Please take the time to educate yourself about about this very real threat to the reptile hobby and consider contacting your State Senator.
Hey friends, so, I'm not generally one to send you off to email senators in a tizzy. But if you are at all interested in exotic pets, this is a *pretty big* potential threat to the community that is getting absolutely no coverage right now.
The amendments to the Lacey Act would, essentially, make it illegal to transport *any* exotic pet across state lines for any reason- including if they are a pet and you are moving. An unspecified "white list" will exist, rather than any kind of "black list" ( a black list would absolutely make sense. Many exotic animals should be regulated better, especially particularly dangerous or invasive ones.) A whitelist however would effect so so so many more species, with no evidence that this would actually achieve the stated goal of the act at all (to limit the spread of potentially invasive species.)
I honestly have no idea how this would impact *zoos* and animal rehabilitation centers, but as it is worded right now, it could crumble the reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate owner communities. (Also AQUARIUMS. This applies to FISH too.)
Again, I'm a strong advocate for better regulation in the exotic pet hobby. Randos shouldn't be keeping tigers and king cobras and crocodiles in their backyards. Proven invasive species, like green iguanas and lion fish, need to be better regulated. Wild caught imports should be curbed as much as possible. But this kind of slap-dash ban is going to impact a lot of people and a lot of animals for no benefit.
So.
Ya know.
If that's something you are passionate about. Email or call a senator.
Please enjoy a very cute Horchata. Thank you.
You can also find a sample letter to email to your senators here.
This is bad news for zoos and aquariums as well. All of the butterflies at the facility I work at are imported, as are some coral species that we are actively propagating. This could have huge repurcussions for any sort of conservation organization
