A dark day for the reptile community. Four new snake species added to the Lacey Act

Reticulated Python, one of the new species added to the Lacey Act.

On the 6th of March the United States Fish and Wildlife service announced that four species of large snake are to be added to the Lacey Act; these are the reticulated python (Python reticulatus) and three species of anaconda, the DeSchauensee’s anaconda (Eunectes deschauenseei), green anaconda (E. murinus) and beni anaconda (Eunectes beniensis) which join the Burmese python (Python bivittatus) which is already on the act.

So what is the Lacey Act?
The Lacey Act was passed in 1900 to aid in protecting wildlife by inflicting strict penalties on anyone trading animals and plants illegally and regulates the import of any species protected by international or domestic law and thus prevents the spread of non-native/invasive species. For more information about the act please click here for the US fish and wildlife service official explanation of the act.

So why are these snake species being added?
The Burmese python was originally added to the Lacey Act as a result of the spread of a invasive population that had been released by suspected pet owners, who could no longer manage them, in the Florida everglades. These snakes have had a supposed detrimental effect on the local wildlife populations, by preying on species such as birds and some endangered species. It is interesting to note however that local residents from the everglades state that most have never seen a Burmese in the everglades and that other invasive species such as stray cats and pigs are more prevalent and have more of a negative effect.
The four latest additions are not actually found as an invasive species anywhere within the United States and have been put on the act as a precautionary measure suggesting, that they might become an invasive species in the future; a interesting view on this was provided by Brian Barczyk from BHB reptiles and who runs the popular online show animal bytes, he stated 'it is like putting someone in jail because they might commit a crime.'. None of these snakes could survive in the wild in northern states due to the cold climate and therefore could never become an invasive species, this poses the question of why should the entire population of reptile owners be punished for a incident that has only occurred in southern Florida? and why are other more invasive species such as stray cats and pigs not included on the list for the same reasons?

The green anaconda another addition to the act.

So how does this effect me?
If you live in the United States and own one of these five species, you can still keep them and if you wish breed them but you can not cross state lines with them or you would be breaking the law which, carries a sentence of up to five years in prison if they press charges. This means that if you had to move between states then your snake can not come with you, leaving you with the option of staying put, trying to re-home the snake or the one that no pet owner should ever have to face, euthanizing a healthy animal because of a misjudged law.

I do not live in America, how does this affect me?
Unfortunately it is only too common that once one country adopts a policy like this, that others start to follow and already within the UK, the announcement that the Scottish government wants to review its exotic pet trade act, could result in not just the prevention of keeping snakes but also other reptiles, fish, small mammals and birds.

So what can I do to help prevent/fight against this?
In the US the USArk has filed a federal lawsuit against the US fish and wildlife service for their use of poor reasoning for why this law has been passed. To find out more about USArk and to find out how you can help in the fight against the Lacey Act please click here  to view their site.
For UK residents a petition has been started by the Federation of British Herpetologists against the Scottish government, to sign the petition please click here and to find out more about it please click here to visit their website.

Finally I shall leave you with a video by Brian Barczyk owner of BHB reptiles, the animal bytes online video show and who is passionate about educating people about reptiles, having helped myself and friends with our own snake questions as well as providing breeding advice. This video discusses the Lacey Act and the effects it will have on the reptile community which brought tears to my eyes.