@@ClintsReptiles What upsets me about this whole issue are irresponsible reptile owners who, instead of rehoming pets they can no longer care for, are releasing them into the wild. It’s those handful of idiots that are ruining it for the entire reptile community. Animals are not status symbols. If you cannot properly care for them, don’t purchase them.
0 out of 5. Terrible personalities. Lie to their constituents and are overall nasty beasts not worth listening to or having any faith in. Best to avoid them at all costs 😂
Florida's ban was in part due to self inflicted wounds. I know you hammer the "Do not release animals into the wild" point, but we need to start banging that drum even louder.
This. I love reptiles and want people to be able to keep them, but making progress on how we sell and keep reptiles is really important (along with educating people about invasive species and ecological damage, etc). If keepers and breeders as a whole don't do better these regulations will just keep getting stricter and stricter. I do agree some of the laws feel nonsensical, but a lot of it is at the expense of trying to avoid ecological damage.
You can look it up, the burmese python issue is due to a breeding facility being destroyed in a hurricane. Current laws don't stop these things from happening again as similar facilities still exist under current laws. They banned ownership by the common owner for something provably not caused by the common owner.
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons were all aware of the Burmese issue. Explain iguanas, explain tegus, explain chameleons, explain all the other invasive reptiles.
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons oh no your commentary is wrong as a tegu owner I can see how detrimental a tegu would be especially once they reproduce and get out there. Birds would be threatened, snakes, lizards, rodents, and small mamals would not be hard for a tegu to kill. Tegus also burrow so that can have its own effect on the landscape. Lets not forget when they do breed they can have large clutches and by the sound of it they are thriving as much as iguanas who are wreaking havoc on the vegetation. Should they be banned no but I do understand the concern for it Florida imitates their home so well they thrive its unfortunate. Sadly with all the invasion that is now threatening the wildlife other states are becoming g fearful and banning without looking at if that reptile would even be able to survive a winter! If they can't survive a winter they won't thrive and they won't be able to reproduce. I know in my state when they banned ferrets they slaughtered the animals that were being being kept as pets. I couldn't imagine that happening with my Tegu. People shouldn't just fear but politicians are in it for the money they don't look or even read bills its just a who knows who type of deal and it's disgusting!
I believe some already owned animals are fine to still keep, though they now have some tighter enclosure restrictions? It goes on a species-by-species basis The laws have grandfather clauses, I believe your Tegu is fine to keep. You can check the new enclosure restrictions on Florida's state website. There's a section where you can ready recently passed legislation
I'm going to my local pet shop tomorrow to ask the owner if I can set up a fund raiser for USARK. I make reptile shed jewelry, leashes, harnesses and hammocks for lizards. I want to sell them and donate ALL proceeds to USARK. Hopefully he lets me set it up and it does well. Helping save this hobby means the world to me. Also, thankyou so much for all you do to educate people in all of your awesome videos!
@@xtremegamer4856 The entire point of this video is not to fight but to work together! If you actually care about animals you have to understand the problem they try to fight, they do it to save animals.
I’m a resident of West Virginia and the dangerous wild animal act was more concerned to native West Virginia wildlife. Like for an example you can’t own a bobcat or a skunk but you can own an alligator in fact there’s a reptile shop up the street from me that has 3 young gators for sale right now. Pretty much anything with scales is legal in West Virginia except native reptiles such as the eastern diamond back rattle snake or a copper head or black snake but you can own a cobra lol
@@Wickedreptiles What’s funny about that is in the event of an accident, the hospitals will have the antivenom (antivenin?) for the native species, but not the cobra lol
@@realchiknuggets yea your in pretty bad shape unless you keep your own supply which you should if you own a cobra have the antivenin for that specific cobra. Just the cost to maintain a supply is pretty costly since you have to replace it after so long.
I actually wrote a paper on this topic. Lawmakers are going about the regulation completely wrong. They need to regulate the people that can get the reptiles, not whether you can get them at all. The issue isn’t the presence of the reptiles, it’s the presence of people who don’t understand how to care for them. Having a process for obtaining a permit to own certain reptiles would be the best in the long run. Someone who wants a permit would have to show that they have the necessary knowledge, experience, and resources to take care of the reptile they want. That way you protect both reptiles and people.
That’s true, it could be like a combination of a hunting license and CPR certification. You go pay a fee (hunting license) and take a test to get your initial license (like CPR cert.). Local organizations like zoos and reptile facilities can offer classes to help people get ready for the test (you could even have a discount on the fee for people who take the courses). Then every so many years you need to renew your license, either paying a renewal fee like a hunting license or retaking a test like CPR certification.
Just found this channel a couple days ago and I have watched over 70 videos! I love love love this channel. I used to be a fishkeeper only but now I dream to own reptiles in the future. This channel is amazing and is going to bring me into the reptile hobby.
I feel bad for you not being able to keep our things in the US like Kingsnakes and milksnakes and I feel bad we can’t keep Shinglebacks. If I could just keep a small group of animals it would be a little group of Shinglebacks but at the same time YOUR country is beautiful and unique as as a person not trying to be biased even though I’m a reptile person... I get it. You’re country is a jewel that needs to be protected. .... also we are in the midst of this because we will sell anything to anyone at a reptile show and they can just let it run free or get turned loose or get loose and harm someone. There’s an ignorant bias AGAINST reptiles for sure which makes it easier for unfamiliar people to vote against us but we’ve done a lot of this on our own unfortunately.
In Norway, most pet reptiles and all amphibians are banned because "it is unethical and people neglect them". If they are gonna ban reptiles then they should also ban dogs and cats because they are way more complex and easier to neglect. Cats also eat lemming and mice.
I don't think that is true of every single reptile though. Sure that can be viewed as "cruel" for some species but skinks and bearded dragons seem to enjoy even simulated habitats. In the case of cats and dogs we are talking about two species of animals that are already acclimated to living in urban environments due to humans breeding them for that. That cat is already out of the box (pun intended) and there is no going back on dogs or cats, they're here to stay as pets. But you wouldn't say the same about keeping a wolf as a pet or a jaguar I'm sure, because it would be cruel to both the animal and everyone else that has to share space with yo
@@williamdryden6175 So you keep them in a climate-controlled environment to perfectly suit their needs and that's somehow cruel? And considering how many people manage to keep happy, healthy reptiles, I don't think the cost of sufficient space is as high as you think. Also, dogs *are* wolves. Heavily domesticated, but it was already done more than once.
@@williamdryden6175 my ball python got more relaxed when he was moved from a giant 6-ft enclosure to a 30 gal. terrarium. You can't just say "Well if that was me, a cat, or dog, I'd be really upset." Reptile standards need to be based on reptile behavior in the wild and what actually stresses individual animals in captivity. Species like the ball python are creatures of habit with small ranges. Many would be perfectly happy if all their food just came to them in the same rodent hole or termite mound for the rest of their lives. Many reptiles get handled regularly (and should, unless they're venomous or ridiculously tiny), so it's not like they never get any stimulation. By that logic, it should also be cruelty to keep a husky in an apartment, because the "enclosure" is way too small. Never mind the fact that it gets long walks every other day. By equating reptiles with mammals, you are adding to the problem.
I've always said the reptile hobby needs a licencing system. You get your licence by proving you have the knowledge to look after any animal and without it you won't be sold an animal. I've been having this argument in the UK for many years. Most people wouldn't get in a vehicle without proving you know how to operate it.
ngl i think all pets should; there's a reason shelters exist, from all the uneducated people who buy pets without knowledge then release or simply neglect because of the lack of education. Not just exotics, but even domestic animals as well
@@brigidtheirish a stray cat moving into the bottom side of your porch, does not mean you adopted it. Adopting it would mean stating to the government and in papers that "I hereby take ownership and responsibility of the health and actions of my pet." It would be a license for ownership, not for "x animal happened to make their home in my backyard."
So glad to see a nuanced video that encourages us to find a positive way to engage. I have been having a hard time wanting to be associated with some of the people in our community who have been on a war path, and coming across really poorly. This video gives me hope.
I think there is a bit of a Tiger King effect here. Exotic animal keepers aren't generally perceived well by the general public. Weirdos they might say. That in conjunction with invasive species problems easily swing the opinions of normal people that don't fully understand the hobby.
& the thing is, there's a HUUUUGE difference between keeping a tiger & fx. a tegu. A tegu needs a room in your house which is reasonable for a good number of people, but a tiger needs acres upon acres of territory which is impossible for 99.9% of humans to provide. There's gotta be some regulations, but they have to make sense.
That's true. It's impossible to care for a tiger in a natural way in captivity. However, you might be able to say the say about large pythons and several monitors. Known to travel miles on a given day but we keep them in a box. We need to acknowledge where it's the same before we can proclaim that it's different.
I do suspect that a lot of the "traveling animal Bans" recently have something to do with wanting to end tiger cubbing and similar practices. Which is fantastic but the problem is that the bans are waaaaaaaaay to broad. I also find it funny that new york is trying to ban animal shipments and now they are banning animal shows on top of it. The animal show ban in New York is limited and the species they put on it are more reasonable to me with the exception of the Burmese pythons, Retics, and Water Monitors I think they could add more foxes to the exception list too since there are so many captive-bred fur farm pet red foxes in our country.
@@RoseProseFroze Yes. The lawmakers definately need to educate themselves but they won't because most people won't or just don't care. They'd just as soon kill reptiles.
I would agree. In my experience, dips like the Tiger King almost always have done something stupid before a wave a ban attempts come in. My parents were involved with a big cat club back in the 60's and 70's. Most were responsible people that wanted to figure out ways of responsible keeping these animals, but there were a few that had them as status symbols and would do ridiculously irresponsible things with them (like taking them out in public without proper precautions). It's inevitable that an accident or near accident happens, and when it does, people get outraged and start making snap decisions. If I'm remembering correctly, the last big ban on a whole bunch of exotic animals where I am started off because somebody with a big cat (can't remember what kind) was showing it off to people and encouraging the cat to jump on his back. Nothing bad happened between the cat and anybody, but the news picked it up and the ban legislation started to roll in. I don't think the idea of bans comes from a bad place or that bans themselves are necessarily bad, but blanket bans don't work. It's also not really fair to blame the public for lack of education. It takes a lot of effort to learn things. Of course a legislator should be informed as much as possible, but when time is limited, you have to pick what to spend that time on. I don't necessarily blame them for knee jerk blanket bans. We can try to work with lawmakers to help make these laws more practical (as discussed in the video), but individual keepers can also help by just being responsible. If you own exotics, be responsible with them. Every exotic animal and exotic animal keeper is an ambassador to the public. Nobody cares about the millions of whatevers being kept safely and humanely, the moment something scandalous enough for the news to pick up on happens you've hurt the entire community.
I’m so happy with Utahs changes, when I was young I got in huge trouble for just catching snakes and lizards and letting them go. Now with a permit you can buy online they won’t bother you unless your messing with protected species. Which is reasonable.
i really hope all goes well for you folks in the States and that you can fight these bans and help preserve the reptile hobby. on a much lighter note, congrats on 300k!!
This information is great. I do like that you are not portraying all legislation on reptiles as bad because one unfortunate outcome of problematic legislation is that people begin to look at all legislation as bad instead of making logical steps to improve legislation some groups have begun to just fight all legislation. The balance he talks about is important. Thank you that your channel carefully covers topics with the complexity that is needed to properly portray these topics.
I really like the idea of approaching this as an "us" problem rather than a "me vs you" thing. Conservation is vital to our future, so if we truly love animals, we need to be willing to work with those who mean to preserve our wild habitats and critters. This isn't the time for egos to get in the way of progress. Good on you, Clint, for seeing the other angles of this issue rather than just your own interests as a reptile keeper!! I'm so encouraged by this video. Keep up the awesome work!
Im a bio student pursuing herpetology, thankyou so much for being the first and only channel to address this issue with logic and intelligence and not just emotions about "you cant take my animals away". I persoanlly would rather have bad bans or be over banned than have no bans cause the environment is more important than myself
I love this video. Yes, the best way is to find out what the concerns are and what alternatives can fulfil those needs. Getting emotional is understandable but you have to realise that a lot of these people are driven by logic and actually see emotions as weakness. Threats don’t work either as it makes your argument weak: you have no real reasons so you’re resulting to aggression, which is dismissible as well. Getting a panel of experts that support your views, from their side and yours allows the best presentation of legit alternatives that work with both views. This isn’t a sword game, this is isn’t a “if you can’t beat them, join them”, it’s a “this is a better solution that there is better for everyone”. Remember, it’s not about you, it’s what is best of the animal and environment it will be in. Focus on that point of view. I wish you all luck on deterring or amending any legislation that impacts negatively on the animal owners, innocent bystanders, and above all the animals. Personally I don’t believe there is any reason not to allow people who got the animals before the legislation to continue to keep their pets, including those who paid and brought them but have not yet received them at the time of the change, and there to be a buffer date of at least 3 months to allow people to sell any animals if they are recently acquired to people who have had the species for more than 5 years. This would encourage the owners who were no longer interested in keeping or may change their mind further down the track to responsibly cease keeping an animal. Any animal ordered or paid after a week of the legislation should be annulled unless as previous specified, is to a long time keeper who has been recognised to be a responsible owner.
We need a guy like him in Washington state right now. We want to legalize and work with the state to be able to own and work with Snappers, Softshells, venomous, crocodilians some fish species, some mammals, and a variety of native wildlife. I've contacted USARK about it and they ARE willing to help if we get a group of people to alleviate the 2007 exotics ban. Join us
As a guy from the Uk I’m getting worried about the hobby over here. Lots of the time we follow the USA on their laws (or at least consider it) we are currently facing issues down south with Red eared sliders, And right now due to climate change they are moving up north (to where I live). So I’m worried for both us over here and you guys across the pond
Relationships sometimes get so bad that *park workers* hate the regulations. There's this one park were, at least a few years ago, they had a small fenced pond with a nesting box for swans. The same swan couple would come every year to raise their cygnets. The last year I'd visited the park, there were fewer cygnets than usual and the male was patrolling just in front of the box acting very agitated. One of the workers there said it was because a softshell turtle had gotten through the fence and grown too big to get back out. The turtle was eating the cygnets every time they got in or near the water and the park workers couldn't do anything about it because that would be 'disrupting nature.' I pointed out that the pond was man-made, as were the fence and nesting box. Hell, this was a *city park,* not some nature preserve. Even if it was, the whole point of the nesting box and pond was to give these swans, a rare bird in this area, a safe place to raise their young. With the turtle there, they might not come back next year. The worker completely agreed, said the rule was idiotic and made by people who didn't know what they were doing, and went on to say that if I happened to throw a large rock at the turtle's head, she wouldn't see anything. You know a situation has gotten bad when a park worker tells you that.
Politicians should not be involved in things they have no stake in. Let those who know and understand the ecosystem, its animals and people who work with them.
I think some of the harm comes from the more extreme keepers that have an "anything goes" attitude. I remember seeing so many comments like "as humans we should be able to own any animal we want" when Oklahoma wanted to ban keeping large cats like tigers as pets. I'm worried that it will be those people that make us keepers seem unreasonable and cause restrictions to be worse.
I agree. When Florida is having so many problems with invasive species hurting the environment (some of those species that eat children from time to time), I don't think it's unreasonable to consider a ban.
Agreed. There are some animals that are simply not meant to be pets. With reptiles, there are some animals that push the limits but can be kept if they are captive bred (so as to not disrupt natural populations) and are raised by an experienced keeper. However, I agree there are many animals that should never be kept captive. That said, it truly saddens me to see the tegu banned in some states. As far as big lizards go, the tegu is one of the easiest to care for and most docile, and to me it makes no sense to ban them
@@BlueFHS Absolutely. Tegus can be cared for rather easily in comparison to many other animals. I understand the invasiveness as a problem in Florida but I don't think a tegu ban is the solution.
@@kyubi430 Honestly if anything, the issue is people releasing the tegu into the wild when they can’t care for it. Instead of banning the animal entirely, make it illegal to get rid of the animal by releasing it. Maybe have a system where tegus and other large “exotic” reptiles have to be microchipped when purchased. So maybe if a tegu is spotted in the wild, it can be caught and the microchip can be read or something, in order to determine who was responsible for the lizard and who released it.
@@BlueFHS I would be willing to do that. If people had to register them like a car or something I think it would help reduce the amount of people who do stuff like that because then they would be held accountable.
They just dont understand that keeping reptiles is a huge passion, and many people make a living from them. I honestly don't understand how someone would want to ruin this community.
There's a lot of reasons why I've planned moving to the USA from Australia but your reptile potential is definitely #1. I've been keeping for nearly 2 decades and am looking forward to finally owning something that isn't Australian. Please support these people in securing your freedom to work with and keep these beautiful animals, otherwise you'll end up like Australia and have no rights left.
Australia - Harsh climate, most of the wildlife will kill you. Government say HA no guns for you. Also dont say anything too spicy on twitter or go to jail, do not pass go/collect $200. Arizona, US - similar climate. Some venomous reps/inverts to look out for. BUT.... gun bullets go bbrrrrr lol
The New York one is worrying because it doesn't just target reptiles. It's a total ban on shipping live animals. Most small poultry farms rely on shipping in chicks. I do think there should be regulation to make sure animals are treated humanely. But how is driving them personally in a crate any different than paying a shipping company to do the same thing?
Chicks are a lot more vulnerable than most reptiles. Even properly packaged, there's always a big chance there'll be a couple dead chicks in the box, whereas properly packaged reptiles have a very slim chance of dying. Chicks are dependant on their mother, & get very stressed when they're seperated from her, & even a couple of hours of stress is enough to kill a chick. Banning all animal shipping is ridiculous, but there are some species that shouldn't be shipped.
@@xandermin Chick shipping is pretty common though, even when you buy chicks from a farm supply store, they were shipped in. Chicks of most domestic poultry are hatched in incubators and are never with their mother. I've had chicks and adult chickens shipped many times and they are almost always 100% fine. They are shipped overnight in a heated box with about 25 of them, keeping them together keeps them calm and less stressed. I do support rules for shipping chicks (i.e. has to be overnight, no overcrowding in the box, has to be heated), but an outright ban would really hurt a lot of small farmers. If even you do breed some of your own, most small farms need to bring in outside animals for genetic diversity. Only the big poultry farms that have their own breeding system wouldn't be affected. This will be a problem unless everyone goes completely vegan, which is very unlikely.
@@AtlasRandGaming Guys the big picture isn't we need to ban more animals. Thats what HSUS and ASPCA and PETA wants, their all a connected politician ran company for the funding of a anti-human to animal relation society... We don't need fingers pointing to other animal owners. We as a unified group of species owners need to hold ourselves and others accountable for sure, but this is not the time... They have all intensive purposes to ban all animal ownership and preservation. This isn't " they should ban this or that first" Look at it from their side like clint said, you've got a HUGE group of dog and cat owners that have been paying money to PETA and ASPCA for years because they wanna help bobby find a new home... They had no idea the entire time was the money used to pay politicians to ensure future removal of animal ownership. They spent years chipping away at it.. first they banned Dobermans, then Dalmatians, They attacked German shepherds, now it's the Pit bull... Each time they where fought and lifted by the owners of said animals. They tried to use that because these animals are seen as human danger, chipping away with forks to attack where it could hit most " human safty" because the legislators wouldn't listen to them otherwise... They found time and time again they where hit by a HUGE population with for the most part already active and protected laws that counter irresponsible ownership. So it wasn't easy.. They STILL plan to ban all animals. Their just attacking reptile owners because we aren't as unified.. and this here is why :/ Once they ban reptiles it's onto fish owners who are totally in the dark since they won in the 1700s. And then it's rodents, cats and dogs.. NOBODY will have animals if we keep attacking eachother like this.
@@AtlasRandGaming You realise that this kind of thinking is exactly why reptiles are getting banned right? You are looking at this backwards. You should not be trying to get other species banned as revenge for what happened to ones you care about, you should be pointing out that it isn't necessary to ban the other species and therefore is not necessary to ban the one you care about. When you call for a ban on another species, you reinforce the ban on your own.
Timing is important! Sometimes seemingly simple issues are contentious. For instance, in North Carolina, our coastal fishing laws are highly destructive. Our fisheries are nearly completely destroyed, so hauls have gone down significantly. There are simple regulations that could easily start bringing it back, like within the next 5 years. The science is clear & well understood. The problem is that large fishing corps spread propaganda to their workers, basically demonizing all conservation efforts. As a result it's a vicious cycle- the fishermen overfish, catches go down, economic anxieties go up, regulations (which will short term reduce hauls) are viewed as the 'real' threat, and resistance to change increases. There are systemic issues as well, for instance our fisheries commission actually has corporate interests represented on it. As a result there is an incredibly hostile atmosphere against any and all regulations. Known conservationists literally can't walk around fishing towns, because they will be harassed and threatened. I know someone who gave a speech at a rally in the wrong part of town and she had to be escorted by police, because people literally showed up with guns. Not to mention the usual ways tricks they use to get anti-scientific propaganda processed by moderates/uneducated people- 'I just want to hear both sides' 'the science is out' etc. If we'd been able to prevent deregulation ~30 years ago, we'd never be in this situation at all.
Jokes on them when their livelihood is gone forever. If you don't take care of the goose that lays the golden eggs, you deserve poverty. Here in Canada our cod fishing industry is totally ruined. The genes for massive cod are gone, which means only small, less fertile individuals are available to reproduce. And those guys even had the moxie to compare Canadian cod stocks to the Icelandic ones. They conveniently overlooked the fact Canadian cod need 3 years to reach sexual maturity, while the Icelandic ones only need 2. Historically, there used to be so many cod off of Canada's east coast you could lower a basket in the water and easily catch some with low effort. Overfishing is one of the reasons why we in the modern world can't have nice things.
Excellent points! I do believe the situation in Florida has become so impossible because both sides have become so entrenched in their own views that it has become a war. And now no one wins and compromise and logic have gone out the window.l
Great discussion about how to find a middle ground and help all involved. We need to educate the politicians and ensure all legislation is purposeful and reasonable
Clint- Thanks for this 5 star video. You and Matt did a wonderful job explaining the challenges of achieving common-sense regulations when it comes to being a responsible herpoculturist. We need to inform legislators and officials whose responsibility for the regulations of captive and native reptiles that the majority of stake holders want humane and sustainable rules for captive animals, and rules that are simple enough for laypeople to follow when encountering reptiles and amphibians in the wild.
So does USARK work in this way , because this is EXACTLY what needs to happen! As much as I love the hobby and going to expos, there is ALOT wrong too. For one, the pressures the industry puts on wild populations. Yet I like responsible keepers to be able to work with those animals too. But seeing all the poor imports for sale knowing about 1% will survive is heartbreaking! Thank you for this video Clint!
Thank you so much for making this video. This is a trying time for reptile keepers and it is good to know that there are so many intelligent and rational people within the community working to help. On a side note, Matt looks like he could take a side job as Mark Wahlberg's stunt double.
this is so sad :( as soon as I started to get obsessed about reptiles, this happens. its so unreasonable, but I still have hope, thanks to this video !
I already talk about that, but in France, we really have TO MUCH LAWS about reptiles, and exotic pets in general. All native animals, in Mainland France, but also for example French Guyana, are forbidden (Goodbye legless lizard, jeweled lacerta, false water cobra, rainbow boa, caiman tegu...), all monitor that are ove 1 meter (around 3.2 feet), all reptiles that are venemous, even just a bit (like hognose, Xenodon...) snakes over 3 meters (around 9.8 feet), a lot of endangered species, species that are difficult to keep, and a lot more for reasons that I don't even know... (Uromastyx, for exemple ?), we have to tag almost all reptiles... and more laws will maybe come out in few weeks, like animal shipping that will become forbidden, like in some states in USA ! So, USA is still a paradise for us ! 😅
@@williamdryden6175 that’s true and it makes sense that the endangered and venomous reptile are banned but all the other reptiles are perfect for captivity and keeping them creates insurance populations if they are kept in captivity in case they go extinct in the wild. It also creates a connection between reptiles and humans that can inspire people to protect reptiles in the wild.
This is what runaway nanny state leftism gets you, folks..runaway government interference in every aspect of your lives. All for the sake of "being good". Disgusting. Dont give these leftist activists like PETA an inch.
Don't you need to have permits to have all of these reptiles? Like, they aren't banned, but you need permits and need to follow a training as well? Like yeah, french laws are too much ugh
@@lucianovargas8622 Yeah, but no, It's called a "Certificat de capacité" (or CDC) which mean "Certification of ability", but it's really a BIG THING, like it's the same thing that you need for having a lion or an elephant... And it's very expensive, difficult and long (5 years). So it's not reachable for most people... So these animals are banned like a lion for exemple ! (But it can be a little hognose snake...)
I really liked this video. I haven’t kept reptiles for sometime, because I’m an entomologist and our creatures are superior to anything in your hobby, this much is obvious. However, I fostered a bearded dragon and I raised a Nile monitor that was initially supposed to be a foster but one that I would never have separated from me until the end of her life. Both animals learned their name when I called it. And the monitor specifically, adapted to my lifestyle in a way that I can’t describe but was excellent for such a “mean” animal without teaching her anything. I had to take a week off of work when she passed away. I did not realize how important she was to my life. I can still remember how excited I felt when the bearded dragon with chase after food and when that Nile monitor finally excepted me as being part of her environment. Even though invertebrates are obviously better (jokes) this is unfortunate. I live in Florida and if there is a way to organize for pet owners, I hope you promote it. I’ll join whatever organization I need to. It broke my heart when I lost my reptile and I don’t want anyone else to ever feel that prematurely. Sending my love to everyone impacted by this.
In my city (Arlington VA) they tried to ban all exotic pets after a Yellow Anaconda showed up in somebody's toilet. Exotic pet owners of all kinds wrote to the county board to protest the ban. At the time, the only exotic animal I owned was a hedgehog, but when I got to have a phone call with a county board member I stood up for non-venomous snakes as well. The ban ended up only banning a few things like big cats, non-native venomous arachnids, etc. Owners of exotic pets should stand up for each other. Yellow Anacondas are still legal here btw despite being the animal that started the whole crisis.
As of July 1st, my 3 box turtles were banned in Virginia. I didn't even know about it until I saw a news article. I was able to get grandfathered in, but I now have to own a permit to have them. I had to take them to the same place you get hunting licenses from and have their pictures taken. It's scary times, but when I lived in NY, I was always fighting to keep my rescue animals.
An amazing effort Clint! It's very difficult to tell who's in the right because sadly invasive species are a real problem for Southeastern US but I absolutely disagree that good keepers should be lumped together with impulse buyers. Which is why I feel this channel is extremely important! We need to show that the majority of the reptile community are responsible people who don't take the commitment lightly. Keep up the good work sir! As a sidenote, I now appreciate Canada's insane weather for once.. not too many reptiles can become invasive here...
@@lensofthenorth42 the bans really make no sense. In California we can walk into a reptile store and get a beaded lizard (for a lot of money lol) no questions asked but the Gila monster is banned. They are quite similar yet one is not allowed. I feel like the people who made this law don’t even know about beaded lizards and if they did they would probably try to ban them. I’m sure the same case goes for many many reptiles
I think that depends on where in Canada, because where we live in Ontario we Burmese Pythons, Rock Pythons and Retics were banned (recently they have been un-banned though), and all medically significant venomous species are illegal to own. But on a whole, I agree, because our climate doesn’t really work for many exotic non-native species, bans aren’t as “necessary” because they won’t thrive. (Although that doesn’t mean that uneducated people won’t try).
@@noahparsons7420 oh I'm not saying I know for sure the bans make sense. All I'm saying is that the issue of many species commonly kept as pets becoming invasive is very real and lawmakers feel like they have to do something, though since most aren't very well informed on the topic the laws they pass aren't always the best answer to the problem. It's just unfortunate that many people still buy reptiles on an impulse thinking it's just like buying a hamster which they will have to worry about for no more than 2 or 2.5 years. And this is why I believe that this channel, which explains in details care and husbandry is very important.
I've wanted a large lizard in Florida for ages, I've been waiting my whole childhood for one. Lately I've been considering a tegu, but wasn't ready for a big reptile yet. I was hoping to get one as soon as I owned a house (searching for one now), but now I can't and the frustration is deep. I waited for nothing. I'm considering other large lizards instead, but few seem as manageable as tegus. Hopefully the law will change in time T-T At the same time. I love Florida's ecosystem, so I've been divided on the issue because I do understand the problem with released exotics. At the same time, few regulations exist for non-reptilian invasives, household cats for example, which decimate song bird populations. But it's easier to ban things that "aren't cute."
I completely understand. I also wanted a tegu when I was ready and now they're banned. The only solace I have is that it would have taken me years anyways so hopefully the law changes from a ban to at least conditional ownership. Heck, my initial jerk reaction was "I don't care about the law im getting one illegally" but I know that's wrong.
@@jbzookeeper Ill consider it. Im actually planning to adopt ir rehome a lizard uf I can. Best way to keep exotics out of the wild is probably just to normalize rehoming unwanted reptiles. Still a ways off from being ready yet though. 1br apartments arent for big lizards
@@jbzookeeper I dunno about op but iguanas wouldn't do it for me in the sense of "This lizard is sociable to the point of almost seemingly craving attention." I do like iguanas, it's just that tegus are...well a completely different animal
I almost dont even want to call it a hobby. To a certain extent, we are making it possible to keep these species alive and in existence while people continue to wreck their natural environment/habitats. We might be the only thing that stands in the way of extinction longterm. I truly believe herping is necessary for their survival on our mistreated planet. Thank you clint for being a siren and using your knowledge in an eloquent way to save our reptile friends and family.
I am questioning why it is even allowed to have pets outside the domesticated native species? Owning a reptile makes sense in their native tropical environment but not when you need artificial heat and UV light.
I live in a country with a lot of ridiculously restrictive animal laws, fx. you aren't allowed to import & keep live domestic rats here, even though the climate is WAY too harsh for them to become invasive, which means it's not possible to breed our own feeder rats for our reptiles, so we have to import dead rats which is much more expensive. We also have a strict ban on pit bulls which is absolutely arcaic. In my experience, so many of these regulations are based on fear & ignorance, & most politicians don't seem to know anything about the actual science. That's why education is so important! & voting for politicians who care & want to listen.
Pitbull (and all breed specific) bans are nuts. Not only are there several dog breeds with stronger bite strength out there, but it's nearly impossible to verify what breed the dog that attacked was unless it was caught right away or clear video was taken of the event. I'd *almost* understand a general ban on large breeds in cities, since dogs require a lot of space and you just aren't going to find that in a midtown apartment, but targeting a specific breed and banning it from an entire state or *country?* I often get the impression that politicians aren't aware that rural areas even *exist.*
@@brigidtheirish exactly. I wouldn’t really mind a law prohibiting large breeds from being banned from apartments. As a dog lover it breaks my heart seeing such large and powerful dogs being confined to tiny apartments.
@@ratbones620 Not just apartments. When I was growing up, there were these two dogs kept in a tiny little run in someone's backyard. The yard itself was pretty big, no our double lot, but still sizeable, but the area these dogs were confined to was just big enough for a couple doghouses and for the dogs to lay down fully stretched out in front of the doghouses. It was roofed, too, so they didn't really get any sunlight. These were *big* hunting dogs, mind, but I don't remember ever seeing their run empty, so I don't think they were ever taken on hunting trips. They just paced the little area they were allotted at varying speeds and barked at *everything.* They howled pretty often, too, especially at the monthly tornado siren test. I'm honestly surprised they never got a noise complaint. As annoying as their barking was, though, I always felt really sorry for them.
I appreciate what USARK does and certainly support them. It’s just a shame that we have to fight so hard to negotiate policies that we had no say in to start with. The government forgot that they work for us.
This is great information, here in arizona we have some of the toughest regulations in the state, they not only make it harder to get the animals through permits when they are no danger to the environment, they also make it hard if not impossible to get permits.
I wish governments actually spoke to experts before passing laws. Blanket bans aren't the answer. Do background checks on potential owners or something like that.
This all is extremely concerning and I hope we can get some individuals with power to bring attention to this and speak out before it is too late for us to prevent unnecessary legislation from destroying all the wonderful opportunities that responsible reptile keeping offers.
Part of the problem is the industry. It is very irresponsible to sell cheap Burmese Pythons, Nile Monitors and so on. They may be fine for a expert but too many people bought them not prepared to deal with them. I don't support the ban but there is a problem in the industry.
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons This is blatantly false And even if it was true, that just means you're putting the blame on the actual responsible reptile owners...
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons Like all animal owners, there are people that release their animals into the wild This includes reptile owners albeit it's only a handful...
This is all such great information.. and for some of us..this isn't just a hobby..its a lifestyle or livelihood. This video gives me hope.
It gives me hope as well.
And sadly, it's putting people out of jobs, like herpatologists and reptile educators
Reptile lifestyle I like the ring of that...
So true
@@ClintsReptiles What upsets me about this whole issue are irresponsible reptile owners who, instead of rehoming pets they can no longer care for, are releasing them into the wild. It’s those handful of idiots that are ruining it for the entire reptile community. Animals are not status symbols. If you cannot properly care for them, don’t purchase them.
When it comes to handlability, we give politicians a 0 out of 5.
They're not the most personable of reptiles either
😂
Political leaders are a -5 out of 5
@@matildaharden1064 Aren't there any lower ratings? You're being really generous with that -5
0 out of 5. Terrible personalities. Lie to their constituents and are overall nasty beasts not worth listening to or having any faith in. Best to avoid them at all costs 😂
Just WONDERFUL! K
Thank you, Kevin! And thank you for all that you have done and are doing to help!
Clint is a legend!
wow dude uhmm your problably just looking for attention so everybody please just ignore this guy
@@11-devonb25 Actually NERD Is a really good influence to the world
I love this perspective. Screaming isn't going to work, but offering better alternatives is hard to argue with.
Florida's ban was in part due to self inflicted wounds.
I know you hammer the "Do not release animals into the wild" point, but we need to start banging that drum even louder.
This. I love reptiles and want people to be able to keep them, but making progress on how we sell and keep reptiles is really important (along with educating people about invasive species and ecological damage, etc). If keepers and breeders as a whole don't do better these regulations will just keep getting stricter and stricter. I do agree some of the laws feel nonsensical, but a lot of it is at the expense of trying to avoid ecological damage.
You can look it up, the burmese python issue is due to a breeding facility being destroyed in a hurricane. Current laws don't stop these things from happening again as similar facilities still exist under current laws. They banned ownership by the common owner for something provably not caused by the common owner.
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons were all aware of the Burmese issue.
Explain iguanas, explain tegus, explain chameleons, explain all the other invasive reptiles.
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons "aren't creating any ecological problems YET" .... did you read what you just wrote?
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons oh no your commentary is wrong as a tegu owner I can see how detrimental a tegu would be especially once they reproduce and get out there. Birds would be threatened, snakes, lizards, rodents, and small mamals would not be hard for a tegu to kill. Tegus also burrow so that can have its own effect on the landscape. Lets not forget when they do breed they can have large clutches and by the sound of it they are thriving as much as iguanas who are wreaking havoc on the vegetation. Should they be banned no but I do understand the concern for it Florida imitates their home so well they thrive its unfortunate. Sadly with all the invasion that is now threatening the wildlife other states are becoming g fearful and banning without looking at if that reptile would even be able to survive a winter! If they can't survive a winter they won't thrive and they won't be able to reproduce. I know in my state when they banned ferrets they slaughtered the animals that were being being kept as pets. I couldn't imagine that happening with my Tegu. People shouldn't just fear but politicians are in it for the money they don't look or even read bills its just a who knows who type of deal and it's disgusting!
I have a Argentine Tegu and Florida. They recently got banned along with green iguanas. Thx for talking about this topic.
We need to stick together.
Rip
i would love a tegu, a dream reptile, now that dream can never come true
I believe some already owned animals are fine to still keep, though they now have some tighter enclosure restrictions? It goes on a species-by-species basis
The laws have grandfather clauses, I believe your Tegu is fine to keep.
You can check the new enclosure restrictions on Florida's state website. There's a section where you can ready recently passed legislation
How does it feel to be a criminal? Just kidding man. Lol
I'm going to my local pet shop tomorrow to ask the owner if I can set up a fund raiser for USARK. I make reptile shed jewelry, leashes, harnesses and hammocks for lizards. I want to sell them and donate ALL proceeds to USARK. Hopefully he lets me set it up and it does well. Helping save this hobby means the world to me. Also, thankyou so much for all you do to educate people in all of your awesome videos!
Congrats I hope you do great!!!
Every act to help us keep our pets and livelihoods helps
I just started getting into reptiles, I don’t want to have them taken away
Yes I've only been in for about 4 years but I'm so worried that all my little guys will get taken away
They will have to fight me😡
@@jscritters5579 same, I refuse to go down without a fight 😡😠
@@xtremegamer4856 The entire point of this video is not to fight but to work together! If you actually care about animals you have to understand the problem they try to fight, they do it to save animals.
@@mrtadulla1512 i don’t mean I’ll actually fight I just mean I’m not just going to hand over my reptiles
Clint, you again demonstrate that you are the most level, headed and mature TH-cam Herper out there.
Just trying to do my part.
USark kept all reptiles from being added to the “dangerous wild animal” list here in WV. From what I’ve read you can basically keep anything lol
Luckily you where I live basically anything with scales is considered invasive even if it's a species that wouldn't survive even a mild winter.
I’m a resident of West Virginia and the dangerous wild animal act was more concerned to native West Virginia wildlife. Like for an example you can’t own a bobcat or a skunk but you can own an alligator in fact there’s a reptile shop up the street from me that has 3 young gators for sale right now. Pretty much anything with scales is legal in West Virginia except native reptiles such as the eastern diamond back rattle snake or a copper head or black snake but you can own a cobra lol
@@Wickedreptiles What’s funny about that is in the event of an accident, the hospitals will have the antivenom (antivenin?) for the native species, but not the cobra lol
@@realchiknuggets yea your in pretty bad shape unless you keep your own supply which you should if you own a cobra have the antivenin for that specific cobra. Just the cost to maintain a supply is pretty costly since you have to replace it after so long.
Let's go Mountaineers! We keep it Wild and Wonderful here! 💛💙
We need a Matt in every state.
I'm a member of the USARK and I'm worried about the reptile hobby as well, I just hope this stops, because I want the reptile hobby to continue.
I actually wrote a paper on this topic. Lawmakers are going about the regulation completely wrong. They need to regulate the people that can get the reptiles, not whether you can get them at all. The issue isn’t the presence of the reptiles, it’s the presence of people who don’t understand how to care for them. Having a process for obtaining a permit to own certain reptiles would be the best in the long run. Someone who wants a permit would have to show that they have the necessary knowledge, experience, and resources to take care of the reptile they want. That way you protect both reptiles and people.
That’s true, it could be like a combination of a hunting license and CPR certification. You go pay a fee (hunting license) and take a test to get your initial license (like CPR cert.). Local organizations like zoos and reptile facilities can offer classes to help people get ready for the test (you could even have a discount on the fee for people who take the courses). Then every so many years you need to renew your license, either paying a renewal fee like a hunting license or retaking a test like CPR certification.
Excellent, applicable information. Thank you both for addressing this issue, and teaching us how to take part in our governmental process.
I'm just so thankful that I have the opportunity to know Matt, and the platform to help him share this incredible information with us.
Keep fighting the good fight Clint! I really appreciated this video👍
Thank you! We're all in this together.
Hopefully we can, especially with people like you!
We're all in this together!
You being truthful about these incredible animals is doing alot of good already. Irresponsible owners are the problem.
This is great news. Thanks to all parties involved
Just became a member of USARK. We need to join together to fight these bans.
Just found this channel a couple days ago and I have watched over 70 videos! I love love love this channel. I used to be a fishkeeper only but now I dream to own reptiles in the future. This channel is amazing and is going to bring me into the reptile hobby.
Meanwhile in Australia, you aren't allowed to own any reptiles that aren't native. At least I've got my Bearded Dragon though.
Bearded dragons are a great reptile thou
I feel bad for you not being able to keep our things in the US like Kingsnakes and milksnakes and I feel bad we can’t keep Shinglebacks. If I could just keep a small group of animals it would be a little group of Shinglebacks but at the same time YOUR country is beautiful and unique as as a person not trying to be biased even though I’m a reptile person... I get it. You’re country is a jewel that needs to be protected.
.... also we are in the midst of this because we will sell anything to anyone at a reptile show and they can just let it run free or get turned loose or get loose and harm someone. There’s an ignorant bias AGAINST reptiles for sure which makes it easier for unfamiliar people to vote against us but we’ve done a lot of this on our own unfortunately.
That isn't as bad as it seems. I mean, there's wonderful reptiles down there!!
Australia is probably afraid of another herp invasion like the Cane Toad
@@Michaeldemented94 Probably, yet they don't ban cats, which are even worse than the cane toads in invasiveness..
Thanks for using your platform to discuss these things and help broaden our reach as a community! Much appreciated!
In Norway, most pet reptiles and all amphibians are banned because "it is unethical and people neglect them". If they are gonna ban reptiles then they should also ban dogs and cats because they are way more complex and easier to neglect. Cats also eat lemming and mice.
I don't think that is true of every single reptile though. Sure that can be viewed as "cruel" for some species but skinks and bearded dragons seem to enjoy even simulated habitats. In the case of cats and dogs we are talking about two species of animals that are already acclimated to living in urban environments due to humans breeding them for that. That cat is already out of the box (pun intended) and there is no going back on dogs or cats, they're here to stay as pets. But you wouldn't say the same about keeping a wolf as a pet or a jaguar I'm sure, because it would be cruel to both the animal and everyone else that has to share space with yo
@@williamdryden6175 So you keep them in a climate-controlled environment to perfectly suit their needs and that's somehow cruel? And considering how many people manage to keep happy, healthy reptiles, I don't think the cost of sufficient space is as high as you think.
Also, dogs *are* wolves. Heavily domesticated, but it was already done more than once.
@@williamdryden6175 my ball python got more relaxed when he was moved from a giant 6-ft enclosure to a 30 gal. terrarium. You can't just say "Well if that was me, a cat, or dog, I'd be really upset." Reptile standards need to be based on reptile behavior in the wild and what actually stresses individual animals in captivity. Species like the ball python are creatures of habit with small ranges. Many would be perfectly happy if all their food just came to them in the same rodent hole or termite mound for the rest of their lives. Many reptiles get handled regularly (and should, unless they're venomous or ridiculously tiny), so it's not like they never get any stimulation. By that logic, it should also be cruelty to keep a husky in an apartment, because the "enclosure" is way too small. Never mind the fact that it gets long walks every other day.
By equating reptiles with mammals, you are adding to the problem.
I've always said the reptile hobby needs a licencing system. You get your licence by proving you have the knowledge to look after any animal and without it you won't be sold an animal. I've been having this argument in the UK for many years.
Most people wouldn't get in a vehicle without proving you know how to operate it.
ngl i think all pets should; there's a reason shelters exist, from all the uneducated people who buy pets without knowledge then release or simply neglect because of the lack of education. Not just exotics, but even domestic animals as well
If reptiles should need a license to keep, then so should dogs, cats, and children.
@@HoundofOdin I agree
@@ShinningCrys Having to get a license because a stray cat decided to move into your house... Yeah, no.
@@brigidtheirish a stray cat moving into the bottom side of your porch, does not mean you adopted it. Adopting it would mean stating to the government and in papers that "I hereby take ownership and responsibility of the health and actions of my pet." It would be a license for ownership, not for "x animal happened to make their home in my backyard."
So glad to see a nuanced video that encourages us to find a positive way to engage. I have been having a hard time wanting to be associated with some of the people in our community who have been on a war path, and coming across really poorly. This video gives me hope.
I think there is a bit of a Tiger King effect here. Exotic animal keepers aren't generally perceived well by the general public. Weirdos they might say. That in conjunction with invasive species problems easily swing the opinions of normal people that don't fully understand the hobby.
& the thing is, there's a HUUUUGE difference between keeping a tiger & fx. a tegu. A tegu needs a room in your house which is reasonable for a good number of people, but a tiger needs acres upon acres of territory which is impossible for 99.9% of humans to provide. There's gotta be some regulations, but they have to make sense.
That's true. It's impossible to care for a tiger in a natural way in captivity.
However, you might be able to say the say about large pythons and several monitors. Known to travel miles on a given day but we keep them in a box.
We need to acknowledge where it's the same before we can proclaim that it's different.
I do suspect that a lot of the "traveling animal Bans" recently have something to do with wanting to end tiger cubbing and similar practices. Which is fantastic but the problem is that the bans are waaaaaaaaay to broad.
I also find it funny that new york is trying to ban animal shipments and now they are banning animal shows on top of it. The animal show ban in New York is limited and the species they put on it are more reasonable to me with the exception of the Burmese pythons, Retics, and Water Monitors I think they could add more foxes to the exception list too since there are so many captive-bred fur farm pet red foxes in our country.
@@RoseProseFroze
Yes. The lawmakers definately need to educate themselves but they won't because most people won't or just don't care. They'd just as soon kill reptiles.
I would agree. In my experience, dips like the Tiger King almost always have done something stupid before a wave a ban attempts come in. My parents were involved with a big cat club back in the 60's and 70's. Most were responsible people that wanted to figure out ways of responsible keeping these animals, but there were a few that had them as status symbols and would do ridiculously irresponsible things with them (like taking them out in public without proper precautions). It's inevitable that an accident or near accident happens, and when it does, people get outraged and start making snap decisions. If I'm remembering correctly, the last big ban on a whole bunch of exotic animals where I am started off because somebody with a big cat (can't remember what kind) was showing it off to people and encouraging the cat to jump on his back. Nothing bad happened between the cat and anybody, but the news picked it up and the ban legislation started to roll in.
I don't think the idea of bans comes from a bad place or that bans themselves are necessarily bad, but blanket bans don't work. It's also not really fair to blame the public for lack of education. It takes a lot of effort to learn things. Of course a legislator should be informed as much as possible, but when time is limited, you have to pick what to spend that time on. I don't necessarily blame them for knee jerk blanket bans. We can try to work with lawmakers to help make these laws more practical (as discussed in the video), but individual keepers can also help by just being responsible.
If you own exotics, be responsible with them. Every exotic animal and exotic animal keeper is an ambassador to the public. Nobody cares about the millions of whatevers being kept safely and humanely, the moment something scandalous enough for the news to pick up on happens you've hurt the entire community.
A little support from Germany here.We can do this!
Thank you!
Same im also German lol
Zufall hab noch nie einen deutschen hier getroffen
@@YeZebster ja war sehr unerwartet
@@YeZebster die meisten schreiben keine Kommentare
You convinced me to get a Hognose snake! Your enthusiasm and love for these animals will help save the hobby!
I’m so happy with Utahs changes, when I was young I got in huge trouble for just catching snakes and lizards and letting them go. Now with a permit you can buy online they won’t bother you unless your messing with protected species. Which is reasonable.
i really hope all goes well for you folks in the States and that you can fight these bans and help preserve the reptile hobby. on a much lighter note, congrats on 300k!!
Thank you!
This information is great. I do like that you are not portraying all legislation on reptiles as bad because one unfortunate outcome of problematic legislation is that people begin to look at all legislation as bad instead of making logical steps to improve legislation some groups have begun to just fight all legislation. The balance he talks about is important. Thank you that your channel carefully covers topics with the complexity that is needed to properly portray these topics.
I agree. We need more nuanced legislation not no legislation.
Thank you for talking about this subject! Your videos encouraged me to take a leap into the hobby. I would be heartbroken if I ever had to give it up.
It's such a wonderful and often misunderstood hobby.
I really like the idea of approaching this as an "us" problem rather than a "me vs you" thing. Conservation is vital to our future, so if we truly love animals, we need to be willing to work with those who mean to preserve our wild habitats and critters. This isn't the time for egos to get in the way of progress. Good on you, Clint, for seeing the other angles of this issue rather than just your own interests as a reptile keeper!! I'm so encouraged by this video. Keep up the awesome work!
Im a bio student pursuing herpetology, thankyou so much for being the first and only channel to address this issue with logic and intelligence and not just emotions about "you cant take my animals away". I persoanlly would rather have bad bans or be over banned than have no bans cause the environment is more important than myself
I love this video. Yes, the best way is to find out what the concerns are and what alternatives can fulfil those needs. Getting emotional is understandable but you have to realise that a lot of these people are driven by logic and actually see emotions as weakness. Threats don’t work either as it makes your argument weak: you have no real reasons so you’re resulting to aggression, which is dismissible as well. Getting a panel of experts that support your views, from their side and yours allows the best presentation of legit alternatives that work with both views. This isn’t a sword game, this is isn’t a “if you can’t beat them, join them”, it’s a “this is a better solution that there is better for everyone”. Remember, it’s not about you, it’s what is best of the animal and environment it will be in. Focus on that point of view.
I wish you all luck on deterring or amending any legislation that impacts negatively on the animal owners, innocent bystanders, and above all the animals.
Personally I don’t believe there is any reason not to allow people who got the animals before the legislation to continue to keep their pets, including those who paid and brought them but have not yet received them at the time of the change, and there to be a buffer date of at least 3 months to allow people to sell any animals if they are recently acquired to people who have had the species for more than 5 years. This would encourage the owners who were no longer interested in keeping or may change their mind further down the track to responsibly cease keeping an animal. Any animal ordered or paid after a week of the legislation should be annulled unless as previous specified, is to a long time keeper who has been recognised to be a responsible owner.
Keep educating its great to learn about this reptile ban in some states from the United Kingdom
We're all in this together
We need a guy like him in Washington state right now. We want to legalize and work with the state to be able to own and work with Snappers, Softshells, venomous, crocodilians some fish species, some mammals, and a variety of native wildlife. I've contacted USARK about it and they ARE willing to help if we get a group of people to alleviate the 2007 exotics ban. Join us
I appreciate this content. As a nile owner this is cause for concern, for any veranus owner really. Thank you. Both of you.
Gotta Love Varanids.
@@gman2478 that are the best. Like having a lizard with a pufferfish for a neck hahaha
Ive been waiting to see your response Clint. thanks for yet another fantastic video.
As a guy from the Uk I’m getting worried about the hobby over here. Lots of the time we follow the USA on their laws (or at least consider it) we are currently facing issues down south with Red eared sliders, And right now due to climate change they are moving up north (to where I live). So I’m worried for both us over here and you guys across the pond
Start organizing now
@@ClintsReptiles aye aye captain
Bruh, I could not survive without my red ear slider, I was scared to move to Florida, I've had my read ear since I was 6
Agreed I hope more than anything that the uk dose not follow Florida’s law and take away my arginine tegu
I don’t think it will happen here in the UK. There’s little to no danger of most pet reptiles becoming invasive in our climate.
excellent video and ideas. well said
Relationships sometimes get so bad that *park workers* hate the regulations.
There's this one park were, at least a few years ago, they had a small fenced pond with a nesting box for swans. The same swan couple would come every year to raise their cygnets. The last year I'd visited the park, there were fewer cygnets than usual and the male was patrolling just in front of the box acting very agitated. One of the workers there said it was because a softshell turtle had gotten through the fence and grown too big to get back out. The turtle was eating the cygnets every time they got in or near the water and the park workers couldn't do anything about it because that would be 'disrupting nature.'
I pointed out that the pond was man-made, as were the fence and nesting box. Hell, this was a *city park,* not some nature preserve. Even if it was, the whole point of the nesting box and pond was to give these swans, a rare bird in this area, a safe place to raise their young. With the turtle there, they might not come back next year. The worker completely agreed, said the rule was idiotic and made by people who didn't know what they were doing, and went on to say that if I happened to throw a large rock at the turtle's head, she wouldn't see anything.
You know a situation has gotten bad when a park worker tells you that.
As a Florida reptile owner, thank you for bringing awareness to this.
If we stick together, we can educate the public to proper reptile keeping.
We all really appreciate this video Clint!!
I hope it helps! It gives me hope.
I have now shared this with most every Reptile Facebook group I am apart of.
Thank you! Hopefully it helps.
Remember how goes reptile legislation, also will eventuallky apply for the aquarium trade, insects, birds, and mammals.
Guys, please like and share this video. Every reptile lover need to know this.
I donated $15 to USARK FL yesterday to help them stop this nonsense ban!
Politicians should not be involved in things they have no stake in. Let those who know and understand the ecosystem, its animals and people who work with them.
Very well said.
Another one in the books. You're the man, Clint (and all of your awesome guests)!
Thank you for making this video!!!
I think some of the harm comes from the more extreme keepers that have an "anything goes" attitude. I remember seeing so many comments like "as humans we should be able to own any animal we want" when Oklahoma wanted to ban keeping large cats like tigers as pets. I'm worried that it will be those people that make us keepers seem unreasonable and cause restrictions to be worse.
I agree. When Florida is having so many problems with invasive species hurting the environment (some of those species that eat children from time to time), I don't think it's unreasonable to consider a ban.
Agreed. There are some animals that are simply not meant to be pets. With reptiles, there are some animals that push the limits but can be kept if they are captive bred (so as to not disrupt natural populations) and are raised by an experienced keeper. However, I agree there are many animals that should never be kept captive. That said, it truly saddens me to see the tegu banned in some states. As far as big lizards go, the tegu is one of the easiest to care for and most docile, and to me it makes no sense to ban them
@@BlueFHS Absolutely. Tegus can be cared for rather easily in comparison to many other animals. I understand the invasiveness as a problem in Florida but I don't think a tegu ban is the solution.
@@kyubi430 Honestly if anything, the issue is people releasing the tegu into the wild when they can’t care for it. Instead of banning the animal entirely, make it illegal to get rid of the animal by releasing it. Maybe have a system where tegus and other large “exotic” reptiles have to be microchipped when purchased. So maybe if a tegu is spotted in the wild, it can be caught and the microchip can be read or something, in order to determine who was responsible for the lizard and who released it.
@@BlueFHS I would be willing to do that. If people had to register them like a car or something I think it would help reduce the amount of people who do stuff like that because then they would be held accountable.
They just dont understand that keeping reptiles is a huge passion, and many people make a living from them. I honestly don't understand how someone would want to ruin this community.
There's a lot of reasons why I've planned moving to the USA from Australia but your reptile potential is definitely #1. I've been keeping for nearly 2 decades and am looking forward to finally owning something that isn't Australian. Please support these people in securing your freedom to work with and keep these beautiful animals, otherwise you'll end up like Australia and have no rights left.
Australia - Harsh climate, most of the wildlife will kill you. Government say HA no guns for you. Also dont say anything too spicy on twitter or go to jail, do not pass go/collect $200.
Arizona, US - similar climate. Some venomous reps/inverts to look out for. BUT.... gun bullets go bbrrrrr lol
Hope it works out for you!
The New York one is worrying because it doesn't just target reptiles. It's a total ban on shipping live animals. Most small poultry farms rely on shipping in chicks. I do think there should be regulation to make sure animals are treated humanely. But how is driving them personally in a crate any different than paying a shipping company to do the same thing?
Chicks are a lot more vulnerable than most reptiles. Even properly packaged, there's always a big chance there'll be a couple dead chicks in the box, whereas properly packaged reptiles have a very slim chance of dying. Chicks are dependant on their mother, & get very stressed when they're seperated from her, & even a couple of hours of stress is enough to kill a chick. Banning all animal shipping is ridiculous, but there are some species that shouldn't be shipped.
@@xandermin Chick shipping is pretty common though, even when you buy chicks from a farm supply store, they were shipped in. Chicks of most domestic poultry are hatched in incubators and are never with their mother. I've had chicks and adult chickens shipped many times and they are almost always 100% fine. They are shipped overnight in a heated box with about 25 of them, keeping them together keeps them calm and less stressed. I do support rules for shipping chicks (i.e. has to be overnight, no overcrowding in the box, has to be heated), but an outright ban would really hurt a lot of small farmers. If even you do breed some of your own, most small farms need to bring in outside animals for genetic diversity. Only the big poultry farms that have their own breeding system wouldn't be affected. This will be a problem unless everyone goes completely vegan, which is very unlikely.
I would like the public at large to also understand that DOGS AND CATS are EXOTIC and INVASIVE. Thank you for addressing this!
We need to ban dogs for sure..l 18,000 assaults on humans per year.
@@AtlasRandGaming we need to ban CATS!! THEY ARE AWFUL
@@AtlasRandGaming
Guys the big picture isn't we need to ban more animals. Thats what HSUS and ASPCA and PETA wants, their all a connected politician ran company for the funding of a anti-human to animal relation society... We don't need fingers pointing to other animal owners. We as a unified group of species owners need to hold ourselves and others accountable for sure, but this is not the time... They have all intensive purposes to ban all animal ownership and preservation. This isn't " they should ban this or that first"
Look at it from their side like clint said, you've got a HUGE group of dog and cat owners that have been paying money to PETA and ASPCA for years because they wanna help bobby find a new home... They had no idea the entire time was the money used to pay politicians to ensure future removal of animal ownership. They spent years chipping away at it.. first they banned Dobermans, then Dalmatians, They attacked German shepherds, now it's the Pit bull... Each time they where fought and lifted by the owners of said animals. They tried to use that because these animals are seen as human danger, chipping away with forks to attack where it could hit most " human safty" because the legislators wouldn't listen to them otherwise... They found time and time again they where hit by a HUGE population with for the most part already active and protected laws that counter irresponsible ownership. So it wasn't easy.. They STILL plan to ban all animals. Their just attacking reptile owners because we aren't as unified.. and this here is why :/ Once they ban reptiles it's onto fish owners who are totally in the dark since they won in the 1700s. And then it's rodents, cats and dogs.. NOBODY will have animals if we keep attacking eachother like this.
@@AtlasRandGaming You realise that this kind of thinking is exactly why reptiles are getting banned right? You are looking at this backwards. You should not be trying to get other species banned as revenge for what happened to ones you care about, you should be pointing out that it isn't necessary to ban the other species and therefore is not necessary to ban the one you care about. When you call for a ban on another species, you reinforce the ban on your own.
@@darcieclements4880 have you heard of “sarcasm”?
Timing is important! Sometimes seemingly simple issues are contentious. For instance, in North Carolina, our coastal fishing laws are highly destructive. Our fisheries are nearly completely destroyed, so hauls have gone down significantly. There are simple regulations that could easily start bringing it back, like within the next 5 years. The science is clear & well understood.
The problem is that large fishing corps spread propaganda to their workers, basically demonizing all conservation efforts. As a result it's a vicious cycle- the fishermen overfish, catches go down, economic anxieties go up, regulations (which will short term reduce hauls) are viewed as the 'real' threat, and resistance to change increases. There are systemic issues as well, for instance our fisheries commission actually has corporate interests represented on it.
As a result there is an incredibly hostile atmosphere against any and all regulations. Known conservationists literally can't walk around fishing towns, because they will be harassed and threatened. I know someone who gave a speech at a rally in the wrong part of town and she had to be escorted by police, because people literally showed up with guns. Not to mention the usual ways tricks they use to get anti-scientific propaganda processed by moderates/uneducated people- 'I just want to hear both sides' 'the science is out' etc.
If we'd been able to prevent deregulation ~30 years ago, we'd never be in this situation at all.
Jokes on them when their livelihood is gone forever. If you don't take care of the goose that lays the golden eggs, you deserve poverty. Here in Canada our cod fishing industry is totally ruined. The genes for massive cod are gone, which means only small, less fertile individuals are available to reproduce. And those guys even had the moxie to compare Canadian cod stocks to the Icelandic ones. They conveniently overlooked the fact Canadian cod need 3 years to reach sexual maturity, while the Icelandic ones only need 2. Historically, there used to be so many cod off of Canada's east coast you could lower a basket in the water and easily catch some with low effort. Overfishing is one of the reasons why we in the modern world can't have nice things.
Excellent points! I do believe the situation in Florida has become so impossible because both sides have become so entrenched in their own views that it has become a war. And now no one wins and compromise and logic have gone out the window.l
Great discussion about how to find a middle ground and help all involved. We need to educate the politicians and ensure all legislation is purposeful and reasonable
Clint- Thanks for this 5 star video. You and Matt did a wonderful job explaining the challenges of achieving common-sense regulations when it comes to being a responsible herpoculturist. We need to inform legislators and officials whose responsibility for the regulations of captive and native reptiles that the majority of stake holders want humane and sustainable rules for captive animals, and rules that are simple enough for laypeople to follow when encountering reptiles and amphibians in the wild.
Thank you Clint for talking about this issue it's very important to me as Florida Resident.
So does USARK work in this way , because this is EXACTLY what needs to happen! As much as I love the hobby and going to expos, there is ALOT wrong too. For one, the pressures the industry puts on wild populations. Yet I like responsible keepers to be able to work with those animals too. But seeing all the poor imports for sale knowing about 1% will survive is heartbreaking! Thank you for this video Clint!
Thank you so much for making this video. This is a trying time for reptile keepers and it is good to know that there are so many intelligent and rational people within the community working to help. On a side note, Matt looks like he could take a side job as Mark Wahlberg's stunt double.
😆
Great video. Very important.
this is so sad :(
as soon as I started to get obsessed about reptiles, this happens. its so unreasonable, but I still have hope, thanks to this video !
I already talk about that, but in France, we really have TO MUCH LAWS about reptiles, and exotic pets in general.
All native animals, in Mainland France, but also for example French Guyana, are forbidden (Goodbye legless lizard, jeweled lacerta, false water cobra, rainbow boa, caiman tegu...), all monitor that are ove 1 meter (around 3.2 feet), all reptiles that are venemous, even just a bit (like hognose, Xenodon...) snakes over 3 meters (around 9.8 feet), a lot of endangered species, species that are difficult to keep, and a lot more for reasons that I don't even know... (Uromastyx, for exemple ?), we have to tag almost all reptiles... and more laws will maybe come out in few weeks, like animal shipping that will become forbidden, like in some states in USA !
So, USA is still a paradise for us ! 😅
@@williamdryden6175 that’s true and it makes sense that the endangered and venomous reptile are banned but all the other reptiles are perfect for captivity and keeping them creates insurance populations if they are kept in captivity in case they go extinct in the wild. It also creates a connection between reptiles and humans that can inspire people to protect reptiles in the wild.
@@williamdryden6175 yeah lets ban housecats too with this logic
This is what runaway nanny state leftism gets you, folks..runaway government interference in every aspect of your lives. All for the sake of "being good". Disgusting. Dont give these leftist activists like PETA an inch.
Don't you need to have permits to have all of these reptiles? Like, they aren't banned, but you need permits and need to follow a training as well? Like yeah, french laws are too much ugh
@@lucianovargas8622 Yeah, but no, It's called a "Certificat de capacité" (or CDC) which mean "Certification of ability", but it's really a BIG THING, like it's the same thing that you need for having a lion or an elephant...
And it's very expensive, difficult and long (5 years). So it's not reachable for most people...
So these animals are banned like a lion for exemple ! (But it can be a little hognose snake...)
I really liked this video. I haven’t kept reptiles for sometime, because I’m an entomologist and our creatures are superior to anything in your hobby, this much is obvious. However, I fostered a bearded dragon and I raised a Nile monitor that was initially supposed to be a foster but one that I would never have separated from me until the end of her life. Both animals learned their name when I called it. And the monitor specifically, adapted to my lifestyle in a way that I can’t describe but was excellent for such a “mean” animal without teaching her anything. I had to take a week off of work when she passed away. I did not realize how important she was to my life. I can still remember how excited I felt when the bearded dragon with chase after food and when that Nile monitor finally excepted me as being part of her environment. Even though invertebrates are obviously better (jokes) this is unfortunate. I live in Florida and if there is a way to organize for pet owners, I hope you promote it. I’ll join whatever organization I need to. It broke my heart when I lost my reptile and I don’t want anyone else to ever feel that prematurely. Sending my love to everyone impacted by this.
In my city (Arlington VA) they tried to ban all exotic pets after a Yellow Anaconda showed up in somebody's toilet. Exotic pet owners of all kinds wrote to the county board to protest the ban. At the time, the only exotic animal I owned was a hedgehog, but when I got to have a phone call with a county board member I stood up for non-venomous snakes as well. The ban ended up only banning a few things like big cats, non-native venomous arachnids, etc. Owners of exotic pets should stand up for each other. Yellow Anacondas are still legal here btw despite being the animal that started the whole crisis.
WE have to stand up for our hobby!
Great Video and a Great perspective!
Great video and approach to the issue!!!
IMO, in American politics, the loudest voice = the most money. Those with the loudest voice often get the laws they want passed.
even if those laws make no one safer and turn law-abiding citizens into criminals! especially!!!
Unfortunately, also those who write the biggest checks in some cases.
That's all well and good Clint, but does a Matt Jeppson require UVB bulbs in its basking spot?
Has he been known to drop his tail?
This leaves one pressing question, is bird law a subcategory of reptile law?
As of July 1st, my 3 box turtles were banned in Virginia. I didn't even know about it until I saw a news article. I was able to get grandfathered in, but I now have to own a permit to have them. I had to take them to the same place you get hunting licenses from and have their pictures taken. It's scary times, but when I lived in NY, I was always fighting to keep my rescue animals.
An amazing effort Clint! It's very difficult to tell who's in the right because sadly invasive species are a real problem for Southeastern US but I absolutely disagree that good keepers should be lumped together with impulse buyers. Which is why I feel this channel is extremely important! We need to show that the majority of the reptile community are responsible people who don't take the commitment lightly. Keep up the good work sir!
As a sidenote, I now appreciate Canada's insane weather for once.. not too many reptiles can become invasive here...
Canada also has some interesting bans......
@@blip-2024 Totally lol.. but you still can keep most reptiles.. at least ones common in the hobby.. even a Gila Monster is fair game.
@@lensofthenorth42 the bans really make no sense. In California we can walk into a reptile store and get a beaded lizard (for a lot of money lol) no questions asked but the Gila monster is banned. They are quite similar yet one is not allowed. I feel like the people who made this law don’t even know about beaded lizards and if they did they would probably try to ban them. I’m sure the same case goes for many many reptiles
I think that depends on where in Canada, because where we live in Ontario we Burmese Pythons, Rock Pythons and Retics were banned (recently they have been un-banned though), and all medically significant venomous species are illegal to own. But on a whole, I agree, because our climate doesn’t really work for many exotic non-native species, bans aren’t as “necessary” because they won’t thrive. (Although that doesn’t mean that uneducated people won’t try).
@@noahparsons7420 oh I'm not saying I know for sure the bans make sense. All I'm saying is that the issue of many species commonly kept as pets becoming invasive is very real and lawmakers feel like they have to do something, though since most aren't very well informed on the topic the laws they pass aren't always the best answer to the problem.
It's just unfortunate that many people still buy reptiles on an impulse thinking it's just like buying a hamster which they will have to worry about for no more than 2 or 2.5 years. And this is why I believe that this channel, which explains in details care and husbandry is very important.
I've wanted a large lizard in Florida for ages, I've been waiting my whole childhood for one. Lately I've been considering a tegu, but wasn't ready for a big reptile yet. I was hoping to get one as soon as I owned a house (searching for one now), but now I can't and the frustration is deep. I waited for nothing. I'm considering other large lizards instead, but few seem as manageable as tegus. Hopefully the law will change in time T-T At the same time. I love Florida's ecosystem, so I've been divided on the issue because I do understand the problem with released exotics. At the same time, few regulations exist for non-reptilian invasives, household cats for example, which decimate song bird populations. But it's easier to ban things that "aren't cute."
Do your part, kill your local outdoor cats 🇺🇸
I completely understand. I also wanted a tegu when I was ready and now they're banned. The only solace I have is that it would have taken me years anyways so hopefully the law changes from a ban to at least conditional ownership. Heck, my initial jerk reaction was "I don't care about the law im getting one illegally" but I know that's wrong.
Get a rhino or Cuban iguana, they make great pets and are still legal and hopefully will stay that way
@@jbzookeeper Ill consider it. Im actually planning to adopt ir rehome a lizard uf I can. Best way to keep exotics out of the wild is probably just to normalize rehoming unwanted reptiles. Still a ways off from being ready yet though. 1br apartments arent for big lizards
@@jbzookeeper I dunno about op but iguanas wouldn't do it for me in the sense of "This lizard is sociable to the point of almost seemingly craving attention." I do like iguanas, it's just that tegus are...well a completely different animal
hello great video information Clint
Clint love your videos man this one is top notch
I’m lucky to live in Missouri where we have a great exotic pet community and relaxed laws.
Lucky You. Lucky Missouri
Clint you should make trading cards for all the animals you scored
YES!!!
YESSSS
Yes
That's a really fun idea!
"I'll take your entire stock'
We will get through this together Clint, biologists and herpetologists FTW!
We need the right people in the right places.
I almost dont even want to call it a hobby. To a certain extent, we are making it possible to keep these species alive and in existence while people continue to wreck their natural environment/habitats. We might be the only thing that stands in the way of extinction longterm. I truly believe herping is necessary for their survival on our mistreated planet. Thank you clint for being a siren and using your knowledge in an eloquent way to save our reptile friends and family.
I am questioning why it is even allowed to have pets outside the domesticated native species? Owning a reptile makes sense in their native tropical environment but not when you need artificial heat and UV light.
Definitely helpful. Love this video
I live in a country with a lot of ridiculously restrictive animal laws, fx. you aren't allowed to import & keep live domestic rats here, even though the climate is WAY too harsh for them to become invasive, which means it's not possible to breed our own feeder rats for our reptiles, so we have to import dead rats which is much more expensive. We also have a strict ban on pit bulls which is absolutely arcaic. In my experience, so many of these regulations are based on fear & ignorance, & most politicians don't seem to know anything about the actual science. That's why education is so important! & voting for politicians who care & want to listen.
Pitbull (and all breed specific) bans are nuts. Not only are there several dog breeds with stronger bite strength out there, but it's nearly impossible to verify what breed the dog that attacked was unless it was caught right away or clear video was taken of the event. I'd *almost* understand a general ban on large breeds in cities, since dogs require a lot of space and you just aren't going to find that in a midtown apartment, but targeting a specific breed and banning it from an entire state or *country?* I often get the impression that politicians aren't aware that rural areas even *exist.*
@@brigidtheirish exactly. I wouldn’t really mind a law prohibiting large breeds from being banned from apartments. As a dog lover it breaks my heart seeing such large and powerful dogs being confined to tiny apartments.
@@ratbones620 Not just apartments. When I was growing up, there were these two dogs kept in a tiny little run in someone's backyard. The yard itself was pretty big, no our double lot, but still sizeable, but the area these dogs were confined to was just big enough for a couple doghouses and for the dogs to lay down fully stretched out in front of the doghouses. It was roofed, too, so they didn't really get any sunlight.
These were *big* hunting dogs, mind, but I don't remember ever seeing their run empty, so I don't think they were ever taken on hunting trips. They just paced the little area they were allotted at varying speeds and barked at *everything.* They howled pretty often, too, especially at the monthly tornado siren test. I'm honestly surprised they never got a noise complaint. As annoying as their barking was, though, I always felt really sorry for them.
They need to realize that without bans there aren't illegal ownership. I support y'all from hungary!
I appreciate what USARK does and certainly support them. It’s just a shame that we have to fight so hard to negotiate policies that we had no say in to start with. The government forgot that they work for us.
This is the way to get things done effectively
This is great information, here in arizona we have some of the toughest regulations in the state, they not only make it harder to get the animals through permits when they are no danger to the environment, they also make it hard if not impossible to get permits.
This is what a HERO looks like.
I'm very new to reptile ownership, I didn't know this was happening!
I’ve only had my corn snake for a year they can’t make me get rid of her I have waited so long
I hope he’s doing it for everyone! I live in Ohio and we haven’t had a major ban yet but I’m scared!
You are awesome Clint!
I wish governments actually spoke to experts before passing laws. Blanket bans aren't the answer. Do background checks on potential owners or something like that.
This all is extremely concerning and I hope we can get some individuals with power to bring attention to this and speak out before it is too late for us to prevent unnecessary legislation from destroying all the wonderful opportunities that responsible reptile keeping offers.
Part of the problem is the industry. It is very irresponsible to sell cheap Burmese Pythons, Nile Monitors and so on. They may be fine for a expert but too many people bought them not prepared to deal with them. I don't support the ban but there is a problem in the industry.
Well if they can stop the destruction of natural habitats maybe we can have this conversation
If people would stop impulse buying than we can talk about the decrease in the destruction of the environment.
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons This is blatantly false
And even if it was true, that just means you're putting the blame on the actual responsible reptile owners...
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons
I'm not attacking reptile owners, I think the ban is unjust
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons on another post I literally said I'm sure cats damage the environment more...
@Boaman5435 Rock Pythons Like all animal owners, there are people that release their animals into the wild
This includes reptile owners albeit it's only a handful...