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- Jul 16, 2004
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I have just received a posting alerting us to a new proposal in British Columbia, Canada (BC) to prohibit the importation, keeping and breeding of tarantulas and other arachnids (among many other animals) in the province. Apparently, this proposal is promulgated by the BC SPCA. You may read the entire proposal at http://www.spca.bc.ca/WildlifeAct/SubmissionPackage/BC%20SPCA_Wildlife%20%20Act_Submission.pdf at your leisure.
Why would something in BC interest you? Call it the “domino effect.” In reading their proposal you will see that they quote a similar law currently active in Alberta. Obviously, that’s where they got the idea. From personal experience, I can vouch that the Alberta law weighs very heavily on the shoulders of exotic animal fanciers in that province. And, there have been a number of cases where the law was abused in its enforcement. Its concept and implementation are far from perfect or reproach. And, Alberta’s law doesn’t include arachnids. BC’s proposal does, being much more inclusive, and therefore, much more onerous and repressive.
After BC adopts such a law which will be the next political jurisdiction to do so? Washington, just across the border? Saskatchewan? It’s all too easy to envision a cascade of such prohibitive laws being passed by the governments who are supposed to be serving us, not repressing us.
Why the SPCA? It’s difficult to say in this instance. But, in several other cases around the continent a local SPCA was represented by only one or two over-zealous individuals who had personal axes to grind or strong, personal opinions with which to beleaguer the rest of us. Most of the remainder of the SPCA’s membership had no idea of what was being done or its ramifications until the proverbial stuff hit the fan.
Why doesn’t the American Tarantula Society do something about this? Two very good reasons:
1. As a tax free, non-profit organization, the ATS is legally prohibited from partaking in any sort of lobbying or other political activity. They may offer an opinion if asked, but they may not contact a government agency or body, or campaign on any political issue. (Thus, the bureaucrats and politicians have blocked the only rational input to their decision making process.)
2. As an American institution, the ATS’ insertion or participation in British Columbia’s internal legislative processes would be viewed as another incursion of the USA in a foreign government’s private business. We’d be viewed as meddlers, pure and simple, and told to take a hike!
What can non-BCers (even Americans) do about this? You can write letters, but they probably won’t be read, at least seriously. Because you don’t vote in their elections, you’re viewed as more of a nuisance. If, however, they receive thousands of letters, they’ll at least get the idea that their proposed legislation might be a tad unpopular, even among BC voters.
What can BCers do about this? Personally contact your local MLA. Try to get an appointment to discuss the legislation with them. Under any circumstances, write them a letter.
Politicians don’t appreciate heated responses. You can be thrown out of their office if you get testy, and if your letter isn’t couched in gentlemanly terms it will be canned as crank mail. So, if you write a letter, you need to adopt an informative, level headed attitude.
You will need to examine the need for including tarantulas and other arachnids in such legislation. Point out the fact that tarantula bites are rare and usually inconsequential. That no one in modern history has lost life or limb from such a bite.
Neither do they pose a significant threat to wildlife, partly because British Columbia’s winter is too cold to support them in the wild, partly because on a worldwide basis, they have not proven to be an exceptionally aggressively colonizing species. You can cite the colony of B. vagans living in Florida as an example. They’ve been there for decades and no one has been able to point to one bad influence resulting from their presence. (The orange grove in which they reside, however, did replace valuable, irreplaceable, natural flora and fauna! But the two are only coincidentally related.)
Their beneficial properties should also be stressed. They have an inestimable educational value. Students in the various elementary, middle and high school programs who are exposed to them leave with a far better appreciation of wildlife than those who are deprived of this opportunity.
The people who keep them as pets have embarked on an amazing learning experience that will last for years if not the rest of their lives.
The fact should also be mentioned that many species currently on CITES Appendix II are currently being bred by enthusiasts, thus not only relieving the pressure on them in the wild, but also markedly increasing their numbers worldwide.
In general, politicians pay attention to adverse public relations. A good strategy for enthusiasts in BC to use would be to buy a half page or full page ad in the Sunday issue of a major BC newspaper alerting the public that such legislation is being considered, and pointing out all the disadvantages or bad repercussions to passing it. (In such politically motivated ads we are not required to give a “balanced” view. Conflicting opinions are the responsibility of their holders.)
The major problem is that most people aren’t going to be very sympathetic with spiders. But, remember that arachnids are being lumped together with all sorts of other animals as well, and amateur herpetologists, bird breeders, private zoos, and the tropical fish hobby to name a few are also going to be negatively impacted. Perhaps it’s time for these groups to combine their individual political clout and monetary resources to nip this thing in the bud.
Here are some additional links for your information:
Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society
Westcoast Society for the Protection and Conservation of Reptiles
The ball is now in your court. What happens next is up to you.
(Sorry that I have not been able to find addresses to which to mail your responses. Perhaps residents in BC could supply these?)
I have just received a posting alerting us to a new proposal in British Columbia, Canada (BC) to prohibit the importation, keeping and breeding of tarantulas and other arachnids (among many other animals) in the province. Apparently, this proposal is promulgated by the BC SPCA. You may read the entire proposal at http://www.spca.bc.ca/WildlifeAct/SubmissionPackage/BC%20SPCA_Wildlife%20%20Act_Submission.pdf at your leisure.
Why would something in BC interest you? Call it the “domino effect.” In reading their proposal you will see that they quote a similar law currently active in Alberta. Obviously, that’s where they got the idea. From personal experience, I can vouch that the Alberta law weighs very heavily on the shoulders of exotic animal fanciers in that province. And, there have been a number of cases where the law was abused in its enforcement. Its concept and implementation are far from perfect or reproach. And, Alberta’s law doesn’t include arachnids. BC’s proposal does, being much more inclusive, and therefore, much more onerous and repressive.
After BC adopts such a law which will be the next political jurisdiction to do so? Washington, just across the border? Saskatchewan? It’s all too easy to envision a cascade of such prohibitive laws being passed by the governments who are supposed to be serving us, not repressing us.
Why the SPCA? It’s difficult to say in this instance. But, in several other cases around the continent a local SPCA was represented by only one or two over-zealous individuals who had personal axes to grind or strong, personal opinions with which to beleaguer the rest of us. Most of the remainder of the SPCA’s membership had no idea of what was being done or its ramifications until the proverbial stuff hit the fan.
Why doesn’t the American Tarantula Society do something about this? Two very good reasons:
1. As a tax free, non-profit organization, the ATS is legally prohibited from partaking in any sort of lobbying or other political activity. They may offer an opinion if asked, but they may not contact a government agency or body, or campaign on any political issue. (Thus, the bureaucrats and politicians have blocked the only rational input to their decision making process.)
2. As an American institution, the ATS’ insertion or participation in British Columbia’s internal legislative processes would be viewed as another incursion of the USA in a foreign government’s private business. We’d be viewed as meddlers, pure and simple, and told to take a hike!
What can non-BCers (even Americans) do about this? You can write letters, but they probably won’t be read, at least seriously. Because you don’t vote in their elections, you’re viewed as more of a nuisance. If, however, they receive thousands of letters, they’ll at least get the idea that their proposed legislation might be a tad unpopular, even among BC voters.
What can BCers do about this? Personally contact your local MLA. Try to get an appointment to discuss the legislation with them. Under any circumstances, write them a letter.
Politicians don’t appreciate heated responses. You can be thrown out of their office if you get testy, and if your letter isn’t couched in gentlemanly terms it will be canned as crank mail. So, if you write a letter, you need to adopt an informative, level headed attitude.
You will need to examine the need for including tarantulas and other arachnids in such legislation. Point out the fact that tarantula bites are rare and usually inconsequential. That no one in modern history has lost life or limb from such a bite.
Neither do they pose a significant threat to wildlife, partly because British Columbia’s winter is too cold to support them in the wild, partly because on a worldwide basis, they have not proven to be an exceptionally aggressively colonizing species. You can cite the colony of B. vagans living in Florida as an example. They’ve been there for decades and no one has been able to point to one bad influence resulting from their presence. (The orange grove in which they reside, however, did replace valuable, irreplaceable, natural flora and fauna! But the two are only coincidentally related.)
Their beneficial properties should also be stressed. They have an inestimable educational value. Students in the various elementary, middle and high school programs who are exposed to them leave with a far better appreciation of wildlife than those who are deprived of this opportunity.
The people who keep them as pets have embarked on an amazing learning experience that will last for years if not the rest of their lives.
The fact should also be mentioned that many species currently on CITES Appendix II are currently being bred by enthusiasts, thus not only relieving the pressure on them in the wild, but also markedly increasing their numbers worldwide.
In general, politicians pay attention to adverse public relations. A good strategy for enthusiasts in BC to use would be to buy a half page or full page ad in the Sunday issue of a major BC newspaper alerting the public that such legislation is being considered, and pointing out all the disadvantages or bad repercussions to passing it. (In such politically motivated ads we are not required to give a “balanced” view. Conflicting opinions are the responsibility of their holders.)
The major problem is that most people aren’t going to be very sympathetic with spiders. But, remember that arachnids are being lumped together with all sorts of other animals as well, and amateur herpetologists, bird breeders, private zoos, and the tropical fish hobby to name a few are also going to be negatively impacted. Perhaps it’s time for these groups to combine their individual political clout and monetary resources to nip this thing in the bud.
Here are some additional links for your information:
Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society
Westcoast Society for the Protection and Conservation of Reptiles
The ball is now in your court. What happens next is up to you.
(Sorry that I have not been able to find addresses to which to mail your responses. Perhaps residents in BC could supply these?)
