More illegal tarantulas found in Maine

[DustyD]

A tenant in Maine recently left behind some tarantulas, including a few that died. This comes a little more than a year after more than 50 spiders, including a few tarantulas, were found in a motel room.
Most species of tarantulas are illegal in Maine, with the only exceptions being G. pulchra, G. rosea and G. pulchripes.

 

[VaporRyder]

Yeah! Crazy! Saw that in the news over here.

Why are they illegal in Maine?

 

[MBullock]

It was part of some absurd exotic species banned and they didnt specify which tarantulas, and the wording illegalized all tarantulas altogether, even a native species (if they existed there that is) would be illegal to possess.

It was moronic lawmaking. The only other possibility i can think of is someone with animosity toward the hobby in general decided to target it.

 

[Jeef]

It is the abandoned part that is bothering me. From what I've seen and read, rehoming them wouldn't have been hard at all. How many of us are driving distance and would have taken them?

Oddly enough, I was talking with my sister last night about a guy I met back in the mid 90's who got arrested by federal wildlife officers for owning a caiman. Handcuffed and all according to him. It is against the law to own one. Strange part is there wasn't a single law preventing anyone from owning a tiger.

Laws can be strange. So can the exotic pet world.

 

[DustyD]

Yeah! Crazy! Saw that in the news over here.

Why are they illegal in Maine?

The current list of permitted animals came out in 2017 I believe and my theory is that there has not been active supporters and outreach like there has been for reptiles and amphibians. Chain pet stores in Maine carry monitor lizards, for example. Maine also has deep concerns about invasive species and we have many species of spiders, but no native tarantulas. So I am guessing that the powers that be believe cold blooded reptiles may pose less if a threat than spiders that might survive better.

As I like to point out, Maine did not have ticks until the 1980s.

Keeping tarantulas in Maine has gone back and forth from somewhat restricted to extremely restricted. In the past, say 20 years ago or so, you could apply for a permit to "import" tarantulas and I did get approved for several species not listed today. I never got them. What was I thinking?
Back in the 80s I remember seeing a few tarantulas in pet stores, including ones prohibited today.
Then in the past 10 years you could only have tarantulas for proven educational purposes.

Earlier this summer I started work on applications to expand the tarantula list, but in the past four months I have aquired six tarantulas - all legal - so my interest has been waning on the project. I hope to get back to it, although I am already needing more room so I am wondering if I really want a longer list. Lol.

 

[octanejunkie]

I suspect some byzantine guidelines were enacted into law to prevent the inevitable introduction of invasive, nuisance species of flora and fauna; which always seems to happen despite best intentions and efforts. Like ticks.

I bet if you organized a group of current and potential keepers to petition the proper authorities and associated legislative bodies you could expand the last with a single strong argument; there are no endemic species of tarantula in ME that would be threatened by hobbyists keeping foreign species. Notwithstanding the fact that tarantulas could not survive in ME outside of a keeper's care, in captivity.

The ones to petition the hardest would likely be the pet shops and anyone standing to profit from a change in the current, seemingly nonsensical law.

 

[Jenniferinfl]

That's a shame.
But, you know what, I've had life backfire really badly on me before. I'm lucky in that I'm pretty good at problem-solving. Some people really aren't. I realized I was in serious trouble when I still had enough gas money to get me and my pets to a better place. Some people don't realize they are in that level of trouble in time.
You know, you lose a job, have an interview, think you're getting a job, think your landlord will cut you a break for a couple weeks until you get paid at the new job then it turns out you don't get the job and your landlord doesn't have any qualms with sending you packing.
I imagine them being illegal was what kept them from reaching out for help.
I'm moving out of Florida because of tarantula keeping being a bit illegal. It's weird and not enforced, but, you have to apply for a permit which is rarely granted. You would never know that you can't keep them without a permit because pet stores all have them for sale. I acquired a bunch locally, no idea that you had to request a permit and that the permit just isn't approved.
It's one of those things where they aren't generally enforcing it even at major chain pet stores, BUT, they can whenever they want. I don't really want to be at the mercy of their whims.. lol

 

[DustyD]

@Jenniferinfl that is unusual. That seems blatant, but I am guessing that other invasive animal and local wildlife issues are more pressing in Florida. I doubt Maine is out looking for violators but likely would do something when they come upon them.

According to the website of the Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife:

"Maine wildlife laws apply to wildlife sold in pet stores in Maine. Maine pet stores are regulated and inspected by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.
Purchasers can reasonably assume that an animal for sale in a Maine pet store is legal.
Do not assume that animals for sale in other states, including those states adjacent to Maine, are lawful in Maine."

 

[Jenniferinfl]

@Jenniferinfl that is unusual. That seems blatant, but I am guessing that other invasive animal and local wildlife issues are more pressing in Florida. I doubt Maine is out looking for violators but likely would do something when they come upon them.

According to the website of the Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife:

"Maine wildlife laws apply to wildlife sold in pet stores in Maine. Maine pet stores are regulated and inspected by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.
Purchasers can reasonably assume that an animal for sale in a Maine pet store is legal.
Do not assume that animals for sale in other states, including those states adjacent to Maine, are lawful in Maine."

Yup- they're for sale in Petsmart and Petco- but, supposedly you need a permit to own them in Florida.

 

[DustyD]

I suspect some byzantine guidelines were enacted into law to prevent the inevitable introduction of invasive, nuisance species of flora and fauna; which always seems to happen despite best intentions and efforts. Like ticks.

I bet if you organized a group of current and potential keepers to petition the proper authorities and associated legislative bodies you could expand the last with a single strong argument; there are no endemic species of tarantula in ME that would be threatened by hobbyists keeping foreign species. Notwithstanding the fact that tarantulas could not survive in ME outside of a keeper's care, in captivity.

The ones to petition the hardest would likely be the pet shops and anyone standing to profit from a change in the current, seemingly nonsensical law.

Thanks @octanejunkie, I think you have some great ideas. One thing I had struggled with is could tarantulas introduced to Maine survive?
Some tarantulas do survive in cold temperatures and can slow their metabolism as well as produce copious eggs. I had been researching this and had planned to ask experts about this before I submitted my applications.

 

[Jeef]

@Jenniferinfl that is unusual. That seems blatant, but I am guessing that other invasive animal and local wildlife issues are more pressing in Florida. I doubt Maine is out looking for violators but likely would do something when they come upon them.

According to the website of the Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife:

"Maine wildlife laws apply to wildlife sold in pet stores in Maine. Maine pet stores are regulated and inspected by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.
Purchasers can reasonably assume that an animal for sale in a Maine pet store is legal.
Do not assume that animals for sale in other states, including those states adjacent to Maine, are lawful in Maine."

Florida has introduced and now established populations of Brachypelma vagans. Florida seems to be an invasive species magnet!

I believe you can't sell turtles under a certain size. The surf shops in Myrtle Beach used to skirt this by selling the enclosures. They were these small Critter Keepers. Buy an enclosure, get a free baby turtle. Feels dubious, but I've seen things like that advertised as "for educational purposes only" as well. I am by no means advocating for doing it, but there are always ways around the rules. Or at least someone willing to test it.