Almost forgot: Does it seem a bit hypocritical that cats aren't included as well?
People let them run loose so they can attack and kill native reptiles and songbirds. Their more independent nature grants them a higher propensity at becoming feral, which compounds the former problem. Since spading/neutering is not mandatory, many of these ferals (and some domesticated) will create self-sustaining populations in the wild. On top of all of that, unlike most exotic reptiles and birds, felines are not bound by winter in more northerly regions of the continental US.
If this bill, or one similar, should be brought up, it should be at the state/local, not federal, level. Even then I disagree with it (except for Hawaii; they already have stringent measures anyways).
Programs such as microchipping, education, and harsher penalties for dumping exotics in the wild are fairer and more effective measures.
If possible, I'd even say create a genetic bank of exotics on the pet trade on top of the microchipping. If an exotic is found in the wild, it will be able to be traced back to the owner who last had it. If it is the decedents of that feral, genetics will trace it back to the original parent, and then to the owner.
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I can just see it now, some poor hamster with a chip as big as he is strapped to his back! lol
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