Updates to Endangered Species Act, Lacey Act Amendments, & USARK Board Member Resigns

ESA Modernization: usark.org/23esa/
ESA Alert: usark.org/23esa2/
Lacey Act Alert: usark.org/23la...
Phil and Garrett discuss the potential additions to the Endangered Species Act, as well as the ever-threatening Lacey Act Amendments. Also included is a personal thank you from USARK to former Chairman of the Board of USARK, Gary Bagnall, who gave so much of his time, resources, and ability, to ensure the rights of reptile keepers everywhere are protected.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Website: usark.org
USARK on Facebook: / unitedstatesassociatio...
USARK on Instagram: / usark_official
Become a Member Today: usark.org/memb...
The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) is a science, education, and conservation-based advocacy for the responsible private ownership of, and trade in reptiles and amphibians. 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.

[@sandymoore]

Thank you, Gary. I am forever indebted to you for your leadership and vision and dedication!

[@usark_official]

Thanks for your message to Gary, Sandy! And for all that you do for the pet industry!

[@beamlarochelle5001]

Thank you Gary!!!!! We appreciate you very much 🙏

[@Divin9475]

Thank you Gary

[@RockabillyCustoms]

Gary congratulations on your dream and thank you very much for everything you have done for the reptile hobby.

[@territhree]

Thank you, Gary! ZooMed has and continues to be one of the Northern California Herpetological Society's biggest donors. I wish you the best on your new venture! Also, thank you, USARK, for all that you do! Terri Sheffield, Membership Director, Northern California Herpetological Society

[@usark_official]

Thanks, Terri!

[@showmekitties]

Thank you, Gary. ❤

[@suzswelew]

Thank you Gary!

[@TheBachBabe]

Thank You Gary for all that you have done over the years. Best wishes for your new endeavor.
Also thank you Phil and Garrett

[@usark_official]

Thank you kindly!

[@pencildragon1961]

Thanks Gary!

[@happydragonreptiles695]

Thank you for the information and thank you Gary for your amazing contribution.

[@usark_official]

Thanks for viewing!

[@jeffjolliereticulatedpytho5962]

Thank you Gray

[@VictoryLaneexotics]

Thank you gary

[@tjreptiles2019]

Yes thank you Gary from zoomed I love there products

[@usark_official]

Thanks for commenting!

[@LoneLupine]

Thank you, Gary!!! 🐍🦎🐢🐊🐸🐟🐠🐡

[@cassandrapope40]

Thank you Gary

[@usark_official]

Thanks for your comment!

[@ckindustries8251]

Thank you soo much Gary. Pillars in the industry such as yourself are the reason we can continue to do what we do today.

[@usark_official]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@tbella5186]

Awesome breakdown.
Thanks for having our backs.

[@usark_official]

You bet!

[@JoinReptiles]

Gary ✌️guys, thank you for your efforts and hard work... These animals definitely need protection with in keeper's 💯

[@usark_official]

Absolutely!

[@davinadesigns7303]

Gary, you are the best! Thank you so much for everything you have done for us! It is an honor to be a part of something so big, & we wouldn't be here without you! Thank you!!!

[@usark_official]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@barbaraespey8176]

Many thanks Gary. We appreciate all your hard work for our animal friends

[@FALCONJOE1]

Thank you Gary for everything you have done❤

[@ExoticReptileCreations]

Gary, you rock! Thank you for everything you did and continue to do for reptiles!

[@usark_official]

Thanks so much!

[@upstartart]

Thank you Gary for the many years of support to USARK and reptile keepers and good luck on your newest endeavor!

[@usark_official]

Much appreciated!

[@verpine3534]

Many thanks to Gary for all he's done over the years, and good luck to Todd(sp?) in taking over the position. Big shoes to fill!

[@usark_official]

Well said!

[@heartlandreptiles]

Thank you Gary and the whole USARK team for all your efforts!!!

[@usark_official]

Thank you for commenting!

[@carsonhawley8838]

ZooMed has been my go-to since I was ten years old. You're awesome Gary! Thanks for all you've done!

[@aurieamoore5823]

Thank you Gary. Thank you for all you did and will continue to do for all of us in your community who love reptiles.

[@usark_official]

So nice of you to comment. Thanks!

[@elizabethfortino8867]

Thank you, Gary, for your support and contribution to the reptile hobby!

[@torIIgo]

Thanks, Gary. I owe it all to you, as your products were the reason I was born under a roof where my dad was a hobbyist, and caring for herps was one of our bonding moments. Thanks for everything, man!

[@usark_official]

Right on!

[@matthewlamay4885]

Thank you Gark. F.A.I.R. / Fish Amphibian Invertebrate Reptile
Facebook group exists because of people like you.

[@williamtussing4334]

Thank you to all who made this information available and those who made it possible to put out an understanding. I was unaware of this until recently and i am 24 have little political experience and will try my best to become an advocate for positive interactions with these animals. This video helped me with many questions. Help with understanding how to go about stating my views is very much appreciated ❤

[@usark_official]

Thanks for watching and learning! Have a good day.

[@ThePiemanPythons]

Thank you Gary for your contribution to the industry and to USARK.

[@usark_official]

Well said!

[@twoturtletom]

Ha ha- Gary is working on a “Pet Project” Love the pun!

[@fajile5109]

When it comes to fish pets i like “arowana” they look amazing like a large mouth bass mixed with a fighting fish.

[@janiceellery1653]

When it comes to dealing with government regulations, I have to keep reminding myself "who said things have to make sense?" 😂😂

[@usark_official]

😂

[@JakeMoser96]

I'm not one to recommend an amplification of government control, but sometimes the best solution to a problem is to find common ground and meet in the middle for a good cause. Take the blue tree monitor for example. It's not in danger of extinction in captivity. As you pointed out, it's asinine to focus conservation efforts in a foreign land into creating captive genetic bottle necks in the united states. Has anyone given any thought to a means of taking a federal endangered species permit system that would directly fund conservation in these creatures' native homeland? Is there such a thing? I'm skeptical of my on brainstorming on the basis of whether we can really trust government with any money. Anyway, we live in a land of permits these days. It's not something I think they have any real business doing, but look at weed. Schedule 1 narcotic, but gradually the country is loosening it's strangle hold on it primarily because they see dollar signs in the form of regulation and tax revenue.....for better or worse. I think there has to be a fine line between showing your hand to the government and simply not opening their eyes to positive possibilities where everyone benefits, even if some of the benefits get extorted by them. AND THANKS GARY!

[@usark_official]

Unfortunately, USFWS has stated numerous times (particularly in CBW permit denials... read on) that they do not consider increasing the global population of a species through domestic breeding of nonnative species under human care as conservation. There is a permit system that has become unobtainable to private keepers. This is the Captive Bred Wildlife (CBW) permit that began as a simple registration system and has now turned into an overreaching form of red tape that private keepers, including animal care experts such as veterinarians, can no longer get from USFWS. There are even other ways that USFWS could allow breeding and interstate sales, such as a 4(d) rule for species listed as threatened under ESA, but the agency has not done that either. For some Endangered Species Act listings, USFWS has allowed a 4(d) rule so that timber companies could destroy habitat but not a 4(d) rule to allow less restrictive interstate trade of captive-bred animals. This is a serious problem with ESA and USFWS not having the foresight to realize that the world is much different now than it was in 1973 when ESA was passed into law. For example, most animals in trade in the U.S. are now bred and born under human care and not collected from the wild. Many species have not been imported for over 20 years. ESA needs some modernization and you can read much more at usark.org/23esa/. As for your specific idea, it has been pitched and it has been denied. Have a good day.

[@williamneill5441]

Not a day goes by that I do not thank Gary and USARK for their hard work and dedication.

[@usark_official]

Thank you, William!

[@gubjorggisladottir3525]

If you can not buy or sell across states lines in USA because the animal is in danger of going extinct in their native habitat... is should be the same for a snake, lizard and a small furry mamal. The people who make the laws you need to follow (I don´t live in USA) should know this fact.