Wisconsin is banning exotics-all of them!

Wisconsin HAS PASSED a law with the eventual power to ban pretty much anything it feels like. (Bill titled SB307) We realy have to stand up to this. Its on the Wisconsin Gov's desk and he could write it into law there. This could set the precedent for other states. It would be one heck of a battle won for the animal rights orgs too.

Also, there is a similar battle going on in Europe with their Humane Society that mirrors our own.

Seems to me, that the whole mess stirred up by the HSUS with their report has died down. Alot of whinning took place and now everybody appears to have settled down. I saw very little reaction in the KS Law forum to the news of Wisconsin and Europe. WAKE UP PEOPLE! The bannings are not over! The war has hardly begun! Lets not lay down and die huh?

I live in Sheboygan, WI and I love all of my herps. If they ban herps I am keeping mine. They'll never know. Anyway, I'm a minor so I wouldn't be in as much trouble. This is getting annoying though! All sorts of places are passing laws and banning reptiles! They will never reilize that reptiles aren't bad unless they own one for themselves.

I think we nedd more info on this bill waiting to be signed so we can be more educated and respond intelligently to what is going on.  I agree with the above post saying we should not just lay down and die !!!  I live and work in Florida and even though it is not in the same state I think its important to try and do anything we can to not let this pass and become a law.



Gary Walsch
Sunshine State Reptiles

The wisconsin bill has been around for several years in one form or another.  every time it came up for vote, some group (birders, or fish hobbiests) seemed to band together to get it voted down.  Some legislator would then rehash it, take out the offending (to the group responsible for getting it shot down) lingo and try to push it through again.  Apparently its gotten through to the Governor this time and awaiting his signature.  the problem is,  you can ask 10 different people what the bill entails and you will get 10 different answers so know one really knows the best way to go about organizing against this.  Opinions seem to range from "gee, Scott McAllum is signing this all encompassing ban into law tomorrow" to "it really doesn't mean much and we have plenty of time"

If you want ot talk Wisconsin fiasco, it appears that the city of racine is trying to selectively enforce a ban that has been on the books since the early 70's that appears to ban all exotics.  Right now they are limiting it to reptiles however (hence the selective enforcment)

Steve Schindler

I have read through SB 307 and have made a few comments regarding it on KS.com herp law forum.  I really don't want to repeat what I said there as I didn't copy it and it was rather long.

Short version, the law does not ban any exotics (at least most that would be considered appropriate pets) at the outset, but it does appear to give the DNR the power to enact rules (that apparently would require no debate) at a later date banning or requiring licensure of just about anything that they can make fit under any of their 3 very vague guidelines.

Steve Schindler

This bill was signed on 4/3/02 by the governor. I think there is much more to this bill than is seen on the surface. It appears from my discussion with members of the legislature that some of the things that were added to teh original bill were at the request of the HSUS. That in it self should be enough to cause concern.