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Hi, Sara:

Is there an alternative to registering with USDA?  We did it for our  
leaf cutter ant display.  If you want more info about the process, let  
me know.  Also, I remember you were planning to visit.  Did that ever  
happen? If so, sorry I missed you...if not, always welcome!

Eric Siegel
Executive VP
    Programs and Planning
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
esiegel at nyscience dot org

On Feb 19, 2005, at 5:36 AM, Peter A. Anderson wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *********************************************************************** 
> ******
>
> Dear Sara,
>
> Regulations change, but one thing that became clear to us back in
> 1988 when working on the Carnegie Science Center, is that it can be  
> better
> to look like a zoo, than a laboratory.  There are countless regulations
> governing labs - some to protect the animals; even more to protect  
> people
> from animals that may be infected in the course of research or testing.
> There
> can be a lot of reporting involved.
>
> Your correspondent mentioned USDA regulations, and they may be OK,
> but again, regulations for farm animals are largely directed towards  
> human
> health.
>
> Zoos keep animals for about the same reasons as you will, so the  
> regulatory
> environment surrounding them should suit you.
>
> When we needed some animals in Pittsburgh, we  borrowed them from the
> zoo there, and it proved a very pleasant and fruitful relationship.   
> You
> might
> consider affiliating with a zoo.   They know lots about keeping  
> animals for
> human contact and educational purposes, and tend to share information
> generously - and will often give you things like meal worms and other
> self-regenerating live foodstuffs enjoyed by some of our fellow  
> creatures.
>
> The only hazard for me was when the zoo Director told me that the  
> reason
> that the lion sat nobly on top of the hill that they had made for it,  
> was
> because
> there was an electrically heated rock on top.  I laughed until I could
> hardly
> breathe; it seemed to epitomize all the flim flam that masquerades as
> grandeur and nobility, in this world.
>
> Please say Hi! to Sharon for me.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Peter Anderson
>
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