OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police referred charges to the Whatcom County Prosecutors office last week after seizing 16 illegally trafficked newts carrying a potentially transmissible disease from an Everson man.
State law prohibits the Anatolia newt and marbled newt from being possessed, introduced, or trafficked without authorization in Washington state. These newt species are classified as prohibited Level 3 invasive species, which categorizes non-native aquatic animals that pose a moderate-to-high risk to the environment and require management to prevent their spread.
Late last year, WDFW learned of a potentially transmissible disease affecting amphibians in the U.S. pet trade. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), a Boston amphibian dealer and breeder had been unlawfully acquiring federally prohibited species carrying the unknown pathogen/virus from Europe. Research suggests these pathogens can spread through direct contact and contaminated environments, with significant mortality rates and risk to native species.
The Boston trafficker’s facility held between 300 and 500 amphibians and reptiles exposed to this potentially deadly pathogen, which to date had not been found in the United States. This trafficker sold and shipped numerous amphibians across the country to other breeders and buyers including one recipient, a breeder, in Washington state.
USFWS worked with the State of Massachusetts to address the trafficker and quarantine the facility affiliated with the University of Massachusetts. In the meantime, WDFW Police identified the Washington buyer. Multiple search warrants for shipment records were obtained by WDFW Police identifying where the illegal, prohibited newts were located. The newt breeder was charged with two counts of Unlawful use of invasive species in the second degree, a gross misdemeanor. If convicted, this would result in a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail, and/or a fine of not more than $5,000 for each count.
“These coordinated state and federal efforts prevented the introduction and spread of a high-risk invasive species and a potentially devastating amphibian pathogen in Washington,” said Justin Bush, WDFW Aquatic Invasive Species Division Manager. “If introduced to the wild, either could have caused severe ecological damage and triggered costly long-term management efforts. This case underscores the importance of early detection and rapid response.”
WDFW Police works to protect the public’s safety and to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.