ACTION ALERT: Our hobby is under attack! (Arachnids included)

lizardminion

lizardminion

Arachnolord
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
626
There's not one, but TWO political alerts threatening our hobby! The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking to ban ANY SPECIES (arachnids, ferrets, birds, reptiles, etc) from interstate transport (via Lacey Act) without due process through the NEPA; also, anti-pet groups are urging to have the other 5 large constrictors placed under the Lacey Act. Take action now!

USFWS Categorical Exclusion: **This threatens the entire animal hobby as a whole**
"In response to the USFWS proposal to allow a “Categorical Exclusion” from NEPA requirements. This rule would allow USFWS to add species as injurious (making importation, interstate commerce and interstate transportation illegal) without full due process afforded under the law."
ALERT: We have only be given until JULY 31ST to voice our opinion on this matter so ACT NOW!
-> Link ->

Remaining 5 Constrictors To Be Added As Injurous Under The Lacey Act
"Anti-pet groups are pushing to have the 5 remaining species of snakes (Boa constrictor, Reticulated python, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, Green anaconda and Beni anaconda) listed as injurious under the Lacey Act – in essence banning all importation and interstate commerce. The time to fight for your rights is now. A letter (at bottom of the page) is circulating from Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan asking the Secretary of the Interior to complete the rule and list the five remaining snake species."
-> Link ->

And please be sure to spread the word and share with others! (Including other forums who may not be aware...)
 
lizardminion

lizardminion

Arachnolord
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
626
Word on the street is that all amphibians may be added to the Lacey Act to prevent spread of the chytrid fungus.
 
Smokehound714

Smokehound714

Arachnoking
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Messages
3,091
That's not gonna stop them from being moved or introduced. If anything it's merely going to increase the cost, therefore also the profit.

Just like drugs being illegal, it will do nothing but send funds to the black market!
 
naychur

naychur

Arachnosquire
Joined
Mar 9, 2012
Messages
70
Sent our info in! Just had a BIG talk about it at our last herp club meeting. Urged EVERYONE to get involved. Once they are finished with the reptiles, I can see them going to Pit Bulls next! I just hope others care as well to STOP BIG GOVERNMENT!

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
 
lizardminion

lizardminion

Arachnolord
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
626
I think the first alert about adding any species to the ban list is similar to a law they tried to pass in 2009 that tried to put a ban on all pets unless they were approved. I suppose this is almost identical, except with the fact in sounds less extreme.
Do you think this thread could be moved into the Tarantula Chat section, (which gets higher traffic) seeing how invertebrates are included in the law?
 
pitbulllady

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
2,290
lizardminion said:
I think the first alert about adding any species to the ban list is similar to a law they tried to pass in 2009 that tried to put a ban on all pets unless they were approved. I suppose this is almost identical, except with the fact in sounds less extreme.
Do you think this thread could be moved into the Tarantula Chat section, (which gets higher traffic) seeing how invertebrates are included in the law?
Click to expand...
Actually, this is MORE extreme, because it completely circumvents the law-making process, bypassing Congress and the Senate, i.e., elected officials, altogether. This means that the US Fish and Wildlife Service can add ANY species of plant or animals that they deem "invasive", at any time, to the Lacy Act, banning interstate trade/transport and importation of those species. What they are also trying to do is to bypass NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires that before any Federal rule or legislation can be passed involving plants, animals or other environmental aspects, careful non-biased studies must be conducted and peer-reviewed to determine if any such action is necessary and whether the potentially negative economic impact of this action would outweigh the environmental benefits. NEPA is the reason why no more than the four species of constrictor snakes were added to the Lacy Act thus far; it was determined that adding all of the large constrictor species would have both a detrimental impact on the US economy and was not justified in terms of those particular species establishing viable breeding populations anywhere in the US, so there was no legitimate environmental risk. Indeed, the only species that HAS been proven as an environmental risk was the Burmese Python, and ONLY in extreme southern Florida, and the ONLY documentation that the USFWS used to justify adding that and three other species to the Lacy Act was the severely-flawed Rodda report, which has been roundly criticized throughout the scientific community. By disregarding NEPA, that means that there will not be any need to conduct a study to determine if action is needed or not, or whether there will be a negative impact on the economy, and basically means that any Federal agency can create any rule that they wish, and it automatically becomes the law of the land. They are not accountable to the voters or anyone else. They will have free reign to do whatever they please.

pitbulllady
 
E

Entomancer

Arachnobaron
Joined
Oct 29, 2010
Messages
351
I wouldn't be surprised if Chytridiomycosis is actually spread mostly by people at this point, not the actual amphibians. All it needs is a film of moisture to ferry the zoospores around, such as a wet boat propeller, muddy boots, or even the condensation on a soft drink can.

Can I still do something, or was the deadline a total cutoff point?

EDIT: According to the USARK page, the deadline was extended to the end of September (9/30).

I'm spreading this as far and wide as I can.

EDIT 2: Does this law include fish, then? I bet the folks at monsterfishkeepers would riot if they heard about this.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
pitbulllady

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
2,290
Entomancer said:
I wouldn't be surprised if Chytridiomycosis is actually spread mostly by people at this point, not the actual amphibians. All it needs is a film of moisture to ferry the zoospores around, such as a wet boat propeller, muddy boots, or even the condensation on a soft drink can.

Can I still do something, or was the deadline a total cutoff point?

EDIT: According to the USARK page, the deadline was extended to the end of September (9/30).

I'm spreading this as far and wide as I can.

EDIT 2: Does this law include fish, then? I bet the folks at monsterfishkeepers would riot if they heard about this.
Click to expand...
The Lacy Act can be extended to ANY organism, plant or animal, that is not native to the US. At this time, the USFWS must prove that there is a legitimate risk to the environment, agriculture, or human safety and that this risk considerably outweighs the economic benefits of continuing trade in those species. They are trying to bypass NEPA, which requires that substantial proof exist that there is a valid and widespread negative environmental, agricultural and/or public safety hazard from the species in question, AND that the economic impact of banning interstate trade and/or importation of this species will be minimal. NEPA is the clencher, the reason why some species of snakes were added to the Lacy Act, but not all of the ones that USFW, HSUS, and other anti-animal ownership group wanted on there. The negative impact to the US economy could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars removed from the economy and the loss of countless jobs. Think of what would happen if Ball Pythons and Reticulated Pythons and Boa Constrictors were added to the Lacy Act, and it became illegal overnight to sell, ship, or otherwise transport them across state lines or bring any new bloodlines into the country. Think of how many millions of animals, some now valued at $10,000.00 each, would become worthless, all the money that those breeders have invested in them, just gone down the drain. Not only that, but think of the number of companies that have evolved primarily to meet the needs of breeders of constrictor snakes, companies like ZooMed and the many rodent suppliers, and the promoters of reptile shows across the country. All of those companies would go under, but if the USFWS has their way, that won't matter. They aren't going to stop with constrictor snakes, not if they succeed with that. Amphibians are next on the "chopping block", along with turtles and tortoises, and the Bearded Dragon/iguana/gecko/tegu/monitor folks better watch out, too. Once they succeed in adding species without due process, without proof of a valid need and minimal economic impact, anything goes. It's not just animals, either; plants can be added just as easily.

pitbulllady
 
The Snark

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,498
The Lacy is extremist reactionism. Opposition to the Lacy has headed towards extremist reactionism. Why in heck does science and calm logical analysis always take a back seat to these issues in this country? Same for gun laws. Same for death penalty disputes. Same for abortion and on and on ad infinitum ad nauseum.
 
lizardminion

lizardminion

Arachnolord
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
626
I also urge everyone to make and sign petitions at your local and large pet expos. This is going to be some ugly years ahead of us, and now our hobby will be under more scrutiny than ever!
 
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