Crisis in the Reptile Community

Crisis in the Reptile Community

By Andrew Wyatt, August 2008

There is a crisis in the reptile community, a crisis of apathy. We are beset by interests that would end the hobby and business that all of us love. Animal Rights groups have been on the march for eight years on a national campaign to end reptile ownership state by state. They have successfully enacted their model legislation and restricted private ownership of many reptiles in about a dozen states. What has the reptile community done to stop this alarming trend? Invasive species scientists ambitious to make a name for themselves on the back of the reptile community have produced studies riddled with faulty science. The US Fish & Wildlife Service is petitioned by the South Florida Water Management District to add Burmese Pythons to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act and subsequently gives a Notice of Inquiry and Request for Comment on adding the genera Python, Boa & Eunectes to the Injurious Wildlife List. By the deadline of April 30th 2008 only approximately 1,500 comments were logged. If current trends continue and the reptile community continues to sit on their hands, in 2-5 years the reptile community will be irreparably damaged and slip into oblivion. The reptile community must stand up and take their future in their own hands before there is no possibility of a future.

In spring of 2005 after recent triumphs in KY and NY the Animal Rights Movement convinces a naïve State Senator to sponsor a bill in the North Carolina Senate that would ban the ownership of most exotic reptiles. Two men, Andrew Wyatt and Carl Person, decide to fight this proposed legislation. They meet Mack Robinette, Gray Rushin and Will Leary and decide to join forces creating an organization called the North Carolina Association of Reptile Keepers (NCARK). At the Carolina Reptile & Exotic Animal Expo NCARK is able to motivate over 1000 people to email the NC Senate opposing this bill. The bill is recalled and resubmitted as a study bill passing the Senate, but failing in the House of Representatives. Over the next two years the bill is revived several times… and meanwhile NCARK has created a large membership, raised funds, made inroads with state agency staff, made allies with other animal interests, and generally confounded the Animal Rights efforts to pass their bill. In 2006 NCARK works with NC Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (NCPARC) to create an alternative proposal regulating certain reptiles. In 2008 NCARK and NCPARC get all reptiles removed from the proposed Animal Rights Legislation and have their alternative proposal adopted and recommended for introduction in the 2009 legislative session. Now the Animal Rights Movement suffers their most decisive loss in eight years and NCARK creates a model for action to defend the interests of reptile owners nationwide.

In 2006 the Animal Rights Movement introduces their model legislation into South Carolina. Roark Ferguson creates South Carolina Association of Reptile Keepers (SCARK) and utilizes longstanding relationships within SC State agency staff to make his case. He then duplicates the grassroots effort in NC successfully thwarting the Animal Rights Movement for another decisive victory in SC. The model of NCARK is beginning to turn the tide at the state level against the previously unchecked efforts of Animal Rights.

In the wake of the US Fish & Wildlife Service Notice of Inquiry and Request for Comment on an addition of the genera Python, Boa & Eunectes to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act, a ‘Summit’ of top reptile industry representatives is called in Chicago and hosted by North American Reptile Breeders Counsel. The legendary herper and python expert Dave Barker asks Andrew Wyatt, co-founder and President of NCARK to come to Chicago and make a presentation on how to take the NCARK model and create a national reptile advocacy to represent the reptile industry. On the second day of meetings April 5th, 2008 Andrew makes the case to create the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK). The basic concept is that the reptile community as a national entity must take their destiny in their own hands and look out for their own interests as a number one priority. That if we fail to do so, the reptile industry and community as we know it will cease to exist. If we don’t take decisive action on our own behalf the hobby and business we love will be destroyed by a growing tide of adversity. This is a chance for a fractured community to unite and work together to become something stronger than ever before. The idea was overwhelmingly supported and the USARK was born.

The mission of USARK is a simple mission of education and advocacy. The US Association of Reptile Keepers, Inc is a science and education based advocacy for the responsible private ownership of, and trade in reptiles. We endorse caging standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention protocols, and an integrated approach to vital conservation issues. Our goal is to facilitate cooperation between government agencies, the scientific community, and the private sector in order to produce policy proposals that will effectively address important husbandry and conservation issues. The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining ecological integrity are our primary concerns.

USARK has now been incorporated, appointed a Board of Directors, appointed officers and created a dynamic website with a sophisticated database and communications function. Dr. Warren Booth, PhD whose post doctoral work focuses on genetic markers and invasive species biology has agreed to lead our science and research efforts. The models for state legislation developed by NCARK are the foundation of a campaign to secure our states and take back ground lost to the Animal Rights Movement. We now have a voice and the tools necessary to address any issue that confronts the reptile community. But this is an effort that requires the help of the masses of people involved with this hobby and business. We need to create an enormous central database in order to call for powerful grassroots response when needed. Positions articulated by our Board of Directors and Lobbyists need to be supported by activating strong grassroots support. Membership is the key to long term success. It is time for the reptile community to quit hoping and praying that things will go well for us. It is time to stand up, throw our hat in the ring and begin to effectively address every issue that confronts the industry today.

In order to fund the kinds of projects USARK would like to initiate it will take a creative approach to fundraising. Although many of the top industry representatives have made significant donations to get USARK on its feet, the ultimate success of the organization depends on participation from everyone. It would be unfair to attempt to piggyback this effort on the few. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their own piece of this effort so that the financial requirements will be spread to the masses. Once you have joined USARK or signed up on the mailing list you will receive email updates on how to get more involved in fundraising and grassroots initiatives on specific issues. We have some young guys and gals that are bringing some really fresh innovative ideas on how USARK can accomplish its goals. All it takes is for the individual hobbyists, breeders and small businesses to step up to the plate and get involved.

Now with USARK we can take full responsibility for ourselves and be a strong player by giving voice to the concerns that are a priority to our industry. This is truly an opportunity to galvanize the reptile community and move forward as a cohesive and powerful advocacy. Issues regarding the Animal Rights Movement attempting to ban what we do state by state are not going to just go away. Invasive species issues and proposals for federal legislation are not going to stop. We all need to step up, take responsibility and become part of the solution. The alternative is to let this hobby and business slip away from us completely. Please take a stand with USARK and take action to secure our future.

Andrew Wyatt is a President US Association of Reptile Keepers and cab be reached at: PO Box 279, Grandy, NC 27939, 252-207-1041, president@usark.org