Laws against tarantulas as pets

[SkyeSpider]

A buddy of mine is trying to talk me into moving to Hawaii with him, but one thing is holding me back. Can I bring my tarantulas with me? I'm having trouble finding the information on this.

What states don't allow pets like these? Which ones require permits?

The confusing part is when I start to consider centipedes, scorpions, millipedes, and mantids!

-Bryan

 

[sunnymarcie]

Just took a shot at google.com
Start here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal.htm

Didn't read through it but its a place to start.

 

[Professor T]

A buddy of mine is trying to talk me into moving to Hawaii with him, but one thing is holding me back. Can I bring my tarantulas with me? I'm having trouble finding the information on this.

What states don't allow pets like these? Which ones require permits?

The confusing part is when I start to consider centipedes, scorpions, millipedes, and mantids!

-Bryan

Bryan,

Hawaii has strict regulations on tarantulas and other animals (worse than Florida):

Persons possessing illegal animals are subject to stiff penalties, including fines of up to $200,000 and up to three years in jail. Individuals with illegal pets are encouraged to voluntarily turn them in under the Amnesty Program. Anyone with information or knowledge of illegal animals in Hawaii is asked to call the department's PEST HOTLINE at 586-PEST(7378) or the Plant Quarantine Branch at 832-0566.

###

For more information, contact:

Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9560
E-mail: hdoa.info@hawaii.gov

 

[SkyeSpider]

For more information, contact:

Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9560
E-mail: hdoa.info@hawaii.gov

Thanks for the info! I just sent her an email

-Bryan

 

[manville]

I dont think any countries has stricter regulations about pets than Singapore.

 

[SkyeSpider]

Here's the reply I got:

Thank you for your e-mail to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Tarantulas are illegal to possess in Hawaii. *It is a Class C felony import an illegal animal into the State. *We hope that you will be able to find another interesting hobby should you make the move to Hawaii.

Aloha,

Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Guess I won't ever be moving there.

-Bryan

 

[Henry Kane]

What a drag Bryan. Well, you can always vacation there at least.
Thanks for sharing the info bro.

Lates.

Atrax

 

[xBurntBytheSunx]

why in the hell would they be illegal?

 

[Pixie]

Hawaii is VERY protective about their natural flora and fauna. One can't bring in any new species that could possibly populate the islands by human error or stupidity.

Considering the climate, it would be quite easy for escaped animals to reproduce in the wild. The thing they want to avoid at all costs.

Considering that in some U.S. states there are wild iguanas and Ts that have established wild populations, it's not a unwaranted fear.

It sucks for hobbyists but I do understand why they have set up the laws the way they are.

Pixie

P.S. The T example I am referring to are b. vagans that apparently can be found in Florida. Can't remember if it was on Discovery or Animal Planet, but I saw an interesting documentary about this species having been what they called a "problem" (eye of the beholder of course ). They were now common in orange groves to the point that the workers were quite scared of them. It was thought that this population was started from a few escapees out of personal collections that managed to establish themselves in the area. I don't know what the situation is now as they were aggressively treating the "problem" during the documentary.

 

[FryLock]

Italy is getting some law's just as bad this showed up on a other forum (cant link its member's only but im sure some here are singed up to it)

Too much problems here. Maybe you can help. The "terrible" Law that
deems spiders as "killers to humans" in Italy is going ahead ... a
list of species was made today, with a lot of tarantula genera
included on it.

Acanthoscurria
Haplopelma
Sericopelma
Poecilotheria
Harpactirella
Pamphobeteus
Aphonopelma
Brachypelma
Theraphosa

Can You help me? I'm trying to find some article (abstracts/books)
where tarantuas are described as not being killers of humans. We
both know they can be harmful, but the Committee that is studing
this is getting unreasonable ... they want to include the above
list as "deadly spider" to have a law passed that will prevent
them from being imported and kept in captivity for study, education
or otherwise.

Matteo Grotto (in sorrow)
http://www.aracnofilia.org/

 

[FryLock]

Just posted a follow up to this on a diff forum so im posting it here too so it answers some Q's off the bat so to speak.

Berlusconi is a real piece of work no doubt about that, however the Italian government committee that is looking in to this sound no better they cite the fact the there is little evidence of any big danger to human life from Theraphosid spiders as there own justification (i.e there nothing to say there NOT dangerous too!!) what arseholes!! lets hope they can get this thrown out in Italy it would be a big blow to keepers of exotics all over the EU as many countries look to others to model there own laws on if they decide to legislate on something and do not have laws covering something.

 

[FryLock]

Hawaii is VERY protective about their natural flora and fauna. One can't bring in any new species that could possibly populate the islands by human error or stupidity.

Considering the climate, it would be quite easy for escaped animals to reproduce in the wild. The thing they want to avoid at all costs.

Considering that in some U.S. states there are wild iguanas and Ts that have established wild populations, it's not a unwaranted fear.

It sucks for hobbyists but I do understand why they have set up the laws the way they are.

Pixie

P.S. The T example I am referring to are b. vagans that apparently can be found in Florida. Can't remember if it was on Discovery or Animal Planet, but I saw an interesting documentary about this species having been what they called a "problem" (eye of the beholder of course ). They were now common in orange groves to the point that the workers were quite scared of them. It was thought that this population was started from a few escapees out of personal collections that managed to establish themselves in the area. I don't know what the situation is now as they were aggressively treating the "problem" during the documentary.

Quite a lot of stuff as taken a hold in Hawaii day geckos and few cham's i believe but the FL B.vag's are not spreading (at least not at any speed) and are being used by AR nutters as bad press on keeping exotics correct me if im wrong on tho's two.

 

[Drosera123]

What kind of laws are there in Singapore? I don't see a problem with trades or sales to europe, but someone contacted me from Singapore wanting to buy soem roaches. I don't want to get in trouble or anything.
Steve

 

[Pixie]

Quite a lot of stuff as taken a hold in Hawaii day geckos and few cham's i believe but the FL B.vag's are not spreading (at least not at any speed) and are being used by AR nutters as bad press on keeping exotics correct me if im wrong on tho's two.

If some species have already taken hold in Hawaii, then you have your reason as to why they are so protective! Even with the laws it still happened... Can you really blame them for wanting to protect their distinct flora and fauna and to try and prevent it from being tainted by stupid humans?

Geez! We've already messed up enough parts of the world in this respect!!! One place is holding firm in stopping it on their turf (as much as possible) and we get all upset because we can't bring our spiders and herps, etc.

The introduction of new species can greatly affect the balance of their wildlife. Look at Australia.

Pixie

P.S. I am in no means a know-it-all on this subject but the LOGIC of it is rather simple!

 

[da_illest]

I dont think any countries has stricter regulations about pets than Singapore.

how's that? do they allow common house pets like dogs, birds, monkeys, camels and stuff like that?

 

[Brian S]

stay away from states like hawaii

I wouldn't live in a place that wouldn't let me keep my Ts and scorps. I hope that laws like that never get enacted in the continental US.

 

[Overmenneske]

The introduction of new species can greatly affect the balance of their wildlife. Look at Australia.

Yep, that is probably the best example. They are struggling with everything from cats to mice.

Does this mean there are no tarantula species native to Hawaii?

 

[T_DORKUS]

The introduction of new species can greatly affect the balance of their wildlife. Look at Australia.

Pixie

Another good example is the european carp- they're all over the US.

 

[Ultimate Instar]

IIRC, I believe that the Jackson's chameleons were established in Hawaii from legally imported specimens that were sold in pet stores back in the 60s. I really don't think that they're responsible for much ecologic damage although I heard some rumors that they were being blamed for eating a rare nocturnal snail. Of course, chameleons are strictly diurnal so they were NOT the culprits. However, it does bring up the odd question of possibly killing Jackson's chameleons in Hawaii while trying to save them in East Africa where they are an endangered species.

Karen N.

 

[ShaunHolder]

In all respects, we are not messing anything up really. Everything we do is part of how nature works. Things we do are considered unatural, but its not ture. Our intelligence is part of our nature, and our tampering part of it. Be it taking creatures out of one enviornment and putting them into another, or genetically altering sea monkeys.

I do agree that they have the right to outlaw T's to protect thier land. Still, I find it facinating when something like that happens. I say bring a truck load of them in and populate them there on purpose. I would just be interested in the results, not so much as doing it to rebel against haiwaii's laws.