USARK & Reptile Nation Save 5 of 9 species from FWS Constrictor Rule!

USARK & Reptile Nation Save 5 of 9 species from FWS Constrictor Rule!
This morning a joint press conference was held by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, Interior Dept Director, Ken Salazar; and US Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe at Everglades National Park (ENP) to make an Everglades conservation and preservation announcement. It was made public that a final rule would be enacted by FWS potentially restricting trade in 9 constricting snakes. Although there had been no word from FWS or White House oversight officials prior to the press conference, Andrew Wyatt CEO USARK, learned of a “rumor” on the “HILL” that there would be an announcement regarding the Constrictor Listing; a listing of 9 constricting snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. This is an action that could destroy $104 million per year in small business while potentially making more than 1 million Americans into Lacey Act felons. This action has now come to pass; albeit in a more limited fashion than was pushed by FWS and the powerful environmental and animal rights lobby.

As of now the Constrictor Rule, when enacted, will BAN the IMPORT and INTERSTATE TRANSPORT of the following 4 species: Burmese python, Northern African python, Southern African python and yellow anaconda.

USARK will be making further announcements regarding potential legal remedy to the flagrant disregard for “science”, due process, or information quality standards by FWS and the Obama Administration. This is a clear example of policy being based on staff preference combined with political considerations, rather than clear science and due process. The FWS failed at every level to make a solid case for justifying a Lacey Act listing. How the White House can justify this train wreck of a rule to pass is a mystery. In the opinion of USARK the actions of FWS are arbitrary, capricious and unlawful. That is not a charge that is unfamiliar to FWS. In 2010 FWS scientists were found guilty of falsifying information to manufacture science to support a rule on the Delta Smelt in the Central Valley of California. FWS was found guilty of being “arbitrary, capricious and unlawful" in their effort to add the controversial fish to the Endangered Species Act. USARK will pursue available legal remedy to this travesty of justice and blatant misuse of the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act was the wrong tool for the wrong reason.

They are going to ban burms, rocks and yellow condas?

What made them decide to drop retics and green condas?

Originally Posted by SPJ

They are going to ban burms, rocks and yellow condas?

What made them decide to drop retics and green condas?

i think this is a great question. how did they decide to drop greens but keep yellows. and why in the world is natalensis on the list i dont even know anyone who owns one. and i think they arnt being exported to begin with.

Originally Posted by USARK.Jonathan.Brady

As of now

USARK will be making further announcements regarding potential legal remedy

Would like to hear here about your proposed remedies to the constrictor rule.

i would like to know how 5 of the listed snakes were taken off and what will be the result of doing so. namely will it make it easier to fight the ban on the other 4 or will it make it harder to do so.

Originally Posted by USARK.Jonathan.Brady

USARK will be making further announcements regarding potential legal remedy

What remedy?
You can no longer sell these animals or even take them with you if you move to another state.
Is the government going to pay up for screwing over thousands of people?

Originally Posted by SPJ

What remedy?
You can no longer sell these animals or even take them with you if you move to another state.
Is the government going to pay up for screwing over thousands of people?

I would assume the next step is to challenge the law itself and try to get it struck down.

Please excuse any ignorance in this question but this ruling includes Royal/Ball Pythons in the North African Pythons, right?

Terri

Originally Posted by Terri Bienkowski

Please excuse any ignorance in this question but this ruling includes Royal/Ball Pythons in the North African Pythons, right?

Terri

No, just the northern and southern sub-species of the African Rock Python (Python sebae) -- not all pythons that originate in Africa, thank goodness!

Thanks for the clarification!

Terri