 |
||
| The
Basics
Articles on basic care and considerations for new or prospective owners. Articles pertaining to health, nutrition, and veterinary care. Articles and pictures about hedgehog breeding, growth, and development. Articles for people who already own a hedgehog or want to know more than just the basics. Learn more about hedgehog shows and hedgehog colors! Wondering where on earth to buy a hedgehog? Start here! Where to purchase hedgehog supplies and collectibles. Meet the hedgehogs of Hedgehog Valley! Meet the other critters that call Hedgehog Valley
their home! |
Why are hedgehogs illegal in my state?
To be honest, we don't know exactly why certain states have chosen to severely regulate or ban hedgehogs. The best place to ask this question is your state's fish and wildlife or game department. When questioned, various states have given answers ranging from "protecting native wildlife and/or agricultural crops" or preventing possible diseases from new nonnative species" to "it's a threat to the pork industry" or "they're dangerous." Obviously, some of these arguments sound reasonable on the surface and some are completely ridiculous. Call your state's regulating agency and see what they say to you- knowing exactly what your state is telling people will help you if you want to make an argument that they should be made legal. If hedgehogs are illegal and you want to do something about it, the best thing to do is contact your fish and wildlife/game department and see what they say about why they are illegal. Then contact your state representatives (send a letter or make a phone call- emails are easily ignored and don't carry the same weight) and tell them what you think about it, in a well thought-out, reasoned way. Tell them why you think they should support the legalization of hedgies and other small, nondangerous exotics. What happens if you have a hedgie in a hedgie-illegal state? That depends on the state. Some states simply ask that the animal be placed out of state within a specified amount of time (usually a few days). Some confiscate and destroy. Some confiscate and ship to rescues out of state. If your animal is confiscated, you will likely be fined. Some states even have it on the books that you can be given jail time, but I have never heard of anyone actually getting that penalty. I have heard of a lot of confiscation and fines. And people who ship hedgies into hedgie-illegal states can get fined, too, so we just don't do it. We get a lot of people emailing us, upset that we won't ship them a hedgie in a hedgie illegal state. We don't like the idea of our hedgies being put at risk for confiscation, or for us to be put at risk of getting big fines, so please don't even ask. If you want your state to reconsider allowing hedgehogs, get more involved in organizations like the International Hedgehog Association to become better educated about hedgehogs, and organize people within your state to write letters to your representatives, encouraging them to support legalization. We'll support you however we can to help get things legal, but we still can't ship hedgehogs to hedgie-illegal states. Antigone Means-Burleson Iola, KS Show them you care, Support our Troops
All information on this web site is copyright of Hedgehog Valley®. You may view/print the web pages for your personal use. You may also provide a link to these pages without prior approval. No one is allowed to re-post the information from Hedgehog Valley® Web Site, including pictures, to any other web site, without the approval of Hedgehog Valley®. Copyright 2002
|
