The emergency rule ended on August 25, 2025. Breeders can currently ship blue tree monitors. We will notify our members of changes or when the final rule is posted by FWS.
ALERT UPDATE: Blue Tree Monitor ESA Listing
Get full details at https://usark.org/25esa1/. The emergency rule ended on August 25, 2025. Breeders can currently ship blue tree monitors. We will notify our members of changes or when the final rule is posted by FWS.
ALERT UPDATE: New Palestine, IN
UPDATE 8/20/25: The ordinance passed tonight on second reading. Thank you again to all who joined USARK to educate the Council on the implications of the original draft and helped make this ordinance better.
UPDATE 8/6/25: The Town Council voted, and the latest proposal passed its first reading. There should be a final vote at the next Town meeting in two weeks (August 20). The Council considered the information presented from stakeholders over the past few months, with one Council member stating, “Boy, did we get an education.” The draconian nature of the first draft has greatly evolved into its current version. Thank you to those who joined USARK in providing the Council with the information they needed to write a practical ordinance.Full details at https://usark.org/25in/.
ALERT UPDATE: Borneo Earless Monitor ESA Listing
Posted August 13: If you breed or work with this species, please email us at info@usark.org. On August 14, 2025, FWS is opening a comment period on the proposed rule to list the Borneo earless monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Previous comments need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. The comment period will last for 60 days.
Full details at https://usark.org/25esa2/.
ALERT: LEMIS FOIA Requests
Posted 8/19/25: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has received multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking the release of confidential business information regarding the import and export of wildlife specimens and flora into and out of the United States contained in the Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) database from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025. The deadline to contact USFWS with an objection to the release of the identified requested material (see link below) is September 5, 2025. Objecting to the release of this information is important to protect confidential and/or proprietary information, including addresses, seller contact details, etc. Animal rights groups use this data against us and to create fundraising propaganda.
Full details and sample letter at https://usark.org/25foia/.
Colorado Herp Rule Review
Posted 8/22/25: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is reviewing its herp regulations and will likely create a section/chapter dedicated to herps (reptiles and amphibians). CPW will begin a public input process this year and hopes to present some of that feedback to the Commission early next year. This information comes from today’s (8/22/25) Commission meeting. We will post updates as they become available.CPW Staff did present three potential approaches to future regulations, but no formal proposal has been submitted.
Full details at https://usark.org/25co2/.
ALERT: Southern Hognose ESA Listing
Posted 8/28/25: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). FWS has found that the southern hognose faces serious threats from habitat loss and degradation as a result of land conversion and fragmentation causing loss of connectivity between populations, road mortality, invasive species (red ants, feral hogs, and cogongrass), and climate change. A 60-day comment period begins on August 29, 2025.
Full details at https://usark.org/25esa3/.
Wisconsin Herp Rule Review
Posted 7/16/25: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is initiating a comprehensive review of all herp regulations in an “effort to clarify and update existing regulations to better inform the public, law enforcement, and department staff regarding allowable activities, improve enforceability, and implement current management goals.” There may be additional rule changes reasonably related to what was mentioned prior.
The Department anticipates a public hearing (virtual) in October 2025.
Read more at https://usark.org/25wi/.
Illinois Endangered Species List Amendment
Posted 8/4/25: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has proposed changes to the Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Fauna. Get full details at https://usark.org/25il/.
Find A Vet
Need a good herp veterinarian? The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) can help. ARAV provides a free Find-A-Vet service at http://arav.site-ym.com/
