Because the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) listed Inexperienced iguanas, tegus, and Burmese pythons as “Prohibited Species” in 2021, banning dwell assortment of those species from the wild in Florida, populations of these species have continued to increase. FWC’s restrictive Conditional Species guidelines, which had been already in place on the time, had nearly eradicated the preserving of listed species as pets, however nonetheless allowed removing from the wild. Due to the Prohibited Species guidelines, most wild assortment and export of the affected nonnative species ceased.
FWC by no means offered scientific justification that banning the gathering, preserving, and sale of those species would scale back their wild populations in Florida. We are able to see now that it has had the other impact, whereas on the identical time resulting in the confiscation and killing of quite a few pet reptiles. Within the grizzly “Holy Thursday Bloodbath” occasion on April sixth, 2023, FWC officers had been caught on digicam killing over 30 pythons and a legally-owned pregnant Boa constrictor, which they apparently misidentified.
Argentine Black and White Tegu- Picture by Travis de Lagerheim
Earlier than the ban, reptile companies had been exporting tons of of 1000’s of Inexperienced iguanas from the state. Most of those had been freshly-hatched infants. In 2021, most of that assortment and export ceased.
FWC employees not too long ago proposed adjustments to guidelines concerning the administration of Inexperienced iguanas and tegus. In a collection of digital conferences, FWC employees indicated that the target of those adjustments is to activate extra residents to take away these nonnative species from the wild. Nonetheless, the final feeling amongst the reptile keepers and enterprise house owners who commented was that, although a number of the proposed adjustments had been a step in the precise route, the rules are nonetheless convoluted to the purpose of discouraging assortment of untamed iguanas and tegus.
FWC’s proposal will enable sure companies who qualify to be permitted to promote and export Inexperienced iguanas out of state. Collectors could not promote or export the iguanas they catch on their very own, however could also be compensated by industrial allow holders in trade for his or her animals. No new industrial permits will probably be issued for tegus and non permitted people could not accumulate tegus. Black and White tegus are at the moment an rising nonnative species in Florida. Tegus aren’t practically as widespread as Inexperienced iguanas within the wild presently, however it’s believed that they’ve the potential to increase their vary in Florida. FWC is taking no new measures to permit expanded take of untamed tegus in Florida.
Permitted sellers of tegus will proceed to be required to microchip all lizards taken in from the wild and exported, even when these animals are solely saved for a brief time frame inside Florida. Reptile keepers imagine that microchipping is hazardous to the well being of the lizards, particularly the infants.
Extreme caging necessities requiring concrete block enclosures will stay in impact, which is able to proceed to make sure that few keepers or companies can take part.
These guidelines require that any eggs laid or discovered be destroyed, thus eradicating any revenue motive for collectors concentrating on nests or gravid feminine lizards. FWC’s guidelines will really incentivize collectors to depart gravid females and nests in order that they’ll hatch within the wild and the infants will be collected after hatching.
The FWC Commissioners will meet Could 21-22 in Ocala, FL. At this assembly, FWC employees is anticipated to current rule adjustments affecting Nonnative Species.
Reptile keepers and conservationists are involved that bureaucratic purple tape will proceed to discourage efforts to scale back wild populations of those nonnative species. Until FWC is prepared to contemplate extra rule adjustments, particularly regarding caging, microchipping, and additional rising the variety of allow holders, assortment of Inexperienced iguanas and tegus from the wild won’t be economically possible on a big scale, which is able to proceed to permit wild populations of those nonnative species to proceed to propagate and increase.
For more information, please see this video on USARK FL’s YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/M8G4JdZp_C4?si=Vkpck35Je7hEtb3K
For extra info on this matter, or to schedule an interview, please contact Daniel Parker, USARK FL Director of Media, at 863-441-5067 or e mail media@usarkfl.web.
