I heard it mentioned on the show this week that ASF rats are illegal in some places? Did I hear correctly? And if so where are they illegal?

I know Cali for sure.

Any reason why they are illegal???? Did they not go through the proper immigration authority???

That is weird but I wonder if it's something like the giant pouched rats where people think that they may carry some stupid disease so they just outright ban them.

Cali always had weird laws...... I am sure it has something to do with them being an introduced species that could cause damage...

Doing a quick search they are illegal in Cali, Missouri and Kentucky.

Trying to find out why or more information....

KY information (http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/301/002/082.htm)

The link this info comes from is over a year old so I'll see if I run across anymore stuff.

Thanks Chan!

Interesting.

I had no idea those fuzzy little guys were illegal. Probably what Nor said about them being introduced. *Shrug*

That is weird but I wonder if it's something like the giant pouched rats where people think that they may carry some stupid disease so they just outright ban them.

That was monkeypox from prairie dogs and the issue was people who were not registered with the USDA or even filing the proper permits which would have allowed someone to track down all the infected animals and the entire ban on certain animals would have never happened but once again people screwed it up because of some paper work.

California can't even have gerbils can they? Personally I can do without ASFs. They're to small for most of what I have anyhow.

That was monkeypox from prairie dogs and the issue was people who were not registered with the USDA or even filing the proper permits which would have allowed someone to track down all the infected animals and the entire ban on certain animals would have never happened but once again people screwed it up because of some paper work.

Prairie dogs are awesome pets, too!

California can't even have gerbils can they? Personally I can do without ASFs. They're to small for most of what I have anyhow.
I've also heard the little jokers like to bite!!! I aint down with the rodent biting thing! :machinegun:

I've also heard the little jokers like to bite!!! I aint down with the rodent biting thing! :machinegun:

Gerbils are good. Its hamsters. They are of the devil. Seriously. Evil, vicious little creatures.

I love all animals. I do not wish harm on any animal. BUT I took great pleasure in feeding those things to nile monitors back in the day. Especially after one bit right through my thumbnail.

I took care of his ass. Go play with the nile.

They can bite but they really aren't that bad, now if it is a mom with a litter that's a different story...she is down right evil but the others aren't that bad...

They breed great, non acidic urine and are great sizes for colubrids to me...the bp's I use a few to get some over that wall but they do take to long to grow up for me.

I took care of his ass. Go play with the nile.

LOL, yeah buddy. :lmao:

I'm the same way though, I love most critters, the only reason I tolerate mosquitos is I know something out there makes supper out of them, but if I get rodent bit IT becomes reptile food immediately.

I took care of his ass. Go play with the nile.

Nice having a nile around to punish those biters!!

Surprised they are not illegal in FL yet.....

LOL, yeah buddy. :lmao:

I'm the same way though, I love most critters, the only reason I tolerate mosquitos is I know something out there makes supper out of them, but if I get rodent bit IT becomes reptile food immediately.

This was always the way I handled rogue biters too.... Bite me, you become bull snake food! Good thing none of my kids were biters!!! :lol:

LOL, yeah buddy. :lmao:

I'm the same way though, I love most critters, the only reason I tolerate mosquitos is I know something out there makes supper out of them, but if I get rodent bit IT becomes reptile food immediately.


I have that rule, too. Maybe that makes me a bad guy I dunno. But if I get tagged bad its dinner. And I make every effort to avoid that. Neither one of us wants that to happen.

Sometimes a really good breeder female will get off with a stern warning and some expletives. But a male? He's digested within the hour :D

Nice having a nile around to punish those biters!!

NIles, waters, big savs, blackthroats, all very good disposal units.

Right now I have an adult croc on clean up duty. I feed him light at his normal meals since I know he will get snacks throughout the week. He never refuses a meal. Not ever.

And watching a monster croc eat a fuzzy is just comical. Its like popcorn. He swallows them alive doesnt even bother to kill it. Actually I dont think he could. Kinda like a small dog trying to mouth a basketball. Just aint gonna happen.

Surprised they are not illegal in FL yet.....

Yes usually Florida is first on the list to crack down on species that could potentially thrive there.

Although they missed the boat with boids, iguanas and niles. Niles in florida. Now that is bad news.But thats another topic.

Kinda like a small dog trying to mouth a basketball. Just aint gonna happen.

Now that would be a sight to see!!!! :lol:

Cali always had weird laws...... I am sure it has something to do with them being an introduced species that could cause damage...

That's what I have heard is the big reason behind it. Especially states that are very similar to thier normal habitat. Northern states I don't thinks it's as big as an issues because of thier ability not to handle cold weather as well. I could be wrong on this but that's what rumors I have heard??? Not sure how much of it is true??

After living in Hawaii and being protested against for coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan because of the threat of potentially dangerous bacteria and animals, I know what havoc an introduced species can cause (V's post on the Nile monitor in FL is a prime example). Guam has a serious problem with the Brown snake reeking havoc there. Brown snakes are semi arboreal, prolific breeders, and cause everything from blackouts due to getting caught in electrical transformers to wiping out native species of birds.... Of course island fauna is a lot more delicate. I believe they call an introduced species an island super tramp...

I have that rule, too. Maybe that makes me a bad guy I dunno. But if I get tagged bad its dinner. And I make every effort to avoid that. Neither one of us wants that to happen.


I hear ya there V, my thing is there's too many hungry snakes and nice rodents are too easy to breed for me to deal with biters/jumpers/all around nasty rats! I specifically will not breed rats that never calm down or are biters it's just not worth getting bit down to the bone for me! I guess I kind of have that luxury though since I've still only got a smallish rat colony (3.9)

ASF are illegal in some places because (If I remember correctly) they are the only other natural vector for a zoonotic disease called Lassa Fever.

Also, the arid environments for many western states would be prime conditions for these animals, and they would quite easily destroy crops and most likely manage to squeeze out other species that depend on crops and that land to live.

During the flood season, most of sub sahara africa is plagued by these animals. They are a huge pest and do billions of damage to the crop in Africa every year. The US is really trying to avoid those problems and are rightly banning them where they could possibly thrive.