Outreach Track

USARK: Defending Our Hobby

Description

In this Outreach Track session, Garrett Hartle (Reachout Reptiles) interviews Phil Goss, President of USARK, about the organization’s role in protecting reptile keepers from harmful legislation. They discuss how USARK uses donations and memberships to fund lobbyists and attorneys, highlight landmark legal victories, and explain ongoing challenges such as invasive species bans and Endangered Species Act listings. Emphasizing grassroots advocacy, Phil outlines how individual keepers can get involved through alerts, emails, and membership—making collective action the key to defending the future of herpetoculture.