ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Hi,

For anything, insect, millipede, snail I believe, whatever, if it might
damage crops or do something that could cost agriculture money (this now
may be more broadly interpreted now) one does have to go through USDA. 
We probably should be interpreting the reasons behind all of the
regulations along with our lovely cockroaches.  (My particular cup of
tea, and well beyond hissers..)  Rich Weddle, our animal husbandry
manager at Liberty Science Center, keeps us legal and knows all the
legal ropes as well as the beasts..

Cheers

betty
Betty Faber, Ph.D.
Liberty Science Center

>>> [log in to unmask] 02/19/05 7:41 AM >>>
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
*****************************************************************************

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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