WV Exotic Animal Ban

[WingedSweetheart]

I'm posting this everywhere that I don't already see this posted. It's insane!

Draft of banned animals:

Class Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order Gymnophonia (Caecilians)
All species
Order Caudata
All species (native species which are covered by Chapter 20)
Order Anura (Frogs and Toads)
Famiy Pipidae (African clawed frogs)
All species
Family Hylidae (tree frogs)
All species (Native species are covered by Chapter 20.)
Family Bufonidae (cane toads)
All species (Native species are covered by Chapter 20.)
Justification
The listed amphibians present threat of disease introduction
(chytridiomycosis, ranavirus) and/or possess invasive characteristics.
Some animals also secrete toxins harmful to humans.
Class Aves (Birds)
Monk or Quaker parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
Cuckoo (Family Cuculidae)
Sky lark (Alauda arvensis)
Fruit thrushes or bulbuls (Family Pycnonotidae)
Red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
European blackbird (Turdus merula)
Mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorous)
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Song thrush (Turdus philomena)
White eyes (Genus Zosterops)
Weaver birds (Genus Ploceus)
Madagascar weaver (Foudia madagascariensis)
Weaver finches (Genus Passer)
Dioch or Red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea)
Cowbirds except native species (Genus Molothrus)
Blackbirds except native species (Genus Quiscalus)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citronella)
Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora/Lonchura oryzivora)
Spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Starlings (Family Sturnidae)
Pink starling (Sturnus roseus)
Justification
These are social species that easily adapt to new environments and
become nuisances by developing large populations, outcompeting native
species, and causing agricultural damage.
Class Reptilia (Reptiles)
Order Tuatara (Rhyncocephala)
All species
Order Crocodilia (Crocodiles, caimans, gharials)
All species
Order Testudines (Turtles)
All species (Native species are covered by Chapter 20.)
*Refer to Title 21 CFR 1240.62 (Public Health Services Act) for carapace size restrictions
Justification
Turtles are restricted because they present the threat of disease to
humans and introducing disease in to the natural environment and for the
welfare of the animals.
Order Squamata (snakes and lizards)
Family Varanidae (monitors)
Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)
Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
Family Elapidae (Cobras, mambas, sea snakes,etc.)
All species
Family Viperidae
All species except timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)and copperhead (Agkistron contortix) which are covered by Chapter 20.
Family Colubridae
Genus Rhabdophis (keelback snakes)
All species
Genus Boiga (cat snakes)
All species
Genus Thelotornis (twig snakes)
Genus Dispholidus (boomslang)
Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)
Family Atractispididae (mole vipers)
All species
Family Boidae
Genus Eunectes (anacondas)
All species
Genus Python (Pythons)
Burmese (Indian) python (Python molurus)
North African Rock python (Python sebae)
South African Rock python (Python natalensis)
Reticulated python (Broghammerus reticulatus) P. reticulatus
Genus Morelia
Amethystine python (Morelia amethystine)
Justification
These snakes possess venom and/or extreme size and strength and present a threat to humans and pets.
Class Malacostraca (Crayfish)
Order Decapoda
Family Cambaridae
Genus Orconectes
Virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis)
Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
Genus Procambarus
Red lobster, Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)
Justification
Virile and Rusty crayfish are highly invasive and currently established
in West Virginia. Red swamp crayfish are very highly invasive and
established in NW Ohio and the C&O canal but not yet in WV. All
species are sold to schools through biological supply companies.
Class Gastropoda (Snails)
Family Viviparidae
Genus Bellamya
Chinese Mystery Snail (Bellamya (Cipangopaludina) chinensis)
Family Spiraxidae
Genus Euglandina
Rosy wolf snail (Euglandina rosea)
Family Achatinidae
Genus Achatina
Giant African land snail (Achatina fulica)
Gian African land snail (Achatina achatina)
Genus Archachatina
African Giant Snail (Archachatina marginata)
Family Hydrobiidae
Genus Potamopyrgus
New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)
Family Bithyniidae
Genus Bithynia
Faucet snail (Bithynia tentaculata)
Justification
These snails are introduced through pet stores, biological supply
companies, and in ship ballast. They present health risks to humans,
threaten wildlife habitat, and potentially threaten aquatic life.
Class Bivalvia (Bivalves)
Order Veneroida
Family Dreissenidae
Genus Dreissena
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
Quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis)
Family Corbiculidae
Genus Corbicula
Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea)
Justification
Zebra mussels, Quagga mussels, and Asiatic clams invade, occupy, and
degrade vast areas of aquatic habitat. They colonize and impair
navigation structures, water control structures (e.g. locks), and water
intake pipes.
Class Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Order Cyprinodontiformes
Family Poeciliidae
Genus Gambusia
Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis)
Order Tetraodontiformes (trigger fish, file fish, puffer fish)
All species
Order Perciformes
Family Gobiidae (Goby family)
All species
Family Channidae
Genus Channa (snakehead fish)
All species
Order Cypriniformes
Family Cobitidae
Genus Misgurnus
Oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)
Order Characiformes (piranha fish, tiger fish)
All species
Order Siluriformes (candiru catfish, walking catfish)
All spec ies
Justification
These species present health (toxin) and safety risks to humans or have
invasive abilities that threaten native fish populations.
Class Mammalia (Mammals)
Order Primates
All species except those in family Hominidae
Order Edentata (sloths, anteaters, armadillos, etc.)
All species.
Order Didelphimorphia (marsupials or pouched mammals)
All species.
Order Insectivora (shrews, moles, hedgehogs, etc.)
All species.
Order Dermoptera (gliding lemurs)
All species.
Order Chiroptera (bats)
All species.
Order Monotremata (spiny anteaters, platypuses)
All species.
Order Pholidota (pangolins, scaly anteaters)
All species.
Order Lagomorpha (pikas, rabbits, hares)
All species, except domesticated races of rabbits and those subject to Chapter 20
Order Rodentia (rodents)
All species, except domesticated golden hamsters, also known as Syrian
hamster, Mesocricetus auratus; domesticated races of rats or mice (white
or albino; trained, dancing or spinning, laboratory-reared); and
domestic strains of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).
Order Carnivora (carnivores)
All species except domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and domestic cats
(Felis catus) and species subject to Chapter 20. Hybrid crosses between
two species in Order Carnivora (including domestic species) are also
prohibited.
Order Tubulidentata (aardvarks)
All species.
Order Proboscidea (elephants)
All species.
Order Hyracoidea (hyraxes)
All species.
Order Sirenia (dugongs, manatees)
All species.
Order Perissodactyla (horses, tapirs, rhinoceroses, etc.) except domestic horses, mustangs, donkeys, and mules.
All species except those of the family Equidae.
Order Artiodactyla (swine, peccaries, giraffes, camels, deer, elk,
moose, antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, etc.) All species except:
domestic swine of the family Suidae; except elk, deer, American bison,
which are subject to Chapter 20 and domestic cattle, sheep and goats of
the family Bovidae;
Order Afrosoricidae (golden moles, tenrecs)
All species
Order Diprotodontia (sugar gliders)
All species
Order Cingulata (New World armadillos)
All species
Order Macroscelidae (elephant shrews)
All species
Order Pilosa (3 toed sloths)
All species
Order Macroscelidae (elephant shrews)
All species
Order Scandentia (tree shrews)
All species
Order Soricomorpha (shrews)
All species except those species addressed by Chapter 20.
Order Dasyuromorphia (Tasmanian Devils, numbats, etc.)
All species
Order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots, bilbys)
All species
Order Erinaceomorphia (African pygmy hedgehogs)
All species
Order Microbiotheria (monito del monte)
All species
Order Cetacea (whales, dolphins)
All species
Order Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles)
All species
Order Paucituberculata (shrew possums)
All species
Justifications
Mammals of the orders Primates, Edentata, Didelphimorphia,
Insectivora, Dermoptera, Chiroptera, Monotremata, Pholidota,
Tubulidentata, Proboscidea, Perissodactyla, Hyracoidea, Sirenia and
Carnivora are restricted for the welfare of the animals, except animals
of the orders Lagomorpha, Rodentia, and Artiodactyla, and of the
families Viverridae and Mustelidae in the order Carnivora are restricted
because such animals are undesirable and a menace to native wildlife,
the agricultural interests of the state, or to the public health or
safety.

 

[bluemarble]

animal rights activists

Do not let animal rights activists do this, this is not animal welfare!
I know because I'm living this nightmare...

I live in Norway and all reptiles and amphibians are illegal. The reptile ban came in the 70s at that time there was not a lot of information about reptiles in captivity and wild caught animals was common in the hobby, so the ban kind of make sense at the time... Unfortunately this (forty year old) law has been kept alive by animal rights activist and reptiles are still totally illegal in Norway. This is a major animal welfare problem because if the animals get sick they are not taken to the vet in fear that the pets will be euthanized and the owner can get fined for keeping them illegally. Reptiles are just as popular in Norway as in any other country the only real difference is that the reptile hobby is "underground". The consequences of "underground keeping" reduces the animal welfare drastically in multifold of ways, as one can imagine. The ban does not limit animal husbandry (It never has) only the the welfare of reptiles in captivity. If a reptile ban is put in place in your country be prepared to keep your animals a secret and if anyone reports you or the authorities find your pets they will be euthanized... If no zoo takes them in, but lets be real. NO zoo is willing to take inn hundreds of reptiles of the same species. The lucky few are "rescued" by the zoo's but the majority of seized animals will be destroyed by the authorities. Big breeding plans that you non Norwegians reptile keepers have the freedom to enjoy today is definitely out of the question, you will have to reduce your collection to a only a few animals that you can keep safe and away from public view.
...This tragedy goes for all the animals on the list as well!
Animal activists only care for what they say is animal rights, good animal welfare has no part in it whatsoever!:nope:

 

[Genlisae]

Wait, am I reading that last paragraph correctly. ALL members of the order Carnivora are restricted? Including cats and dogs?

I have to be reading that wrong.

 

[Nanci]

So who's behind that?

 

[Genlisae]

Nevermind, I mossed the earlier exception. I should know by now not to read without my glasses on :nope:

The list still remains scary.

 

[bluemarble]

So who's behind that?

animal rights activist organisations has pushed forward this on the authorities (most likely).. :-/

 

[WingedSweetheart]

It's part of the Dangerous Wild Animal Act that just got passed.

Here is an older article about it: http://usark.org/2014-blog/2014-west-virginia-house-bill-4393/

 

[WingedSweetheart]

The sad thing is that no matter how much we try to spread awareness about this, we got ignored. It was just us crazy reptile people. We tried to tell everyone that any animal could be added to this list.

Even now, people here either don't know about it or don't seem to care. They don't seem to realize that any animal can be added to this list. Even people who I know have animals on this list seem not to be worried or think I'm just some conspiracy theorist.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/database/exo_incidents.php?state[0]=WV&startyear=1990&endyear=2014&facility=E

The fear mongering articles also like to talk about the hundreds of exotic animal escapes and attacks that happen in WV. However if you actually look, there have only been 7 between 1990-2014.

The articles that do get published in the news talk about people releasing pets and invasive species. When giving examples they talk about invasive plants and fish (intentionally introduced by the way). Then they jump to examples in Florida. That's because there are no examples to be had in WV.

 

[blue roses]

I really believe this is just a small group trying to tell the rest of us, live like i do cause we know whats best for everyone. The idiots in washington do this all the time, and i for one am getting sick of it. So whenever a polititian calls for my opinion i tell them, stay out of my life, at my age you know nothing about me,nor do you know whats best for me, and i'll probublly live longer then you. They never know how to respond, because they really think they know better. If i was running for office my motto would be I don't know whats best for aeveryone,but everyone should know whats best for themselves, If you don't then seek advise.

These laws must be fought, and these groups have to be shown up for what they truly are, just a power hungry bunch of hypocrites.

If anyone has any ideas to fight this law, like a petition or something, I would sign it in a heartbeat.

By the way the ban on ferrets will be lifted for the NYC area by summer said the new mayor. this came about due to the ferret owners all over the state. We finally defeated PETA..

 

[AliCat37]

Ugh this makes me so sick!!!
I cannot believe this. Losing or right everyday.

 

[Aozora]

This is unreal. We've all experienced people wanting to ban big constrictors, but some of the animals on this list are crazy.

Oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)? Really? I've owned them for 10 years. They're tame--they eat out of my hand. They don't even have teeth. How the heck are they "dangerous"?

 

[smigon]

Oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)? Really? I've owned them for 10 years. They're tame--they eat out of my hand. They don't even have teeth. How the heck are they "dangerous"?

'Cause the list says so.

Pathetic.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

Lot of fish on that list makes up most of what pet shops sale. Guppies, mollies, platies, corys, plecos, minnows, tetras, barbs, etc. Also the rodents. Only hamster allowed is Syrian. So all the various dwarf hamsters will be illegal. Gerbils and chinchillas will also be illegal.

Green tree frogs, gray tree frogs, African clawed frogs and dwarf clawed frogs. Red spotted toads. All will be illegal and are commonly sold in pet shops here.

I've pretty much made a list of all the commonly sold pet shop animals that will become illegal and plan on posting it at every pet shop in the area.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

Scratch Guppies, mollies, and platies. I didn't see that it specified Mosquitofish.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

Updated List

The updated list is more disturbing than the last! Now there is no exception for rabbits or rodents. Even horses are on the list.

 

[WingedSweetheart]

Continued (had to resize):

 

[bluemarble]

It's well known that activist groups are not concerned about actual scientific facts...The only thing they care about are their ideals "animal rights".

Banning rabbits and horses? Thats crazy...