H.R. 669, also known as the Non-native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act has potential ramifications for all exotic species and for all people who own or work with exotic species. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association the underlying intent of the proposed legislation is to “ establish a risk-assessment process to prevent the introduction into, and establishment in, the United States of non-native wildlife species that will cause economic or environmental harm or harm to other animal species’ health or human health” The bill has been defeated in the House of Representatives as originally presented but will likely be reintroduced with more specific wording to address the issue of invasive species.
The ultimate goal is to create lists of approved and unapproved species to be imported into the United States as determined in part upon scientific data. A recent roundtable discussion in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery (JAMS, Dec. 2009) allowed several veterinarians with strong ties to the avian and exotics community to voice their opinions on H.R. 669. One concern with the bill is a lack of scientific data available on the numerous non-native species that already exist in the pet population in order to make determinations of potential invasiveness. Another concern is the costs, manpower needed and lack of zoological research facilities available to properly make these important determinations on the future of what species will be allowed as pets in this country.
As currently written H.R. 669 would ban from sale or ownership any animal that ended up on the unapproved list regardless whether it was imported or captive bred in the United States. Current owners would be allowed to continue owning such a pet until the end of its natural life, but would not be allowed to acquire any other animals of the unapproved species. Breeders of unapproved species would be required to cease such activity which would put a potential hardship on people who have depended on this species pet popularity for their livelihood.
If you read my blog earlier this month on the booming Burmese python problem in the Everglades then you can understand the intent of this bill. Those of us with an interest in exotic species want to ensure that the process used to determine the proposed approve and unapproved species lists is approached with adequate time, resources and study.
Peter G Fisher, DVM
