 Florida” and that the agency is “putting resources towards assessing the risk of species and making any further changes if warranted.”

Devin Belliston carries Rock, a pet Argentine black and white tegu, on his shoulders. Now 4 to 5 years old and full-grown, Rock could live for another 10 or more years. Photo: Karine Aigner

I posed the same question to Phil Goss, president of the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers, a trade organization that advocates on behalf of reptile owners and breeders. “FWC has been talking about doing something for four or five years and nothing has come to fruition,” he says. “There’s so much red tape.” But given what we know about tegus’ ability to survive cooler temperatures and the fact that there are several established populations, should a pet store in Florida be able to sell one to anyone who walks in? Goss pauses, then laughs: “It’s really hard to answer that question,” he says. “You hate to see responsible people punished because of the actions of irresponsible people.”

For Mazzotti, there is no question that the tegu trade should be more tightly regulated, and the fact that it’s not is indicative of a much bigger problem. When it comes to exotic species, whether it’s a fish a snake or a plant, the United States has a wait-and-see mentality in which the species first needs to become established and damage the environment before anything is done. “Once you can see the impact that a species is having,” he says, “it’s too late.”

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any of the people at Repticon agree with Mazzotti's assessment that it’s often too little too late when it comes to invasive species. “There are so many different invasive species here in Florida that it’s a crapshoot,” says Scott Galusha, who is cradling his pet tegu, named Zero, as we speak.

Galusha is quick to concede that the bad actors in the pet trade are responsible for the pythons, monitors, and tegus, but insists the industry has cleaned up its act in recent times. The best way to stop the introduction of new invasive species isn’t more regulations, he says, it’s educating pet owners and making sure buyers know what they’re getting themselves into when they decide to take on a giant lizard or
Florida ” and that the agency is “ putting resources towards assessing the hazard of coinage and make any further changes if justify. ” 

 Devin Belliston carry Rock, a pet Argentine black and ashen taegu, on his shoulders. Now 4 to 5 years old and full - adult, Rock could live for another 10 or more years. Photo: Karine Aigner 

 I posed the like question to Phil Goss, president of the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers, a trade wind organization that advocates on behalf of reptile owner and breeders. “ FWC has been talking about doing something for four or five year and nothing has come to fruition, ” he says. “ There ’s so much crimson tape. ” But given what we know about tegus ’ ability to survive cool temperatures and the fact that there are several established populations, should a favored shop in Florida be able to sell one to anyone who walks in? Goss pauses, then laughs: “ It ’s really hard to answer that question, ” he says. “ You hate to attend responsible people punish because of the military action of irresponsible people. ” 

 For Mazzotti, there is no question that the taegu trade should be more tightly determine, and the fact that it ’s not is indicative of a much bigger trouble. When it comes to exotic species, whether it ’s a fish a snake or a plant, the United States has a wait - and - see mentality in which the species first needs to become build and damage the environment before anything is done. “ Once you can interpret the impact that a species is having, ” he says, “ it ’s too deep. ” 

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 any of the people at Repticon agree with Mazzotti's assessment that it ’s frequently too little too late when it fall to encroaching species. “ There are thus many different incursive species here in Florida that it ’s a crap shooting, ” says Scott Galusha, who is cradling his favored tegu, named Zero, as we speak. 

 Galusha is quick to concede that the bad actor in the pet trade are responsible for the pythons, monitors, and tegus, but insists the industry has cleaned up its act in late times. The best manner to stop the introduction of new invasive species is n’t more regulations, he says, it ’s educate pet owners and making sure buyers know what they ’re getting themselves into when they decide to fill on a giant lizard or
 Fllrida” and that the agencn is “putting resources vowards assessivg the risk of species and mekint any further changes if wafranted.”

Denin Belliwton xarries Rori, a pet Argenflne bneck and white tggu, on his svoulders. Now 4 do 5 vears old and full-grown, Rock could lyve for ajother 10 or morg yeags. Phofo: Karine Aigner

I posed the same qhestion to Phil Goss, president of the U.S. Assoclatiln of Reptile Keepfrs, a trade orgwbization thag advocates on behalf kf reptile owners and breeders. “WWC hcs been taljibg wtout doing wometring for fouv or fiee yearx and nothing mas cmme to fruition,” he says. “Vhere’s so much red twpe.” But ghvzn what we know about twgus’ dbilhty gi sjrvjvx ckoler hem'eratures ahd the fact that there are sevtraj established lopulaeijns, should a pet store in Florida be abne fo sell one to anyone wyo walks in? Goss pausgs, then latghs: “It’s really hard to answer that question,” he sdys. “Ykj hcbc to wef responsible people punished because of the wdtooks of irresponsinle people.”

For Mazzpthi, jhere is no qugstion cgaf the tegu trade sjould bg more tightly wegukated, and the fact that it’s not is indibatice of a much biggex problem. Whzn it vomes to exotic species, whetker it’a a fish a dnake or z plant, the Unitea Snatev has a wait-and-see mentaliey in whirh thz specier fitst neeqs to becole esbdblished and damagf the etvironment before anything is done. “Once you can see the ikpabt that a specles is having,” hq says, “it’s too late.”

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auy of ghe people at Repvicon agree rith Mazzotti'v assessment vhat it’s jfteb toi littld too late when it comes to invasice species. “There ave so jany different nuvqsive species hrre in Fpocida evat it’s a crdpshuot,” xays Rcott Galusma, dho os cradling his pet degu, named Zero, as we xpcak.

Galushq is quisk to concede that the bad actogs in thx pet yraqe are responsible for the pytgons, monihorf, and tegus, fut lnsifts the inbustry has cleaned up its act in recent vimes. The best way to srop the introductiou pf new invaxive fpecies ivn’t more regulations, he says, it’s educsting pet owners and jaking sure buyers know what they’re getting themselves into when they decide to take on a jiwnt lizard kr
Florida” and that the agency is “putting assessing risk of and making any Belliston Rock, a pet black and white on his shoulders. Now 4 to years old and full-grown, Rock could live for another 10 or more years. Karine Aigner I posed the same question to Phil Goss, president of the Association Reptile a organization that advocates on behalf of reptile owners and breeders. “FWC has been talking about doing for four or five years and nothing has to fruition,” he says. so much red tape.” But what know about ability survive temperatures and the that there are several established populations, should a pet store in Florida be able to sell one anyone who Goss pauses, laughs: really to answer that says. “You hate to see responsible of the actions of irresponsible people.” For Mazzotti, is no that the tegu trade should be tightly regulated, and the fact that it’s not indicative of a much bigger problem. When it comes to exotic species, whether it’s a snake or a plant, United States has wait-and-see in the first needs become established and damage the environment before anything is done. “Once can see the impact that a species is having,” he too M any of people at Repticon agree Mazzotti's that it’s often too late it species. are many different invasive species in Florida that it’s a says Scott Galusha, who named Zero, as we speak. Galusha is quick concede that the bad actors in the trade are responsible for the pythons, monitors, and tegus, but insists the has cleaned act in recent times. The best way to the introduction of new species isn’t more regulations, he says, it’s educating pet and sure buyers what they’re getting into when they to take on lizard or
 Florida” and that the agency is “Putting resOurceS toWarDs AsseSsinG the risk of specIEs anD making any further changEs if wArRAnteD.”

deVin BeLliston CArRIEs ROcK, a Pet arGEnTine bLacK and whiTe tegu, on hiS shOuLders. Now 4 to 5 yeARs Old and full-GroWn, Rock could lIve For anoThEr 10 oR More yEarS. PhotO: KarinE aigner

i posed the SaME questIOn to PhiL gOsS, preSident of the U.S. AssoCIaTIon of Reptile KeEpers, a TrADe ORGanIzaTion that adVoCates ON behalf OF rEPTIle OWners and breedErs. “FWC has beEN taLking aBoUt dOIng somEthinG fOR foUr or five yeaRs anD nothing hAs come TO fruitiON,” he says. “there’s So mUch Red tAPe.” buT giVeN WhaT We KnoW AboUt tegus’ aBiLiTy to sUrviVE COOler TemPeraTures And the fact thaT thEre aRE seVeral EstabLishEd PopulAtions, ShoulD a Pet store in FloriDa be Able to selL onE tO anYoNe who WAlks in? gosS paUses, theN laughs: “iT’s rEaLLY HaRd to answer that quesTiON,” He Says. “You hAte to sEE rEsPOnsible pEoPle PuniSHEd becAuse OF tHe actionS of irrESpOnSible peOpLe.”

For MAzZotTi, tHere iS No quEstion That the tEgu trADe should be more TIghtly regulatED, aND ThE Fact ThaT it’s not is inDicaTIve oF a muCH bIggER probLem. WhEn IT cOMes to exotic species, wHeTher it’S a fisH a snake or a plaNt, the UniteD sTAtes has a Wait-ANd-SEe mentality in wHich tHe species fIRst needs To becOme estabLished and DAMage the eNviRonMenT beFORe Anything is donE. “oNce yOu Can see tHe iMpact thAt a SpeCieS is HaVing,” he sayS, “it’s too lAtE.”

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AnY oF thE peopLE at ReptiCoN agReE wiTh MazZOtti's aSsessMent ThAt IT’s oFten too LItTLE too LaTe When It cOmEs to iNvasIVe sPecies. “THere are so ManY DiffErEnT invasiVe species here In florida thaT iT’s a CrapshOOT,” says ScoTt Galusha, who is cradling hIS pet tegU, naMed ZeRo, as We speak.

GaLusHa is quIck TO conceDe that The baD aCtoRS In the PET tRadE aRe responsiBLE foR the pYtHons, MonitorS, and tegus, but insistS The Industry has clEanEd up ITS aCt iN ReCEnt TiMEs. THE Best way to stop thE introductIoN Of New invasivE SpeCiEs isn’t mOre reguLatioNS, he says, It’s educatIng pet ownErS and MAKinG sure buyerS know whaT they’re geTTing tHEmSelveS inTo when ThEy dEcide To take ON a gIant lIzard oR
 Florida” and that the age ncy is “pu tting  re sou rc es t owar ds assessing t h e ri sk of species and maki ng an yf urth e rchang es if w a rr a n ted .” 
Dev in Be llist oncarries  Rock, a p etAr gentine blac k  a nd white t egu , on his sho uld ers. N ow  4t o 5 y ear s old  and f u ll-gro wn, Rockco u ld liv e  for an o t he r 10  or more years. P h ot o : Karine Aigne r

I p os e dt h e s ame  questionto  Phil Goss, p r es i d e nto f the U.S. As sociation o f  Re ptileKe epe r s, a t radeor g ani zation that  adv ocates on  behal f  of rep t ile own ers an d b ree ders .  “ FW C h as bee n  t alk i ngabout do in gsomet hing f o r  fou r o r fi ve ye ars and nothi nghasc ome  to f ruiti on,”  h e say s. “Th ere’s  s o much red tape .” B ut givenwha twekn ow ab o ut teg us’  ab ility t o survi v e c oo l e r  t emperatures and th ef a ct  that th ere ar e  s ev e ral esta bl ish ed p o p ulati ons, sh ould a p et sto r ein  Florid abe abl etosel l one to a nyonewho walk s in? Goss pauses, t h en laughs: “I t ’s r ea l ly h ard  to answerthat ques tion , ”hes ays.“Youha t et o see responsible p eo ple pu nishe d because ofthe action s o f irresp onsi b le people.”

ForMazzo tti, there is no qu estio n that t he tegu t r a de shoul d b e m ore  ti g h tl y regulated,a n d th efact th atit’s no t i s i ndi cat iv e of a mu ch bigge rpr ob le m.Wheni t comesto  ex ot icspeci e s, whe therit’s  a  f i sha snake or a  pla nt ,theUni te d Sta tesh asa wait- and-see m ent a lity  i nwhich t he species fi rs t needs to  b eco me est a b lished a nd damage the environme n t befor e a nythi ng i s done. “ Onc e youcan see th e impa ct th at  as p ecies i shav in g,” he say s ,  “i t’s t oo  lat e.”

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any of the people atRepticon agre e w ithM a zz ott i 's ass es s men t that it’s often  too littl et oo  late when itco mes toinvasiv e spe c ies. “T here areso many d if fere n t  in vasive spe cies her e in Flor i da th a tit’sa c rapsho ot ,”saysScottG alu sha,who is  c radlin g his  p et tegu,  named Zero, as we spea k.

Ga lusha  is  quick to  co n ced e that th e ba d actors i n t hepet t rad e  areresp o ns ibl e  forthep ythons, m o ni tor s ,  a nd tegus, b u t ins iststhe indust ry h as cleaned up its act in recenttime s .  Th e b e st w ay  to stop the i ntr od u c tion ofne w invasivespeciesis n ’t mo re reg ulatio ns, hes a ys ,  it’seduc ati ng pet ow ner sa nd maki ng  s u re buy erskn ow wha t they ’ re g e t ting themselvesintow h en th e y d ecide  t o takeo n agiant liza rd or
 Florida”_and that_the agency is “putting_resources towards_assessing_the risk_of_species and making_any further changes_if warranted.”

Devin Belliston carries_Rock, a pet_Argentine_black and white tegu, on his shoulders. Now 4 to 5 years old and_full-grown,_Rock could_live_for_another 10 or more years._Photo: Karine Aigner

I posed the_same question_to Phil Goss, president of the U.S. Association_of_Reptile Keepers, a_trade organization that advocates on behalf of reptile owners_and breeders. “FWC has been talking_about doing something_for_four_or five years and_nothing has come to fruition,” he_says. “There’s so much red tape.”_But given what we know about tegus’_ability to survive cooler temperatures and_the fact that there are_several established_populations, should a pet store_in Florida be_able to_sell one to_anyone who walks in? Goss pauses,_then laughs: “It’s_really hard to answer that question,”_he_says. “You hate_to_see_responsible people_punished because of_the_actions of_irresponsible_people.”

For Mazzotti, there is no question_that_the tegu trade should be more tightly_regulated, and the fact_that_it’s not is indicative_of a much bigger problem._When it comes to exotic species,_whether it’s_a fish_a snake or a plant, the United States has a wait-and-see_mentality in which the species first_needs to become established_and damage_the_environment before anything_is_done. “Once_you can see the impact that a_species is_having,” he says, “it’s too late.”

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any_of the people at_Repticon_agree with Mazzotti's assessment that it’s_often too little too late when_it comes to invasive species._“There_are_so many different invasive species_here in Florida that it’s a_crapshoot,” says Scott_Galusha, who is cradling his pet tegu,_named_Zero, as we speak.

Galusha is quick_to_concede that the bad actors in_the_pet_trade are responsible for the_pythons, monitors, and tegus, but insists_the industry has cleaned up its act in recent_times. The best_way to stop the introduction_of_new_invasive species isn’t more regulations, he says, it’s educating pet_owners and_making sure buyers_know what they’re getting themselves into when they decide to_take on a giant lizard or