Banned in Texas?

[a_god_s]

I found this "out there" and wanted to make sure people here knew about it.

BANNED IN TEXAS - OR IS IT?

"The white list laws says "these animals you CAN breed/sell/own in excess of 6" with a collector or dealer's permit. (The permit's do different things, but breeders would typically need the $60 dealer's permit.) Animals NOT on the black list but native to the state CAN be owned (6 or less per person), but there is NO commercial activity allowed. No selling, etc.

The states in their infinite wisdom just made a black list for some reason. That list, it SEEMS, was supposed to be each and every nongame species in the state that is NOT on the white list. Mirror image, right? Somehow, the snakes in east Texas are approved on the white list under "E. slowinskii" and then outlawed because they are called "P. guttata" on the black list. (Yes, I know that is misspelled, but they did it wrong on the list!)

Same snake called by two different names: one name is legal and the other is not. Stupid, and that is probably NOT the intent of the legislature. Still, the letter of the law makes it illegal to own over 6 or sell E. guttata even though it is not a native of Texas."

NOW ABOUT MICE!

"the House Mouse (Mus musculus) is now black listed, too. That means every laboratory breeding facility, every mouse breeding facility for the pet trade, and almost every pet store in Texas is soon going to be in violation of the law for selling common house mice? I can't even begin to estimate how many Texans possess in excess of of 6 live mice (not counting frozen mice for food items of pet species). Obviously, this is another exotic pet species being black listed for no valid biological or social reason. The list does not state which subspecies is/are black listed, so it is assumed that all "pet mice" are now a black listed species, correct?

I noticed that Mediterranean Geckos are still not on the white list nor on the black list. These are exotics, so TPWD doesn't regulate them even though they are still established in Texas. That is similar to the House Mouse, which you are black listing. Cornsnakes aren't established in Texas, but they are still black listed. These discrepancies are confusing, and they will be deleterious to tens of thousands of Texans.

I'm assuming that House mice (and deer mice, for that matter) are not meant to be on the black list. What, if anything, is being done to correct this situation? Where do we stand at this time?"

RESOLUTION - MAYBE?

"TPWD...said it was an accident. I've been informed that they are hoping to take corrective measures at the next commission meeting (unknown date). If that is done, no worries unless some LE tries to enforce it between then and now (unlikely, but I'm waiting to hear more). If the commission does not pass the corrective measures, then we are in serious trouble. I do NOT believe the commission will reject any corrections brought to them at the next meeting. We just need to hope the RIGHT corrective measurements are taken."

Let's hope this is resolved quickly or G you may have to pack your bags