Hoping to convince Maine to add more legs

[DustyD]

So, Maine only has three tarantulas on its list of legal exotic pets and I hope to petition it to add some more. Not really sure of the process, or how long it takes, but I believe a committee reviews such proposals. I got the petition form last week.

Not wanting to push too much too fast, I am thinking about asking for about 5 to 6 additions to the G. pulchra, G. pulchripes, G. rosea on the list now.

I am basing my requests on a list put together by Tom Moran involving a survey of 200 + T keepers’ top “beginner” New World tarantulas he did about 18 months ago. He came up with 13 tarantulas for his list, I am trying to narrow it down to about half that.

My thoughts are A. Chalcodes, B. hamorii, C. versicolor, L. parahybana. C. Cyaneopubescens, H. Chilensis. The last one may be hard to find even if it is allowed. I tried to include a variety that I and others would want to collect.

Any thoughts?

 

[Konstantin]

Hi
I hope you have success with your proposal.
Instead of opting for individual species approval suggest the whole genus in your proposal
for example all Brachypelma, Grammostola, Aphonopelma species are beginer friendly and have similar care.It doesn't make any sense to be able to keep B hamorii fir example but not B boehmei
Regards Konstantin

 

[DustyD]

Thanks. That is good advice. I had considered that briefly and may still try it. There is precedent for both ways, as obviously currently not all Grammostola are on the list. And notice on the attached partial list of acceptable reptiles that some are listed as individuals and others the whole genus. I guess I had thought that one unacceptable member of the genus might pull the plug on the others or complicate/delay matters.

Thanks again @Konstantin you always seem to be on the ball.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Oregon has 5 on their list...I have a few hundred.
Oregon recently said the list was thrown together with a few of the most popular species. They also said they have no interest in enforcing it and willing to add more spiders in the future.

 

[DustyD]

This was last July:

A motel owner looking to get paid an overdue bill discovered 53 spiders, including at least three tarantulas ― all packed in plastic cases ― at a motel in Norway last weekend, the Advertiser Democrat reported.

Inn Town Motel owner Andrew Coombs ended up evicting the guest, Sean Schoomaker, after making the discovery on Saturday. The Maine Warden Service cited Schoomaker for alleged possession of three tarantulas that are illegal to own in Maine without permits. The other spiders were transferred to a natural science and animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Lewiston, the Advertiser Democrat reported.

 

[DustyD]

Here in Maine, I am sure they have bigger things to work on, but I also think that if they come across some violations they most likely would do something.

 

[MBullock]

I personally would just move lol though im sure that's easier said than done in your position

 

[DustyD]

I personally would just move lol though im sure that's easier said than done in your position

Yes that would be a pipe dream at this point. But I feel the state will be at least somewhat accommodating. Part of my argument is that our New England neighbors of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut have more liberal exotic pet laws (when it comes to tarantulas) and yet to some degree similar habitats and concerns about invasive species. I don’t know about Rhode Island nor aboot our neighbors to the north Canada.