2010 Legislation

House Bill 5762 prohibits ownership of non human primates as pets

H.B. 5762 TEXT PDF

Sponsor: Democrat Andrew Kandrevas [13]
Co-sponsors:

Democrats: Mark Meadows [69], Dan Scripps [101]

Meetings Agriculture 3/24/2010

Crimes; animals; ownership or possession of nonhuman primates as pets; prohibit under certain circumstances and provide penalty. Amends 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.1 - 750.568) by adding sec. 70a.
 

Existing Laws:

Large Carnivore Act 274 of 2000

AN ACT to regulate the ownership, possession, and care of certain large carnivores; to prohibit the ownership and possession of certain large carnivores; to impose fees; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain governmental entities and officials and of certain veterinarians; and to prescribe penalties and provide remedies. Eff. July 7, 2000

WOLF-DOG CROSS ACT 246 of 2000

AN ACT to regulate the ownership, possession, and care of certain wolf-dog crosses; to prohibit the ownership and possession of certain wolf-dog crosses; to prohibit the false advertising of certain canids as wolf-dog crosses; to impose fees; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain governmental entities and officials and of certain veterinarians; and to prescribe penalties and provide remedies. Eff. June 29, 2000

2007-2008 Legislation

House Bill 5961 (2008)
Animals; exotic; penalties for abandoning or releasing exotic animals; provide for. Amends title of 1988 PA 466 (MCL 287.701 - 287.745) & adds sec. 31a.
Last Action: 04/10/2008 - printed bill filed 04/10/2008

House Bill 5962 (2008)
Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for abandoning or releasing an exotic animal; enact. Amends sec. 12m, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.12m). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5961'08
Last Action: 04/10/2008 - printed bill filed 04/10/2008

DNR may change reptile, amphibian taking limits

Stephanie Schneider

December 12, 2007 - A proposed amendment to ban the commercial taking of turtles, other reptiles, and amphibians in Michigan will be forwarded to the director of the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in January.

The amendment would also scale back the recreational taking of turtles.

The amendment would replace the current order on the "Regulation on the Take of Reptiles and Amphibians," which was written in 2001.

The proposed changes come on the heels of exhaustive studies. According to DNR biologists, harvesting just 10 percent of a population per year could result in a 50 percent reduction in adult turtles within 15 years.

"(The process of changing the order) began roughly in 2005," said DNR Fisheries Biologist Tom Gonea, one of the researchers assigned to the subject. "(Biologists) were asked to research, basically, the background, biological history, (lifespan) parameters, and harvest levels. In the end, all of the available research pointed towards them not being a good candidate for commercial harvest. "

A commercial species typically reproduces very quickly, and has a short lifespan. An example of this, according to Gonea, is lake whitefish, which can handle a 60 to 65 percent mortality rate each year. That means that six out of 10 whitefish can be caught, and there will be 10 whitefish again the next year.

Turtles, on the other hand, reproduce very slowly, and have a very long lifespan.

"Turtles — snapping turtles in particular — can sustain a total mortality on an annual basis of less than 7 percent, and that's ... including predation, cars and recreational harvest, too," Gonea said. "Turtles by all accounts are probably one of the worst candidates you can come up with (for commercial harvest)."

Snapping turtles can live up to 100 years, have a late maturity, and are dependent on the survival of adults.

"Statistics and studies in Michigan have shown that in snapping turtles, the female requires 26 or 27 years to replace herself once," said Christian LeSage, a DNR fisheries biologist also researching the issue. "If you start thinking of it in that context, and you go in and take 15 or 20 adult individuals from a population that's maybe 30 individuals large, you're going to have a very serious effect on that population's ability to recover.

Current commercial regulations allow for up to 10 snapping turtles to be taken in a day, with total possession capped at 50. There are no limits on soft-shell turtle taking.

According to LeSage, taking just 25 percent of a turtle population — one time only — will set that population back for nearly 100 years.

"Continuing a commercial harvest of snapping turtles isn't biologically sound," LeSage said, "which is why we're trying to end it."

Recreational taking of turtles will also be affected if the changes are approved by the DNR Director Rebecca Humphries.

Currently, the hunting season for food turtles (snappers and soft-shells) is July 15-Sept. 30 in the Upper Peninsula, and July 1-Sept. 30 in the Lower Peninsula. Under the new order, the season would be consolidated to July 15-Sept. 15 for both.

A minimum size of 13 inches (currently 12 inches) would be established for snapping turtles. There would still be no size limits on soft-shell turtles.

The current daily possession limits allow the recreational taking of three snapping turtles per day, with a total possession of six permitted. There are no limits on the recreational taking of soft-shell turtles.

The proposed change would make the limits the same for both soft-shells and snappers — two in combination per day, with no more than one of either species; and four in total combination, with no more than two of either species.

All other turtles, snakes and lizards are currently taken under a three-per-day limit, or a limit of six total in any combination. The new order would amend that to three per day, including no more than two turtles and no more than one of any turtle species. Six total could be taken, but with no more than four turtles, and no more than two of any one species.

"We don't want to stop all harvest recreationally, because we don't feel that it's (necessary)," LeSage said. "But we also are thinking that ... it makes sense to reduce (takings) and try to keep populations going for the future."

"Commercial harvesting (and recreational taking) should be kept in check, but at this point, it's simply a recommendation," Gonea said. "The director has the final say."

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