The new Dirty Jobs episode tonight will be featuring Ghann's Cricket Farm. We have ordered from them in the past and received quality crickets and mealworms. I'm looking forward to seeing their operation on the show.

The show is airing January 12, 2010 at 9:00p ET

With all the the series and TV Specials appearing on Animal Planet that seem to be catering to PETA, HSUS and other extremists organizations I had all but given up on the channel. Today though I learned of a new series called Wild Recon hosted by Donald Schultz.

From what i have read the show is basically going to be the host Donald Schultz traveling around the world in search of different potentially dangerous animals and in some cases collecting samples for various research. I'm personally going to give this show a shot not only because it looks pretty interesting but also because the host seems to be a strong supporter of the reptile community. In a video USARK posted on youtube today Donald Schultz makes an appearance and states his opposition to S373.

You can view the video on youtube or our spotlight section  Here

Well, after keeping reptiles for the last 16 years i finally experienced my first prolapse. While tending to all of our animals the other day we came to one of our baby retics and saw he had prolapsed. Luckily we found it pretty early as it was still nice and pick and had not dried out at all yet. Immediately we placed him on some damp paper towels while we some quick research to determine the best course of action. After reading several posts from others who had dealt with this problem we felt comfortable correcting the issue ourselves.

We first made up a sugar paste and applied it to the exposed tissue so that it could help lessen any swelling. After waiting a short while we rinsed off the area and dabbed it dry. Then using a large ball tipped probe and lubricant we carefully maneuvered the tissue back inside the vent. Lastly we applied a band-aid to the vent and wrapped it using some medical tape. We will wait a few days and then change the bandage and keep it on for a few more days before taking it off.

Hopefully that will do the trick, and we can post a positive update after we remove the bandage and he successfully eats and processes it without any problems. 

I really hope everyone in the reptile community does this. There really is no excuse for not at least doing it yourself. We will be sending ours out first thing next week. We will also be getting everyone we know whether a reptile enthusiast or not to be doing the same.

Quoted from usark.org

S373 aka ‘The Python Ban’ has been amended to include the 9 great constrictors referenced in the recent report released by the US Geological Survey entitled Giant Constrictors: Biological and Management Profiles and an Establishment Risk Assessment for Nine Large Species of Pythons, Anacondas, and the Boa Constrictor. If passed as written S373 would add all 9 snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act making it a felony to engage in the import, export and interstate transport of any of these animals.

This possibility is unacceptable to USARK and the Reptile Nation. We are encouraging everyone with an interest in S373 to click on http://www.Kill-S373.com and participate in the USARK Kill S373 Letter Campaign. There you will find step by step instructions, a sample letter, contact information and even an instructional video to help you write your US Senators an effective letter opposing S373. We have learned that written letters are one of the most effective ways to lobby Congress. Sending an email is NOT enough! Write your letters. Get your friends and family involved writing letters too.

USARK spearheaded a similar letter writing campaign last spring. The Reptile Nation generated 50,000 letters opposing HR669. The bill was crushed. Time to do it again! Spread the web address http://www.Kill-S373.com all over the internet. Put it on your facebook page. Put it on your MySpace page. Twitter it. Post it on every forum or social networking site that you frequent. Email it to everyone you know! http://www.Kill-S373.com will take you straight to the resources you need to do your letters. We have made it as easy as it can possibly be, but it will require some effort. January 12th is our deadline. We don’t have much time. Do it today!

If you are an Industry Leader You Must Make an APPOINTMENT to MEET With Your Senators!! If you care about your business you will do this!!! 

www.Kill-S373.com - DEADLINE January 12, 2010

http://www.kill-s373.com/

Thanks, its amazing to see the colors these guys have. Especially when they first come out.

Just thought I would share some pics of the albinos we hatched last May.

This is great news for the reptile community!

Quoted from usark.org

WILMINGTON, NC, December 16--In a letter addressed to the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works the US Chamber of Commerce takes a position opposing S. 373 that echoes the position of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. The bill ostensibly written to address the issue of feral Burmese pythons in the Everglades is overreaching and circumvents the scientific listing process called for by the Lacey Act through the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
 
USARK believes that Burmese pythons have been sensationalized in the media and S. 373 has become overly politicized. USARK president Andrew Wyatt stated, “I don’t think there is any doubt that the Humane Society of the United States is trying to highjack this bill and use it as a tool to destroy the trade in high quality captive bred reptiles”. The HSUS has a long standing ideological position opposing all reptiles in captivity. They have lobbied extensively to pass as broad a version of S. 373 as possible.
 
As written, S. 373 would not achieve its stated goal of addressing the problem of feral pythons in the Everglades. It would, however, have a tremendous impact on the trade of captive bred reptiles in the US and abroad including a number of pythons and Boa constrictor. The trade in captive bred reptiles is a $3 billion a year industry and US exports account for 82% of trade worldwide. S. 373 if passed would be devastating. Thousands of jobs would be lost and scores of small family owned businesses would be bankrupted.
 
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, opposes S. 373. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, “if enacted in its current form, this legislation would adversely impact tens of thousands of businesses”. The Chamber goes on to state that, “If, however, Congress intends to pass a ban to limit the import of the Burmese Python, then it is essential that the proposed ban be drafted as narrowly as possible”.

Quoted from usark.org

WILMINGTON, N.C., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In Florida last week the AP reported a 12-foot long Burmese python was captured over the weekend of December 5th in Port Tampa by authorities. Vernon Yates of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Seminole, says the snake's demeanor and condition indicate it is a pet that escaped or was released. The release occurred just days before a critical vote in the US Senate on whether to ban pythons in the United States. The bill being considered is S. 373 aka 'The Python Ban' Sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). If passed the bill would add many pythons and boas to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act stopping the import, export and interstate transport of these animals. S. 373 is supported by the Humane Society of the United States, the largest animal rights group in the US that advocates for ending the trade in all captive bred reptiles.

Reptile industry professional Michael Cole of Tampa is concerned that the timing and circumstances of this python release are "suspicious." Cole commented that, "over the years there have been many suspected manufactured releases of animals at crucial turning points in reptile related legislation." A similar incident was perpetrated in North Carolina in 2008 when an ABC affiliate reported on a hoax involving two Monocled cobras released in Onslow County. WITN News reported that, "[NC wildlife officials] believe the snakes were placed there by the group Animal Protection Institute (API) to raise awareness in making it illegal for people to own exotic animals." In an e-mail to WITN News, API public relations director Zibby Wilder said her organization had nothing to do with the snake release. The API has since changed its name to Born Free USA and has cooperated with the Humane Society of the United States on anti-reptile legislation around the country.

Florida reptile professionals, the reptile industry and the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) have offered a reward of $18,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved with the illegal release of this Burmese python.

Source: United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK)

Contact: Andrew Wyatt president@usark.org

December 10, 2009 Wilmington, NC- Driven by powerful special interests and much media sensation S. 373 aka ‘The Python Ban’ is likely to move forward despite lack of scientific justification. Pushed by Sponsor Senator Bill Nelson and the Humane Society of the United States S. 373 could devastate the trade in high quality captive bred reptiles in the United States.

Today the Senate Committee on the Environment & Public Works (EPW) will hold a business meeting on S. 373. The Committee Chair is Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and the Ranking Member is Senator James Inhofe (R-OK). The committee will hold a mark up session where they will consider S. 373, to amend title 18, United States Code, to add constrictor snakes of the species Python genera to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. The committee is expected to amend the bill to include the 9 snakes listed on a recent controversial report by the US Geological Survey (USGS). All tolled the bill could stop the import, export and interstate transport of as many as 45 species of Boas and Pythons.

The USGS report being used to justify these extreme measures has been called into question by a group of independent scientists in a letter to the EPW Committee on November 24, 2009. The letter characterized the USGS report as “not a bona-fide scientific paper”. The US Department of the Interior (DOI) and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) stand by the report and have recommended to the committee that all 9 snakes reviewed should be included by amendment to S. 373. The independent scientists, who include professors from University of Florida, Arizona State University, Texas A&M and The National Geographic Society, go further to state, “this document is not suitable as the basis for legislative or regulatory policies, as its content is not based on best science practices”

The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) made an agreement in principle with Senator Bill Nelson’s office to limit the damage to a 3 billion dollar a year trade in these reptiles, but was informed yesterday that the agreement would not be honored. Senator Nelson has justified his position based on the recommendations made in regards to the USGS report by USFWS and DOI. Andrew Wyatt, president of USARK, commented that “it is a real shame that Senator Nelson has changed his position on this issue”. If the bill passes approximately 4 million boas and pythons already in captivity would be rendered valueless overnight with no provisions for disposition or compensation. Wyatt added, “it could create a situation where millions of people will be in possession of injurious wildlife. It is ludicrous to put so many law abiding citizens in that position and diminish the Lacey Act for the sake of political expediency.”

Passage of S. 373 would result in the loss of thousands of American jobs bankrupting an entire industry. Without strong evidence to support the injurious wildlife listing, USARK calls on the Senate EPW Committee to give an unfavorable rating to S. 373.

Contact:

Andrew Wyatt
president@usark.org

Well, after a very long time in the making we are very pleased to be making reptilelink.com available to the world.