This section quite a mouthful. What does it all mean? Well, it means that:
- You cannot “import” or “export” any nonnative species. Now the whole definition of “import” and “export” has been completely changed. It is no longer what you may have learned in High School. We’ll look at the below.
- You can’t move these species between the States.
- You violate the terms of any permit you may have received.
- Pay attention to this one…you may not POSSESS, SELL, OFFER TO SELL, PURCHASE, OFFER TO PURCHASE, or BARTER for any nonnative species.
- You may not release into the wild any nonnative species.
- You may not breed any nonnative species nor provide a nonnative species to someone else to breed.
And, just what does this really mean, like in the real world?
Look at point number 4 below. You may not have in your possession a Parrot. If you do (yes, there is a provision for grandfathering an existing legally acquired Parrot), you may not sell the Parrot nor offer to sell the Parrot. You may not purchase someone else’s Parrot or another Parrot nor can you offer to purchase another Parrot. You may not barter for a Parrot.
So let’s just say you have just been laid off; it happens nowadays. But you do have an opportunity to take a job in another state. Your 12 year old daughter has a Cockatiel that she has had for several years. The little guy is part of the family. Well, now…go to bullet numbers 1 and 2 below. You may NOT take that pet with you. You cannot give it nor sell it to anyone. Now just what do you think is going to happen to that beloved pet? You’re smart; connect the dots. Is some Federal or State agency going to take the Cockatiel and care for it?
Let’s take another real world example. Your parents are getting up in years. It looks like they need to move into assisted living. Their new home does not allow pets. According to the letter and spirit of this bill, that pet African Grey has just been dispossessed. What do you think is going to happen to that family pet? Maybe it’s that same agency.
Here is the text of the bill:
SEC. 6. PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES.
(a) Prohibitions- Except as provided in this section or in section 7, it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to–
(1) import into or export from the United States any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;
(2) transport between any State by any means whatsoever any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;
(3) violate any term or condition of a permit issued under section 7;
(4) possess (except as provided in section 3(f)), sell or offer to sell, purchase or offer to purchase, or barter for or offer to barter for, any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1);
(5) release into the wild any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1); or
(6) breed any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1), or provide any such species to another person for breeding purposes.
