USA bans import of 4 exotic snake species

[GormanGhaste]

We have many reptile enthusiasts here, so thought this article would be of interest:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/17/us/florid ... google_cnn

Starting in March, three python and one anaconda species will no longer be able to be imported or moved across state lines.

[Lupis]

Huh. As much as it's sad for reptile collectors, I actually see a lot of good in this. People releasing pythons has become a really serious issue as of late.

[zedxrgal]

I have tried not to post about this and now ..................... I'm irked beyond belief so if you're sensitive or do not like fowl language please do not continue to read till you see the giant /ENDRANT at the bottom.

WARNING! Very fowl language below.
First and foremost if you're reading this section of my post you're about to see a woman in full rage mode that a passion I've had since I was a kid has once again been stomped on by our lovely US of fucking A government and bullshit legislators who do not know what the fuck they're talking about. Do you even know how many truly scientific studies have been done on the snakes (aka Burmese python, Python molurus bivittatus) in the Florida everglades???? NONE. That's right. Not a single truly scientific study has been done.
Reading that CNN article pissed me off even more. A 16 foot snake ate a 76 pound deer. HHhhhhhmmmmmm ..................... are you fucking kidding me????? My 20 foot reticulated python took 2.5 hours (yes I timed her) to eat a 30 pound pig and that stretched her out beyond belief and I had to be concerned for weeks that she'd eaten to much and would get violently sick. Eating a deer that huge, if it were even fucking true, which I bet it's not, would have killed that snake. Even at that do these people realize they are taking another human beings bread and butter. I know 3 breeders who SOLELY breed burmese pythons and burmese python morphs. The three breeders will now be out of business. They all have kids to. Yeah way to take food out of people's mouths. This is going to cause money and probably businesses to go out of business because of these fucking hack legislators. And all this started probably because some stuffy ladies fucking rat dog had got eaten.
I also love the fact that they DO NOT mention nor ban the other "invasive species" in Florida. AKA wild boar, nile monitors, iguanas, certain rodent species and the list does go on. Hell. There are even so called invasive fish AND bird species there but still ............................. no ban on those.
But they're going to ban something that actually supports certain people and brings money to the economy. Real fucking nice.
And to the "people releasing pythons" (this IS NOT against you or pointed at you Lupis) that is fucking horseshit. I am not saying people haven't released a wild exotic animal at all but can people really believe that any boom in ANY exotic wild population is from them being released by some dumbshit? Uh no. The bulk, if not most of the populations started from either A) an escapee or B) HURRICANES!!!!! Hello!! You're telling me that a hurricane won't cause an enclosure destruction in a wildlife park or someone's private residence to where an exotic could flee from??? Let's think about that shall we. Some private wildlife sanctuaries had complete destruction to their big cat enclosures etc in some of the hurricanes and all the animals had to be darted and rounded back up before it became dangerous and anything escaped beyond the perimeter fence. But who's going to attempt to locate a snake?????? Really people.
This whole bill is horseshit from spooked people who do not know shit about reptiles. Like hello .............. they do die from freezing to death below certain temperatures. Um ............ cold blooded. Oh and one last thing. I watched that BS show python hunters twice. And in two shows, a full hour mind you for each show, guess how many burmese pythons those fucking nitwhits caught. One. One little 8 foot skin & bones snake. Through the show they kept saying "We should be finding snakes at any time." Well if they're so bloody prevalent and taking over then I would suspect you would have found more then just one. Oh and guess what happens to these snakes when they're caught????? Either a they're slaughtered by having their heads chopped off WHILE THEY'RE ALIVE and skinned or they're put into the pet trade. Yep. Put right back into the pet trade to be a breeder or pet. Yep .................. fucking nice.
I've said my piece. Feel I've made my point.

/ENDRANT

I sincerely hope that I didn't offend anyone. I do hope, in some way, it causes people to truly think about the laws our government is trying to or are passing.
Sincerely,
<3 ~Zed~
Reptile enthusiast & breeder /keeper for over 20 years.

[Chimera]

I have been included on a lot of talk about how the government banned animals that are over 9 feet (i think 9 feet) long and venomous animals from being in the care of anyone except zoos and if you have one you need to apply for a permit to keep it which you can be turned down for depending on the animal, then you need a permit to be able to transport it, and i believe you are either required for a permit to breed it or its against the law to breed it. I dont know that part, but i think depending on the animal, you may be able to get a breeding permit for some but not others..

i watched with a few reporters and a few animal enthusiasts a court case that was going on against the government and fish & wildlife that the ban put a couple who lives in a trailer behind the zoo (long time friends of my teacher/boss, they're lovely people) out of buisness after 30 years of work as magicians using large monitor lizards and an incredibly long burmese python.. i think they used to have some other large animals but i dont remember..

but anyways, 30 years of work and then the government pretty much put them out of buisness and out of home. They did win the court case btw, no laywer either, they fought the government themselves and while the ban isnt lifted, they were granted all permits for their animals. This is but one case out of countless ones that are not just in BC but im sure elsewhere that renders other people from being unable to enter or leave BC with their large animals. You have to wait 1 whole month to enter the province and have to wait 1 whole month to leave. These animals are reptiles btw, exotic ones, ones that live in hot environments.

They wont survive in our climate, yet they're suffering laws that shouldnt apply to them because they would quickly die in any time of the year that was not summer and even then, we dont always get hot summers. We had SNOW during one summer. Yes, snow. In summer. Florida to my knowledge can be a very hot state and i know that they have a large variety of reptiles but its stated quote "We think there are tens of thousands of snakes (in the park)". Im sorry but thats bullcrap. You dont guestimate a number without proving serious research in the count of their numbers in the park. If theres been research done, you dont say 'tens of thousands', you give an accurate number. For all you know it might of been the same several hundred snakes seen many times over and think that they're all different individuals and tally up the numbers to that possibly rediculious number.

Im glad at the very least to read that those who own these breeds are able to keep them but the trouble to go through acquiring permits is astounding and aggravating and can cost some people their livelyhoods just in the time alone that it takes to be processed let alone the possibility of being turned down. Its horrible to see something like this put into effect, really really horrible. But i guess at the same time, IF there has actually been real research done or being done and its proven they have become an overpopulated invasive species, then it is the states responsibility to take control and contain and manage the problem.

[Sukurachi]

"fowl language" eh?

I didn't see any reference to chickens!

[GormanGhaste]

I'm afraid trying to control invasive species is sometimes like trying to put the genie back in the bottle, so I doubt that this will have a noticeable effect. With that being said, I Do think that environmental considerations should have priority over owners and breeders.

Also, I think permits to get these sorts of exotics should be difficult to acquire; having worked in an animal shelter, I know neglect and improper care is by no means unique to exotic pets, but finding new homes for them is much more difficult.

[cowmuflage]

I'm afraid trying to control invasive species is sometimes like trying to put the genie back in the bottle, so I doubt that this will have a noticeable effect. With that being said, I Do think that environmental considerations should have priority over owners and breeders.

Also, I think permits to get these sorts of exotics should be difficult to acquire; having worked in an animal shelter, I know neglect and improper care is by no means unique to exotic pets, but finding new homes for them is much more difficult.

^ I agree nature and the native wildlife come first when it comes to things like this. That's the main reason you are not aloud to have snakes in NZ at all not even for zoos as it's too risky for the environment we allready have too many non natives killing the wildlife we don't need more

[Teigan]

.

[Sukurachi]

NOT too long

read every word

clipped for expediency

BRAVO!!!

Well-said.

[zedxrgal]

I'm not saying exotics shouldn't be permit required to own /keep. I'm not saying that at all. I am ALL FOR permitting & licensing any exotic species. But I feel that an outright ban on multiple species is wrong especially when it will vastly effect a human beings life. How would you feel if your long time business that fed your family became illegal and banned overnight????
They seem to think these bans will solve the problem. I'm more then willing to bet it won't solve a damn thing. In fact ................. dare I say (and mark my words if you'd like ) this will make matters worse. As people who own exotics become paranoid and dump them somewhere. Or maybe they just flat out kill them. Yes humans are more then cruel enough to only think of themselves and dump an animal simply to save their own skin.

Meh. But really. Saying this is all caused from an irresponsible owner isn't exactly true since that is for sure only a minor part. Invasive species are from MULTIPLE sources not just stupid people who chose to let their pet that they couldn't handle anymore go. Sad but true.

[Sukurachi]

permits for people to own exotic species won't work.
there are ALWAYS ways of getting around the safeguards that are set into place.
which simply means that exotics will be harder for law-abiding citizens to get, but for those willing to turn to shadier avenues, they will be just as accessible, and STILL no safer for themselves, nor for the environment.

laws that prohibit invasive species, or dangerous ones, are there for a reason.
period.

[Chimera]

I talked about this issue to my teacher whos training me and he said that during hurricane Katrina over 300 burmese pythons were released. So its not entirely human fault here, the hurricane could of released a fair number of that one breed alone, along with people releasing their own due to not being able to care for them properly and not wanting them put down by officials either because they became no longer financially stable, didnt have the time, or the impact of the hurricane and these owners no longer having a place and money to live let alone take care of their pets.

For once i have to say that im going to have to stand slightly to the side that is supporting the owners because this scenario isnt entirely their fault and those who released them unwillingly probably did so to avoid having them euthanized, not realizing their impact on the habitats they have now come to inhabit. What i still hate tho is that it causes so many complications for those who still own these snakes and are good people who take good care of them, its not fair that the whole has to suffer because of the some that helped create this result, whether it be voluntary or involuntary.

But im giving some benefit of a doubt that those who released their snakes after Katrina did so without knowing the impact it would create. Theres a lot of people in this world who dont know the consequences of releasing invasive species into other habitats. Ironically enough today's lesson was on Pests and Parasites XD.

[cowmuflage]

Theres a lot of people in this world who dont know the consequences of releasing invasive species into other habitats.

Theres allso a lot that do know and yet still do it. Theres allways people who don't do it on purpose but theres alot that do do such things.

[Chimera]

i know theres a lot who know and do it but im giving the people who released their when Katrina happened the benefit of a doubt cause i dont know the circumstances they were in and if they had any knowledge of the sort of impact it would have

[cowmuflage]

Ah I see now I get ya. Ingnore what I said XD

[Chimera]

XD dun worry, not always do i understand others or myself when im typing or reading

[Zuilu]

<random text>

EDIT: I forgot to add that I believe certain animals should not be part of the pet trade. A python or ferret is not like a goldfish, but they are as easy to obtain. Pet stores sell them without a thought to the fact that the new owners don't know what they are getting into. Pet store employees are often egregiously misinformed of the ACTUAL care involved with these common exotics. Even if the customer asks plenty of questions, the answers given are often the ones that will move the merchandise. Hell, they can't even tell you the proper care of a common fiddler crab! I know many people here cherish their exotic pets like reptiles, ferrets, etc. However, quite honestly you are the minority. These animals end up at shelters or abandoned when people realize this is not what they thought they were getting into. Licensing and education should be REQUIRED for certain animals if they are sold at all. It is horribly unfair and cruel to the animals.

While I agree with most everything else you said, I don't think eliminating things from the pet trade is the best way to go about it..education really should be required to get ANY pet, and pet store employees really should be more informed. However, people have abused ALL animals, not just ferrets or snakes. By this logic, dogs and cats and even goldfish would also not be obtainable. Most people don't even realize that they're not caring for a simple fish properly. So yes, education and liscences are a good idea, but removing things that do well in domestication (such as ferrets) from the pet trade all together isn't the right way to go about it.

And maybe it is just my area, but the shelter I volunteered at very seldom got exotic pets - even ferrets were rare. The cat and dog populance is out of control, however, because people fail to spay and neuter.

[cowmuflage]

Heck most people with goldfish are not looking after them right. Most people still think that stupid fact of goldfish only having a 5 sec memonry is real.

[Zuilu]

Heck most people with goldfish are not looking after them right. Most people still think that stupid fact of goldfish only having a 5 sec memonry is real.

Erk, tell me about it People still keep them in fish bowls too..

[zedxrgal]

A letter from a friend of mine /breeder has created a petition to turn over the ruling.

Hello family & friends,

I don't often send out emails of this nature, but I think this is important enough of an issue to intrude upon your email inbox today.

As you may or may not know, several species of large constrictors were banned recently, based on what appears to be more political pressure and maneuvering, rather than based on actual science and factual data concerning any REAL national threat posed by these animals. As such, there is a petition in place to request that the president of the USA review this issue to hopefully determine that perhaps it was an ill advised move for our government to engage in, and perhaps overturn this decision.

Even if you are not personally affected by this new FWS ruling, this banning increases the likelihood that future legislation will be forthcoming to expand upon the list of banned animals, and quite possibly the future COULD hold that one or more animals that you do have an interest in will thereby be negatively affected. This could very likely just be the camel's nose poking underneath the tent.

So if you don't mind, please take a few moments to sign the below linked petition to try to get the number of signatures over the 25,000 threshold required.

Sign petition to overturn python ban

Yeah, I know, it may not do anything at all, but who knows? Maybe it will. And it certainly doesn't cost you anything to at least try. Personally, I would be quite disappointed to find that this industry can't even round up 25,000 people to show a cohesive front on an issue of this nature.

Thank you,

Rich

I have signed it. Any other signatures would be greatly appreciated. Sadly you do have to create an account in order to sign. But I feel it was worth taking the 30 seconds to do.