchases. This would be crippling to our industry as we know it.
If you haven't yet taken the time to read through the information we have gathered, you can find some basics here:
http://www.pethobbyist.com/sitenews/index.php?/archives/202-Feds-Move-To-Ban-Pythons-Boas.html
Our Herp Law forum is also hopping with activity these days and you can take the time to visit it:
http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=13
Around the same time the Inquiry was quietly announced, the United States Geological Survey released a report that sent ripples through the country. This report had people thinking of snakes on a plain, the desert, the mountains and more. This report basically predicted that many of the larger species of snakes would infiltrate middle America. And furthermore that they would be capable of traverse our great land from the Florida Everglades to the California deserts. This mildly dubious map and the report can be found here:
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1875
Dave Barker published a response to this report in the Chicago Herpetological Society's March Bulletin and can be found here:
http://www.vpi.com/sites/vpi.com/files/Tympanum.pdf
So why is all this important to you? This is our hobby and there is a good chance it can be taken away. The ban of sales of some of the most common species, Ball Pythons included, could easily cripple our industry. It will not only impact the breeders of these species but also the cage and supply businesses will lose income as well as the feeder supply companies.
So what can you do?
How to take action here:
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1509844,1509844
Read Kingsnake.com's response to the inquiry here:
http://kingsnake.com/USFWSBoaPythonResponse.pdf
When you respond, keep these tips in mind:
-- Take the time to formulate a polite letter.
-- Take the extra time to run it through a spell check.
-- Keep your comments polite. Name calling to either the inquiry or the agencies involved does nothing to project your stance.
-- Address any state laws currently in effect in regards to these species or interstate trade of animals.
I realize this is probably the longest letter from the editor ever written in the history of the Cold Blooded Chronicles, but this appeals to each and every herper. From those owning one reptile pet to the large scale breeders. Everyone's response is needed. This could cripple the industry as we know it and change all the rules without everyone's support.
If you have already submitted your comments, thank you! Our industry needs to band together to prevent this from happening.
Cindy Steinle
Editor, Cold Blooded Chronicles
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