CITIZEN-PROPOSED ISSUE PAPER Date: 11/13/16 ISSUE: Addition of 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 and more about conservation of all

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

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 (Macropus rufus), Bennett (Macropus rufogriseus), (Macropus robustus), dama wallaby (Macropus eugenii), and (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 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. requirements and limitations, including an assessment of its survivability in Colorado's native .

Eastern Grey Kangaroo- species found in the , 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 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.

3. The potential of the species to negatively impact or destroy native vegetation.

As a general rule, kangaroos and sheep eat different species, so they are not often in direct competition if there is plenty of . 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 , 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 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 15-20 months and males at about 2 years of age. The estrous cycle averaged 34-35 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. 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/

Nv- No restrictions or permits needed for any species of Macropus/Marsupials

Ut-, and kangaroos, (All species) family 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 / in any county as long as they are on the unregulated list.

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.

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

http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Listing showing LC Status for species

For information on habitat, export rules and species info

kangarooworlds.com

livescience.com diffin.com animals.mom.me.com animals.sandiegozoo.org quora.com adalaysanimals.wordpress.com wwf.org.au enviroment.nsw.gov.au

For information proving that all of the species of macropod are the same family, conservation , threats and habitats. SOURCE KANGAROOWORLDS.COM Kangaroo Species Overview

There are quite a few different Kangaroo species out there to learn more about. It is believed that they have been around for millions of years. Yet we don’t have very much evidence in the way of to give us very many answers. For example it isn’t known how the different species branched off from each other.There are only an few main groups of Kangaroo species out there. Yet there are more than 80 of them total when you start to break them all down into sub species. That can become more complicated at that point to keep where each of them belongs in the overall scheme of things.

Kangaroo Species

1. Red Kangaroo 2. Eastern Gray Kangaroo 3. Western Gray Kangaroo

The umbrella that they all fall under though is called macropods. There are two categories of families that they are further divided into from there. The first one is the Macropodidae. Most species of Kangaroos fall under this one. The second category is the and Rat Kangaroos fall into this one.

The Red Kangaroo is one that you have likely heard about. This is the largest found in Australia. It gets its name due to the reddish tint of its hide. They are also the species that is well known for the typical boxing moves. They do this for the right to run the mob and for mating purposes.

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo has a thicker coat that most other species. In fact, the gray coloring on the back with white down the front and large ears reminds many people of an oversized . They are also the fastest of all species of Kangaroos. One was actually recorded going 40 miles per hour.

There is also the Western Grey Kangaroo that is a lighter color of gray. These are very curious animals which can get them into trouble. For example it can lead them to where humans are hunting or to where traps have been set for them. They also give out a very strong odor that is unpleasant. No other species of Kangaroo is known to do this. SOURCE LIVESCIENCE.COM

Types of Kangaroos

There are four known species of kangaroos that belong to the macropus . The red, the eastern gray, the western gray and the antilopine.

Kangaroos are large marsupials that are found only in Australia. They are identified by their muscular tails, strong back legs, large feet, short fur and long, pointed ears. Like all marsupials, a sub-type of mammal, females have pouches that contain mammary glands, where their young live until they are old enough to emerge.

Kangaroos are in the Macropodidae family, which also includes tree- kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, and . When people think of kangaroos, the four species that typically come to mind are in the genus Macropus: the antilopine kangaroo, the red kangaroo, the western gray kangaroo and the eastern gray kangaroo. They are sometimes referred to as the "great kangaroos" because these species are much larger than other kangaroos.

SOURCE DIFFIN.COM

Both the kangaroo and the wallaby belong to the macropod family, which contains large-footed animals. They have oversized feet that they use for jumping — their only form of locomotion. Both these animals also belong to marsupial infraclass, meaning they have a front-opening pouch to carry their babies. However, some animals in the marsupial family, like the , have backward- opening pouches.

Similarities

• Family: Both the kangaroo and the wallaby belong to the same family of macropods and marsupials • Habitat: Both are essentially found in Australia though the terrains are different • Locomotion: Both these animals have strong hind legs and jumping is their only mode of locomotion. • Life Cycle: Both these animals have a very short period of pregnancy, and the baby that’s born is very weak and fragile. They stay in their mother’s pouch and suckle for almost nine months before they can actually venture out. The constitution of the milk changes from time to time, to offer appropriate nutrition to the baby. As soon as the baby, commonly called the joey, is big enough to leave the pouch and only returns for feeds; the mother gives again.

SOURCE ANIMALS.MOM.ME.COM The Kangaroo Family

Kangaroos belong to the superfamily Macropodoidea, which also includes wallabies. This superfamily has 62 members native to Australia and , ranging in size from those who weigh as little as 2 pounds to about 200 pounds. Six kangaroo species are the big boys of this family, although a new, and slightly smaller, kangaroo family member was discovered in in 1990. The wallaroo, a crossbreed of wallaby and kangaroo, is another relative. Red Kangaroos

The red kangaroo is the largest species. The male weighs in at around 200 pounds and stands 6 feet tall, sitting on his haunches. The female measures 4 feet and weighs around 77 pounds. Grey Kangaroos

The Grey kangaroo is the next largest. Two species, the Western and Eastern grey, belong to this family. The Western kangaroo lives as you might expect in , but the Eastern kangaroo likes forest and grassland areas of Australia's east coast, and is the only kangaroo species on the island of . The species has a woolly textured coat, compared to the Red kangaroo's silkier one, and is a grayish- brown color. Males measure up to 5 feet in height and weigh about 145 pounds. Females are only 4 feet tall by comparison and weigh in at 77 pounds. the Wallaroo

. The stocky wallaroo, with his shaggy coat and short limbs, is well-adapted for leaping around rocks. He lives all over Australia, but prefers living in hilly areas and makes his home in a cave where he can hide from the heat and predators. Although he may like having a watering hole nearby, he can survive for up to three months without drinking water, relying on as a water source.

SOURCE ANIMALS.SANDIEGOZOO.ORG/ANIMALS/KANGAROO- WALLABY

• CLASS: Mammalia ()

• ORDER:

• FAMILY: Macropodidae

• GENERA: 11

• SPECIES: 54

A well-known mammal: The word kangaroo often brings to mind a picture of a big, bounding critter with long ears and a baby, or joey, peeking out of its mother's pouch. Maybe you envision Kanga and Roo from A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh books, or H. A. Rey's Katy No-Pocket from the story of the same name? Either way, kangaroos are perhaps Australia's best-known animal and are found in stories, movies, and even as sports team mascots the world over!

The kangaroo's family name, Macropodidae, means "big feet," a great description for kangaroos and their relatives. Kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, quokkas, pademelons, , rat-kangaroos, honey possums, and tree kangaroos are all macropods. Confused about the difference between kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies? That's understandable! There are more than 50 species of these marsupials, and they vary in size from critters you could hold in your hands to the giant red kangaroo that stands as tall as an adult person.

The main difference between a kangaroo and all the others is size: the six largest macropods are referred to as kangaroos. Otherwise, they are quite similar. In most species, the hind legs and feet are much larger and more powerful than the forelimbs. Their tail is long, muscular, and thick at the base, helping the animal balance and turn during hopping and providing support when it rests.

All three of the large kangaroo species are closely related to the smaller wallabies and wallaroos that thrive in habitats ranging from wet to arid grasslands. There are brush, scrub, swamp, forest, and rock wallabies, which should give some clue as to the vastly different habitats these creatures call their own. Their smaller size lets them fill smaller, more varied niches than their larger cousins.

SOURCE QUORA.COM

All living kangaroos, wallaroos, euros, wallabies, tree kangaroos, rock wallabies, pademelons and hare-wallabies are contained within the Macropodidae family. The family currently contains 53 species that inhabit Australia and New Guinea, with Australia also being so kind as to introduce them to Britain, France and New Zealand. Most of the kangaroos, wallabies and the like that non-Australians hear about belong to the Macropus genus.

SOURCE ADALAYSANIMALS.WORDPRESS.COM

There are four species of kangaroo, all in the genus Macropus. Also belonging in Macropus are the wallabies and wallaroos, which are differentiated from kangaroos by size, with kangaroos being the largest, wallabies the smallest, and wallaroos somewhere in between. All species of kangaroo are found in Australia, in habitats ranging from arid deserts to sparse woodland areas.

SOURCE WWF.ORG.AU

Kangaroos and wallabies Marsupials are mammals that have a pouch or ‘marsupium’ in which they raise their young. Marsupials include , , possums and dasyurids (small carnivorous marsupials) and macropods. Before European settlement there were 53 species of macropods in Australia; six have since become extinct. A third of macropod species in Australia and PNG are threatened. Macropods (members of the super family Macropodoidea) include kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons, tree kangaroos and rat kangaroos. They typically have large hind limbs and feet. Macropods are unique to Australia and New Guinea. Macropods are unique Australian animals and the most well known, the red kangaroo features on Australia’s coat of arms, coins and stamps. Geological and climatic events in Australia’s history have resulted in the unique species seen today, with marsupials evolving around 56 to 34 million years ago. Kangaroos are thought to have evolved from possum-like animals. This relationship can be seen by the musky rat-kangaroo, which is the most primitive kangaroo alive. The musky rat-kangaroo lives on the ground but has a ‘thumb-like’ toe, which looks like a possum foot. ©

Threats Between Australia and New Guinea, there are 83 species of macropods, of which nine have become extinct since European settlement and 28 are threatened. The threats to macropods are varied and some, like the rufous hare wallaby are more at risk than others. The main threats to macropods in Australia are habitat loss, altered fire regimes, introduced predators and now climate change. These are the main drivers of decline affecting many mammals in Australia and have resulted in this continent having the worst rate of mammal worldwide. In New Guinea, loss of forest habitat and over-hunting has resulted in the decline of several species of tree kangaroos and other macropods. Habitat loss Macropods live in a variety of habitat types and, with European settlement, much of this land was cleared of native bush to accommodate agricultural and land

SOURCE ENVIROMENT.NSW.GOV.AU

Kangaroos and wallabies are marsupials that belong to a small group of animals called macropods. They are only found naturally in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Most macropods have hind legs larger than their forelimbs, large hind feet, and long muscular tails which they use for balance. The word macropod actually means 'big foot'. Kangaroos and wallabies are most active at night, dusk and dawn.

The kangaroo superfamily consists of two family groups. Kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons and tree kangaroos make up one family, while rat-kangaroos, and potoroos make up the other. There are 45 species of kangaroos and wallabies. Threats

Kangaroos and wallabies once roamed Australia practically undisturbed by predators, although no doubt the Tasmanian tiger and other carnivorous marsupials were a threat to their safety. The arrival of Aboriginal people between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago had an impact on kangaroos and wallabies, through hunting and through frequent burning of habitat vegetation. The , which arrived about 3,500 years ago, became a major kangaroo predator.

However, the arrival of European settlers had the greatest effect on native animals, including kangaroos. European livestock compete with kangaroos for pasture, and such as foxes, cats and dogs prey on native fauna. Different bushfire patterns have also had a great impact on kangaroo habitat.

Two centuries ago there were 21 species of macropod in NSW, now there are only 15. The smallest species, and those with special habitat requirements and restricted ranges, have suffered the most, both from predators and from the destruction of their habitats. A number of species of kangaroo and wallaby are listed as threatened in NSW.