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03-13-2014, 11:41 PM

March 13, 2014
WV DNR Reacts to Exotic Animal Measure

by Whitney Burdette
Daily Mail staff

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A bill that has yet to be signed into law has already affected at least one wildlife education program.

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Master Naturalist program officials are concerned about House Bill 4393, which creates the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.

The bill creates a three-person board to designate what animals are wild.

People who already have the animals would be grandfathered in, but anyone buying new ones would be subject to licenses and fees.

Also, the animals can't be handled by anyone any person besides the owner, which means students in Larry Cartmill's reptiles and amphibians class won't be able get up close and personal with exotic and native snakes.

"Larry is one of those gifted teachers who is passionate and inspirational about his subject," said Jim Waggy with the Master Naturalist program. "By bringing live snakes and turtles into his Master Naturalist presentations, as well as when he speaks to other groups, he is able to spark interest and excitement in a way PowerPoint presentations just can't do."

Cartmill, a university professor who has taught in public schools, has given hundreds or thousands of snakes and reptile lectures over the years.

"I work with school groups and scouts and whitewater guides, anybody who wants a lecture on snake bites, snake species or anything with kids," Cartmill said. "That's what I've done for 40 years."

But now he has to get rid of some of his snakes.

His collection includes king snake and ball python species. Those snakes, however, are small and won't get longer than 6 feet — the size limit established by the new law.

Although the snakes are under the legal limit, Cartmill can't afford to keep them.

"I have to take out, and I've seen two figures, $100,000 or $300,000 of liability insurance," Cartmill said. "I can't afford that. That's $1,000 a month. I can't afford that."

If Cartmill keeps his snakes, he would have to get permits for each of them. He said that's hard to do in because people often breed or sell their snakes.

Cartmill argues exotic snakes — large pythons, king cobras — couldn't live in West Virginia's climate anyway. And, he said, they're not dangerous.

He said there have only been six snakebite deaths in the state since 1900, all of which happened in church.

Religious snakehandlers are exempt from the new law.

"No one has ever been killed by a boa constrictor," Cartmill said. "They don't get that big or mean. That's the favorite snake of every kid who wants to buy a pet snake. Some kids have allergies to cats or dogs so mom buys them a snake."

Coordinators of the Master Naturalist program tried to get university scientists involved while lawmakers were crafting the bill.

They argue the bill's language was unclear and affects many more people and animals than lawmakers realize.

"If legislators had accepted the offer of university professionals and experienced experts like Larry to address this legislation, then the language could have been precise enough to address the narrow, rare problem without having this draconian impact on so many people for no good reason," Waggy said.

Cartmill said he's not opposed to a permitting system for large exotic animals like big cats. But he doesn't see a reason to criminalize snake owners.

The Legislature passed the bill last week. It's now awaiting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's signature or veto.

"I hope the governor vetoes (the bill) and then I would be very willing to work with any legislator that would want to work on a bill for next year that was not as vague and that was written with a little more common sense. I'm not totally opposed to a permit system or some restriction," Cartmill said.

"But my primary interest is in reptiles," he said. "I'm not a lion person or a bear person and I'm not speaking for them. I'm speaking for the reptile community. I don't see a reason for all the little boys I know out there with a pet boa to have to give up their pet."

Cartmill estimates about 30,000 West Virginians own reptiles. He said he's in the process of finding new places for some of his snakes that are restricted by the bill.

"I will have to find a home for them," Cartmill said. "If this goes into law, I can't abide by the restrictions on that. I'll have to get rid of them.

"It's a blow to education," he added. "It really is."

03-13-2014, 11:41 PM	#26
bcr229	WV DNR Reacts to Exotic Animal Measure March 13, 2014 WV DNR Reacts to Exotic Animal Measure by Whitney Burdette Daily Mail staff CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A bill that has yet to be signed into law has already affected at least one wildlife education program. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Master Naturalist program officials are concerned about House Bill 4393, which creates the Dangerous Wild Animals Act. The bill creates a three-person board to designate what animals are wild. People who already have the animals would be grandfathered in, but anyone buying new ones would be subject to licenses and fees. Also, the animals can't be handled by anyone any person besides the owner, which means students in Larry Cartmill's reptiles and amphibians class won't be able get up close and personal with exotic and native snakes. "Larry is one of those gifted teachers who is passionate and inspirational about his subject," said Jim Waggy with the Master Naturalist program. "By bringing live snakes and turtles into his Master Naturalist presentations, as well as when he speaks to other groups, he is able to spark interest and excitement in a way PowerPoint presentations just can't do." Cartmill, a university professor who has taught in public schools, has given hundreds or thousands of snakes and reptile lectures over the years. "I work with school groups and scouts and whitewater guides, anybody who wants a lecture on snake bites, snake species or anything with kids," Cartmill said. "That's what I've done for 40 years." But now he has to get rid of some of his snakes. His collection includes king snake and ball python species. Those snakes, however, are small and won't get longer than 6 feet — the size limit established by the new law. Although the snakes are under the legal limit, Cartmill can't afford to keep them. "I have to take out, and I've seen two figures, $100,000 or $300,000 of liability insurance," Cartmill said. "I can't afford that. That's $1,000 a month. I can't afford that." If Cartmill keeps his snakes, he would have to get permits for each of them. He said that's hard to do in because people often breed or sell their snakes. Cartmill argues exotic snakes — large pythons, king cobras — couldn't live in West Virginia's climate anyway. And, he said, they're not dangerous. He said there have only been six snakebite deaths in the state since 1900, all of which happened in church. Religious snakehandlers are exempt from the new law. "No one has ever been killed by a boa constrictor," Cartmill said. "They don't get that big or mean. That's the favorite snake of every kid who wants to buy a pet snake. Some kids have allergies to cats or dogs so mom buys them a snake." Coordinators of the Master Naturalist program tried to get university scientists involved while lawmakers were crafting the bill. They argue the bill's language was unclear and affects many more people and animals than lawmakers realize. "If legislators had accepted the offer of university professionals and experienced experts like Larry to address this legislation, then the language could have been precise enough to address the narrow, rare problem without having this draconian impact on so many people for no good reason," Waggy said. Cartmill said he's not opposed to a permitting system for large exotic animals like big cats. But he doesn't see a reason to criminalize snake owners. The Legislature passed the bill last week. It's now awaiting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's signature or veto. "I hope the governor vetoes (the bill) and then I would be very willing to work with any legislator that would want to work on a bill for next year that was not as vague and that was written with a little more common sense. I'm not totally opposed to a permit system or some restriction," Cartmill said. "But my primary interest is in reptiles," he said. "I'm not a lion person or a bear person and I'm not speaking for them. I'm speaking for the reptile community. I don't see a reason for all the little boys I know out there with a pet boa to have to give up their pet." Cartmill estimates about 30,000 West Virginians own reptiles. He said he's in the process of finding new places for some of his snakes that are restricted by the bill. "I will have to find a home for them," Cartmill said. "If this goes into law, I can't abide by the restrictions on that. I'll have to get rid of them. "It's a blow to education," he added. "It really is."