grrr.. i dont understand california!

[taipan]

100 bucks for a pair of scissors my god - or does someone pay 2 bucks & pockets the rest.
Question but no need to answer if it incriminates one. What happens when defence personel get transferred ( posted ) to another state that does not allow pets ie people that have sugar gliders in florida & get a posting to say California ( I believe one cant keep them in Cal. ) ??.

[Evilwezal]

my suggestion is just move out of California to a more reasonable state.

[froggsong]

Jason, LMFAO... That was hilarious!

[atlfrog]

My buddy breeds them for his snakes here in GA. The problem with these rats is that they have large litters and can survive just about anywhere in the US. California is not the only state that has banned these rodents. But, I know California has a lot of strange "Exotic" laws as well. I don't understand the ferret law, due to the fact that they usually come in "fixed" before they are sold. I used to work for Petco as an assistant and acting store manager, can't believe I am telling this to everyone, and I heard that there a tons of animals that people can't have there. I know Florida is another state like that too, but down there they have so many "exotic" reptiles loose and breeding that they are kind of over ran by non-indigenous animals.

[Tiamat]

Originally Posted by atlfrog

My buddy breeds them for his snakes here in GA. The problem with these rats is that they have large litters and can survive just about anywhere in the US. California is not the only state that has banned these rodents. But, I know California has a lot of strange "Exotic" laws as well. I don't understand the ferret law, due to the fact that they usually come in "fixed" before they are sold. I used to work for Petco as an assistant and acting store manager, can't believe I am telling this to everyone, and I heard that there a tons of animals that people can't have there. I think Florida is another state like that too, but down there they have so many "exotic" reptiles loose and breeding that they are kind of over ran by non-indigenous animals.

Most informed guy around of all of you.

It is not because an animal is harmless to you, that it will be harmless around you. Rats and mice have a place in your local ecosystem because they have food and predators around them. Wich naturally balance out thier population.
It as been known for rats to colonise an island and totally destroy the ecosystem there because they had no natural predator around to regulate thier population. That is why california voted this law.
If you yet do not understand the principal, go to Miami or in the everglades. You will understand pretty fast when you will find a reticulated python well and striving there just beside your home!!

[atlfrog]

I could explain it a little further for those who don't understand. (:

When rats breed at the numbers that these can or any other rodent of its caliber, they can destroy crops, spread disease, etc. Like California's sister state, Florida they have implemented these laws due to the high populations of pythons, geckos, as well as other amphibian and reptile species. It is also like Hawaii, the common poison dart from Dendrobates Aratus, or other wise known as Hawaiian Arautus has now taken over as well as another species of frog that was introduced to it's environment. The people of Hawaii now have to listen to these frogs from dusk to dawn, when it was quite quiet before they had been introduced. Another animal that is quite illegal in certain states is the Quaker Parrot. In Texas these parrots group together in large colonies. They eat crops and destroy vegetation. There was an instance where a large number of them had nested around a local stadium and when the crowd and music boomed and echoed the parrots took flight and attack several people in the stands. There are hundreds of reasons why these laws are in place. I understand that, but sometimes legislation is passed based on fear and not logic. The phrase, "well it worked in one state, it'll work for the US." Has become evident with the thought of banning any constrictor or python larger than a certain amount of footage. Although I agree with some of this legislation, it is best to decide how certain Reptiles, Amphibians, and other animals will hurt the environment and effectively put it in place based on actual problems. For example, the stick bug is highly illegal in the US due to it's powerful numbers destroying crops, trees, and vast vegetation. I agree to ban them or anything that will hurt the environment within certain parameters. I just hate to see us turn into another Australia where you are not permitted to have a lot of animals because the fear of introduction into the environment.

After writing all that I hope I defended Athen's comments than hurt it. All I am saying is that some legislation is going overboard.

[Tiamat]

Well, usually, the stupid laws are city based, not gouvernemental. So most of the stupid laws you can get an exemption if you are smart enought. It has to do with dealing with the city council and show that the law passed was on false and/or unjustified reasons.

The 3 metres law you just talked about very fast, is a well known case for snake keepers like myself. Originally, they wanted to ban all snakes for 'safty' reasons. But groups of people fought and said that a BP or a cronsnake could hardly be called dangerous compare to a dog.
So with discution, and the proper information, it went from no snake to less than 3 metres.
Here he get the best of both worlds. Yes, some keepers will bitch about not being able to get their retic. and some others will bitch that people can still keep an animal of Satan in their house, damned them for all eternity!!!
But, if you know what is good, this law makes perfect sense and is not abusive on one side or another.

Atlfrog, i agree with most of what you said. The difficulty is to understand what is a smart interdiction or a stupid one. The best way is to try to educate people so they can see the other side of the medal.
Like said, natal rats are pretty cute and harmless at home. They become a much more serious treat when are millions, in the california climat that is perfect for them (they come from Africa, in near savanas like BP's),get plenty of food all years long, reproduce very fast and do not have specific predators for them, wich will give them even better chances to multiply.

In Alberta it is strictly forbiden to have a live rodent at home. since Alberta economy used to be heavy on wheat and field products. They are so serious about it that it is almost proven that no harmefull rodent actually exist in alberta. They even have special police for this.

This law in California is perfectly legitimate. Meaby you are a serious person who will take care of the rats. But people have to take into account the stupid guy who will get the rats, and then get ride of them. In one year with no deaths and no consanguinity matters, a single couple of natal rats will breed a population of around 3 millions individuals(math is done with an average of 13 progenies per couple per 2 months). i repeat: 3 millions rats in one year. harmless hein?