USARK – United States Association of Reptile Keepers

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has proposed changes to regulations on the Importation and Possession of Wild Animals (250-RICR-40-05-3). The proposal will ban two tegu genera (Salvator and Tupinamibis, with other genera already banned). This new ban would include Argentine Black-and-white tegus, Blue tegus, Red tegus, and Colom...

Pennington County in South Dakota has proposed a ban on all non-domesticated animals. This would ban most species kept as pets, including aquarium fish, parrots, reptiles, amphibians, hedgehogs, and more. While this extreme ban may not be the intent, the language used bans most animals. This has a final vote on April 21, so local residents need to contact officials immediatel...

Powell, Wyoming, is reviewing its animal ordinance. This will likely be about more than typical “exotic animals” (note that the definition for this term varies greatly and is determined by whatever definition a government body creates). Powell lawmakers previously came under scrutiny (and a federal lawsuit) for prohibiting a woman from keeping a domesticated animal under its ...