PETITION PROPOSED BY: Carolyn J Lantz PETITION WRITTEN BY: Carolyn J Lantz DATE SENT TO THE COMMISSION: 11/13/16

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Neil Parks
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1 CITIZEN-PROPOSED ISSUE PAPER Date: 11/13/16 ISSUE: Addition of Macropus species to unregulated list DISCUSSION (FACTS AND FIGURES, EXPLANATION OF ISSUE): See attached WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE? HAVE YOU COMMUNICATED WITH ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES? WHAT INPUT HAVE YOU RECEIVED? This is an addition of species that is not popular in the private ownership world, sue to hardiness and cost so not much interest in other private ownership ALTERNATIVES: PLEASE INDICATE THE PROBABLE OUTCOME IF THIS PETITION IS ACCEPTED, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVES TO THIS PETITION: I would be able to add the new species to my educational program, teaching people about more than just one species of kangaroos and more about conservation of all animals PETITION PROPOSED BY: Carolyn J Lantz PETITION WRITTEN BY: Carolyn J Lantz DATE SENT TO THE COMMISSION: 11/13/16

2 To address the concerns of the Colorado Dept of Ag and Colorado Dept of Public Health Colorado dept of Ag has expressed some concerns over bringing in the 3 additional species of marsupials. Their main concern seems to be with the zoonotic diseases. We have addressed these concerns with the Co dept of Health information included in this packet. The Dept of Ag should be more concerned with the information that the Parks and Wildlife division list below. We have included information on the impact marsupials could have on habitat competition. This information is based on large mobs in Australia, therefore the impact would be much less in the USA when only one or two animals may escape. As stated before these species will not breed with any native animal in Colorado, they will not even breed with a different species of marsupial. Also if they did escape they would not survive a Colorado winter. These animals are native to an arid climate. I have included an excerpt from the One Health Initiative also. They are simply an organization that are getting Doctors and Veterinarians to work together and share information and studies. I have attached a complete list of the zoonotic diseases that the Dept of Public Health is concerned with. As stated before can macropods get them? Yes just like any other animal and human in the world, to say these are zoonotic diseases of the wallaby is incorrect. The most common thread is domestic dogs and cats, and for the most part these diseases can be found in any species of animals in the world. Does that mean we should eliminate private ownership of all animals? I am also attaching a copy of the letter from Dr Labonde here in Colorado. He has taken several courses and gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on marsupials and is the main vet for treating them here in Colorado. The Parks and Wildlife Commission establishes these regulations in an effort to balance its mandate to protect native species of wildlife in Colorado from the impacts which could be caused by the introduction of exotic (non-native) species with the public interest and demand for the private possession of live wildlife. a. Potential habitat competition, damage or destruction. b. Disruption of migration, breeding, or rearing and survival of young. c. Predation. d. Disease. e. Potential for hybridization. f. Any other wildlife management criteria. The One Health Initiative is a movement to forge co-equal, all inclusive collaborations between physicians, osteopathic physicians, veterinarians, dentists, nurses and other scientific-health and environmentally related disciplines, including the American Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Nurses Association, American Association of Public Health Physicians, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). Additionally, more than 900 prominent scientists, physicians and veterinarians worldwide have endorsed the initiative.

3 ls/kangaroosandwallabies.htm Kangaroos and livestock Not all developments since the arrival of Europeans have been bad for kangaroos. Numbers of some of the large species have increased greatly in parts of the inland since European settlement. One possible reason for this is that bores and ground tanks have provided kangaroos with water in places that would previously have been uninhabitable. Kangaroos usually do not stray more than km from water. Kangaroos are most numerous in the better-class rangelands, and are less common in very arid country. As a general rule, kangaroos and sheep eat different plant species, so they are not often in direct competition if there is plenty of food. Kangaroos eat young green shoots high in protein - they are not as good as sheep are at eating and digesting dry grass or fibre. In dry periods, however, kangaroos can sometimes reduce the amount of feed available to livestock. Being more mobile than sheep, they can select the best vegetation in an area for themselves KANGAROO v SHEEP CONTROVERSY. Author(s) : Australia Book : Oryx 1968 pp pp. Abstract : Dr. H. J. Frith, Chief of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization's Wildlife Research Division, has pointed out that kangaroos and sheep are to some extent complementary in their grazing, as the kangaroos prefer some grasses that the sheep do not touch. Reducing the number of kangaroos on a piece of land will not necessarily increase the forage for sheep, but it will decrease the amount of protein produced by that land, especially as a kangaroo, which is 52% meat, is a better converter of grass to meat than a sheep, which is only 27% meat. Moreover, kangaroos do not destroy the range; in drought they regulate their own numbers by

4 ceasing to breed and by migrating. In the long term, max. productivity can be achieved by grazing some kangaroos with the stock. Field metabolic rate and water turnover of red kangaroos and sheep in an arid rangeland: an empirically derived dry-sheep-equivalent for kangaroos A. J. Munn A D E, T. J. Dawson B, S. R. McLeod C, D. B. Croft B, M. B. Thompson A and C. R. Dickman A A School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. B School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, NSW, 2031, Australia. C New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia. D Present address: Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. E Corresponding author. a.munn@usyd.edu.au Australian Journal of Zoology 57(1) Submitted: 24 July 2008 Accepted: 7 April 2009 Published: 6 May 2009 Abstract Sustainable management of pastures requires detailed knowledge of total grazing pressure, but this information is critically lacking in Australia s rangelands where livestock co-occur with large herbivorous marsupials. We present the first comparative measure of the field metabolic rate (an index of food requirement) of Australia s largest marsupial, the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), with that of domestic sheep (Ovis aries; merino breed). We tested the assumption that the grazing pressure of red kangaroos is equivalent to 0.7 sheep, and show this to be a two-fold overestimation of their contribution to total grazing. Moreover, kangaroos had extraordinarily lower rates of water turnover, being only 13% that of sheep. Consequently, our data support arguments that the removal of kangaroos may not markedly improve rangeland capacity for domestic stock. Furthermore, given the low resource requirements of kangaroos, their use in consumptive and non-consumptive

5 enterprises can provide additional benefits for Australia s rangelands than may occur under traditional rangeland practices. om/grasscows&kangaroos.htm The problem... Kangaroos, wallaroos and wallabies (herein referred to as just kangaroos) have long been persecuted and culled on the land predominately due to their grazing nature. Many believe that the kangaroos grass and herbivorous diet puts them in direct competition to cattle and sheep, and therefore they are considered as pests. This is not necessarily the case, particularly in times of good growth. The Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE) system was developed to help farmers compare feed requirements for different classes of stock as well as to determine the carrying capacity of an area. In measuring the energy requirements of livestock, the standard animal against which all other animals are compared is a 50kg wether sheep maintaining a constant weight. By definition, a 50kg wether has a dry sheep equivalent (DSE) rating of 1, animals requiring more feed have a higher rating, and animals requiring less feed have a lower rating. The DSE rating of all classes of stock is based on the feed requirements of the animals. DSE can also be used to compare feed intake of sheep, cattle and kangaroos. DSE is simple - A 50kg dry sheep has a DSE rating of 1. A 450kg dry cow has a DSE rating of 6, meaning that one cow would eats six times more grass than one sheep. An 800kg bull has a DSE rating of 10, meaning that one bull.would eat ten times more grass than one sheep. Cows at different age stages and pregnant cows have different energy requirements and therefore have different DSE ratings..- which are more

6 than a standard cow or bull. Similarly, a horse has a DSE of 10. Rabbits have a DSE rating of around 0.125, meaning that it would take 8 rabbits to eat the same amount of grass as one...sheep. Kangaroos are known to have a DSE rating of.625, meaning that one kangaroo would.eat only 62.5% of that of one..50kg sheep. Kangaroos only compete with livestock for pasture when total grazing pressure exceeds dry matter production. To estimate the contribution of kangaroos to total grazing pressure, research has shown that one dry sheep equivalent (DSE) equals 1.6 kangaroos or one kangaroo equals DSE. In addition, the contribution of rabbits to the total grazing pressure may be considerable. It is estimated that eight to ten rabbits equal one DSE. Often, alleged kangaroo damage to pastures or crops is due, at least in part, to rabbits. Grazing by kangaroos (and rabbits) does, however, reduce potential yields of hay. Parasites and other complaints... Some people also believe that kangaroos transfer internal parasites to stock. This belief is groundless as most parasites to kangaroos are specific to marsupials and are not hosted by cattle and sheep. There are two exceptions - liver fluke and tapeworm - however it is believed that liver fluke was introduced to Australia via the importation of domestic cattle and the parasite was actually transferred to marsupials. And, it is more likely that tapeworm is transferred from farm dogs to cattle after feeding them uncooked offal from culled marsupials, there is no direct transfer of tapeworm from marsupials to stock. The belief that footrot can be carried by kangaroos and transmitted to livestock is also false, as this is not a disease associated with marsupials.

24 Unregulated Wildlife Citizen Petition Nov 13, 2016 This is a request to add three (3) species of Macropus to the unregulated list of animals for the State of Colorado. All three of these species are in the same family (Marcropus) as the Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), Bennett wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus), wallaroo (Macropus robustus), dama wallaby (Macropus eugenii), and swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) that are already approved for private ownership in the state of Colorado. Statement of basis and purpose I have been a USDA Licensed exhibitor in the state of Colorado for close to 25 years, the last 10 years have been with raising the current unregulated species of Macropus without any incidents or violations. I feel there would be no increase in private ownership by adding the additional species as these are less hardy and more expensive to purchase than the current more popular species. My facility is already set up with fully heated barns and double/triple fenced enclosures to prevent any incidents of escape. My program is an educational based program to educate on the conservation of animals in Australia and the world, and feel the addition of the new species is very important to my program. None of the animals are ever taken from the wild or imported from Au. Thank you in advance for reviewing and considering my requests. Carolyn J Lantz 1. The scientific and common name or names including subspecies. EASTERN GREY KANGAROO ( MACROPUS GIGANTEUS) WESTERN GREY KANGAROO (MARCROPUS FULIGINOSUS) AGILE WALLABY (MARCROPUS AGILIS) 2. Habitat requirements and limitations, including an assessment of its survivability in Colorado's native habitats. Eastern Grey Kangaroo- species found in the forest, woodlands and scrubland areas of eastern Australia Western Grey Kangaroo-species is endemic to southern Australia to the west Agile Wallaby-Generally found along rivers and streams in open woodland and grassland habitats All of these species are grazers found in the more arid parts of Australia, while they could survive short periods of colder weather they would not be able to survive a full winter in Colorado without adequate shelter.

25 3. The potential of the species to negatively impact or destroy native vegetation. As a general rule, kangaroos and sheep eat different plant species, so they are not often in direct competition if there is plenty of food. Kangaroos eat young green shoots high in protein - they are not as good as sheep are at eating and digesting dry grass or fiber. In dry periods, however, kangaroos can sometimes reduce the amount of feed available to livestock. Considering we would not have the large wild populations they have in Australia we feel there would be no detrimental effect on native vegetation 4. All known associated diseases, including zoonotic diseases and parasites.. Cryptosporidiosis Cause: is a coccidian protozoa, Cryptosporidium, that is found in water contaminated by feces. Common in all livestock. Known prevention is to wash hands. 5. Predatory behavior, including assessment of the anticipated effect predation by the species would have on native wildlife and domestic animals. Kangaroos are not a predatory animal, they are considered prey. The native wildlife such as coyotes, and other meat eaters would chase them down for food. In Australia the only predators they have are the Dingoes and eagles. In domestic animals it would be the house dog again chasing the kangaroos. 6. An assessment of the potential of the species to damage or destroy agricultural crops or rangeland. None due to the fact that if there was an escape it would be a minimal amount of animals. Not having large mobs like they do in Australia they would not be able to destroy or damage agricultural corps. The fact that they can only have one baby a year the rate of growth and survivability for the species through a Colorado winter would be very little. 7. An assessment of the ability of the species to breed with native wildlife and domestic animals. Each species of Macropus only breeds with its own species. IE a red kangaroo will only breed with a red kangaroo. They have no interest in any other species of Macropus. These animals have a very unique chromosome system and would never be able to breed with anything native to the US or Colorado. 8. Fecundity and reproductive behavior. Macropus live in small mobs or groups of animals. Usually 1 male to several females. Female kangaroos in captivity became sexually mature at months and males at about 2 years of age. The estrous cycle averaged days in length and the gestation period was 33 days They breed once a year, producing an average of 1 baby at a time. Until the 1 baby leaves the pouch she will not produce another one. Sometimes it can be 1 baby every two to three years.

26 9. Assessment of the competition this species would have with native wildlife and domestic animals for food, water, and space.. The small amount of kangaroos in Colorado would have no effect on the food, water and space with native wildlife or domestic animals found in Colorado. They would not survive a winter in Colorado in the wild 10. Information about the regulatory status of the species in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Idaho, and Montana Az.- No restrictions or permits needed for any species of Macropus/Marsupials Nv- No restrictions or permits needed for any species of Macropus/Marsupials Ut-Wallabies, wallaroos and kangaroos, (All species) family Macropodidae are prohibited for collection, importation and possession; Wy-Must apply for procession of wildlife permit Ch 10 No restriction on species all treated the same Ne- No restrictions or permits needed for any species of Macropus/Marsupials Ks-No restrictions or permits needed for any species of Macropus/Marsupials Ok-No restrictions or permits needed for any species of Macropus/Marsupials NM-Considered Class IV Import - The importation of these species are prohibited for the general public but may be allowed for, scientific study, department approved restoration and recovery plans, zoological display, temporary events/entertainment, use as service animal or by a qualified expert. Id- No brush tailed possums allowed other than that no restrictions or permits needed for Macropus/Marsupials Mt- Wallabies Bennett and Tammar are non controlled animals- no permit needed. Wallaroos are a controlled animal Permit needed. Kangaroos prohibited 11. Information about the regulatory prohibitions of the species in any city or county within Colorado. Currently no rules against owning a Macropus /marsupial in any county as long as they are on the unregulated list.

27 12. Assessment of the "weediness" of the animal. The "weediness" of an animal shall be defined and assessed by the following criteria: : 1) Characterization of the aggressiveness of the animal Marsupials are primarily a flight animal, they will usually run away from humans rather than fight. Incidence of humans being attacked in the USA are extremely low. : 2) its ability to thrive in Colorado Marsupials are generally found in the arid areas of Australia and do not survive well in extreme cold without proper shelter. :3) its ability to disperse widely or pioneer Marsupials are grazers and a mob animal, they will stay together and graze slowly. : 4) its reproductive potential Marsupials will only breed with its own sub species and no way can breed with native Colorado wildlife. :5) its ability to adapt to other food sources (opportunistic feeding ability). Marsupials prefer grass but will also eat weeds, the amount they would eat compared to cattle or sheep is very little. Once feed is buried in snow they would not survive. 13. Cite whether the species is listed by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and if so, on which appendix.. All three of the species are listed as least concern on the Red List Category and Criteria list. 14. An assessment of the potential for illegal trafficking of the species within the United States and internationally. Australia has very strict export laws in place. The three species listed in this petition, and the ones already approved in Colorado are the only species in the USA at this time. All of the species listed are already legally being sold here in the USA and internationally. All of the species currently in the USA have been bred and born in the USA since the 70's, There are breeders throughout the USA that raise these animals for zoos and conservation efforts to educate the plight of these animals in Au. While currently listed as Least concern at this time we all know how fast that can change. 15. An assessment of the impacts to wild populations of the species if legal possession and trade were allowed. There would be no impact to the wild populations of the species as Australia does not export any of the animals. All of the current populations have been captive bred in the USA since the 70's.

28 16. An assessment of the care and welfare requirements of the species. All of the animals are currently provided with temperature controlled barns, fed commercially prepared kangaroo chow and grass hay and water at all times. All fencing is 6 ft high with double or triple fencing around all shelters to prevent any escapes. We have a vet, Dr. Labonde at Homestead animal hospital in Centennial, Co, that specializes in macropus species available at all times. No changes would need to be made for the three new species as their non- tolerance for colder temps has already been provided for in the shelters we have provided for our other species. 17. Assessment of the danger this animal poses to humans if it were to escape Kangaroos, particularly those at the interface between residential and rural lands, often come into contact with people and may exhibit complex behavioral responses which can be misunderstood, raise concern or on very rare occasions lead to physical injury. Although the chances of being harmed by a kangaroo are very low. Kangaroos are not predatory, their usual response is a flight response 18. Bibliography of reference materials Listing showing LC Status for species For information on habitat, export rules and species info

SHEEP AND PREDATOR MANAGEMENT

SHEEP AND PREDATOR MANAGEMENT PREDATORS HAVE POSED A SERIOUS THREAT TO LIVESTOCK FOR AS LONG AS SHEEP, CATTLE AND OTHER ANIMALS HAVE BEEN DOMESTICATED BY HUMANS. MOST LIVESTOCK OPERATORS INCLUDING SHEEP