The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a new interim rule that could significantly impact axolotl enthusiasts, pet retailers, customers, and hobbyists. This rule proposes adding 16 new genera of salamanders to the injurious amphibian list under the Lacey Act. Included in this list is the genus Ambystoma, which covers axolotls.

What Does This Mean for You?

If this rule is finalized, it would ban the interstate movement of axolotls for any state that has adopted USFWS’ “injurious wildlife list”— including shipping them between states, even for domestically bred pets. This could severely restrict commerce, limit the availability of pet axolotls, and disrupt hobbyists who rely on interstate trade to maintain genetic diversity in breeding programs and/or specialized veterinary care for their animals.

In Alabama, for example, the state not only has adopted the USFWS’ injurious wildlife list but has gone farther than just banning interstate movement of those species by also banning POSSESSION and SALE of any species listed as “injurious wildlife.” This means, all currently possessed pet axolotls in the state are currently considered ILLEGAL. Captive-bred axolotls in Alabama are providing Americans healthy pets, and this ban jeopardizes the livelihoods of hobbyists, breeders, and pet retailers who follow all proper care and health standards. Additionally, the ban disregards the critical role that responsible breeding and sales play in supporting a healthy, regulated market while preventing the introduction of diseases into wild populations.

The USFWS is accepting public comments NOW until March 11, 2025, on this interim rule, and your voice is crucial!

Why Oppose the Axolotl Ban?

• No Evidence of Bsal in the U.S.: There is no evidence that Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), the fungus this rule aims to control, is present in any species in the U.S. and our responsible pet businesses have been working hard to keep it that way. Why punish good actors that have helped successfully prevent the introduction or spread of this amphibian illness by banning the species?

• Commerce and Hobbyist Impact: The ban would hurt pet retailers and hobbyists without contributing to preventing Bsal introduction; leading to potential job losses, decreased revenue, disruption of breeding programs that require interstate genetic exchange to maintain healthy, diverse populations, and a disruption in the availability of healthy, captive-bred axolotls for responsible pet owners; especially in states that have blindly adopted USFWS’ “injurious wildlife lists” into their own state codes. It is important to note that a healthy hobby and trade are necessary for encouraging research into developing detection and treatment regimens – if this ban by USFWS is successful, scientific research efforts will also suffer.

• Need for Science-Based Policy: The decision to ban axolotls is based on genus-level data, which is overly broad and not supported by species-specific science. The listed Ambystoma genus that includes axolotls also includes different species with varying levels of susceptibility to Bsal, and this genus is being targeted without differentiating between species that may or may not carry the fungus. This broad approach fails to account for species-specific variations and does not reflect the scientific understanding of the true risk of Bsal transmission within the herp community. A more effective policy would consider the scientific data available at the species level, rather than grouping species that may have little in common in terms of disease susceptibility or risk factors; especially since current evidence suggests that axolotls may not carry Bsal or at least do not pose a substantial risk of transmitting the fungus.

• USFWS is Not Authorized to Ban Interstate Commerce: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) does not have the authority under the Lacey Act to prohibit the interstate transportation of species designated as "injurious wildlife." However, states that have adopted the federal injurious wildlife list have effectively reinforced this overreach, creating significant barriers for responsible pet owners and businesses. Hobbyists who need to relocate or seek specialized veterinary care across state lines may face unnecessary challenges. By restricting the legal interstate movement of these animals, the rule could unintentionally drive demand for illegally sourced axolotls, increase the risk of animal welfare issues, and lead to more pet releases into the wild due to fears of legal consequences.

How You Can Help:

Submit a comment to the USFWS opposing the ban on axolotls. To make it easy, we've provided a template that you can personalize and submit.

Take Action Now!

• Submit Your Comment: Use the form on the right (or visit the Federal Register website: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/10/2024-31203/injurious-wildlife-species-listing-salamanders-due-to-risk-of-salamander-chytrid-fungus#open-comment) to submit your comment before the deadline.

• Spread the Word: Share this action alert with fellow axolotl enthusiasts, pet retailers, and hobbyists to ensure our voices are heard.

Together, we can advocate for responsible, science-based policies that protect both our pets and native wildlife!

Background information:

The Lacey Act, enacted in 1900, grants the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) authority to designate certain species as "injurious," prohibiting their importation into the United States. Historically, the USFWS interpreted the Act to also ban interstate transport of these injurious species. However, in 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers v. Zinke that the Lacey Act does not authorize the USFWS to prohibit the interstate transportation of injurious species within the continental U.S.

As a result of this ruling, while the importation of injurious species into the U.S. remains prohibited, their interstate transport is not federally restricted under the Lacey Act. Consequently, individual states must adopt their own regulations to control the possession, sale, or transport of these species within and across their borders. Some states have chosen to incorporate the federal injurious species list into their state laws, thereby enforcing restrictions on interstate movement of these species.

Each state is able to decide for itself if it wants to adopt USFWS’ “injurious wildlife” list, however, many of the species that have been put on this list previously are proven to be both highly invasive species and demonstrably harmful to both the ecosystems they invade and the economies they negatively impact, like zebra mussels and Asian carp.

Axolotls are a pet that is growing in popularity, gaining visibility in pop culture, and being featured in various forms of media, including video games, movies, and as mascots. This exposure has led to increased curiosity and demand as potential pets. While axolotls have specific care requirements, they are relatively low maintenance compared to other exotic pets. They don't require land space like terrestrial salamanders or reptiles, and they thrive in aquatic environments, which makes them more accessible for hobbyists. They are not, however, a substantial risk to human or environmental health.