Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

The importation of live birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians into the United States is a growing problem to law enforcement agencies of the Federal and State governments. Importation of the above types of animals into the U.S. is supervised by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The function is of a regulatory nature: 1) to insure that no prohibited species enter the United States; 2) to enforce compliance with certain Federal Acts such as a) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, b) the Lacey Act, Title 18 USC, Sec. 42, 43 and 44, c) the Bald and Golden Eagle Act; 3) to assist in the enforcement of State laws and regulations concerned with entry of undesirable species of wildlife not afforded Federal prohibition. Restricted species of birds and mammals prohibited entry into the U.S. by Federal laws are: Birds: java sparrow, Padda oryzivora; Sudan dioch, Quelea quelea; rosy pastor, Sturnus roseus; and the red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jococus; Mammals: mongoose; any species of the genera Atilax, Cynictis, Helogale, Herpestes, Ichneumia, Mungos, and Suricata; bats of the genus Pteropus; multimammate rat of the genus Mastomys; the East Indian wild dog of the genus Cuon. The abovenamed birds and mammals were declared undesirable for entry into the U.S. because of their destructive habits to agriculture and our native wildlife.