Category: News Author : Michael Söze Posted: January 18, 2012
Tags : burmese python, Burmese python ban, Everglades, Everglades Python Problem, Everglades snakes, Florida Everglades, Python Ban, Python Ban Everglades, Snake Ban, Snake import ban, Snakes In The Everglades, US Snake Ban, yellow anaconda import ban
US officials have announced a ban on imports of four types of snakes after years of unsuccessful efforts to eradicate the giant reptiles from Everglades National Park in Florida and from other ecologically sensitive areas.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the ban Tuesday on Burmese pythons, which has become one of the most notorious invasive species in U.S. history, as well as yellow anacondas and northern and southern African pythons.
“It does us no good to put in these billions of dollars in investments in the Everglades only to have these giant constrictor snakes come in and undo the good that we are doing,” said Salazar, who was joined by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and a captive 13-foot Burmese python. “The action we’re taking today is a milestone in the protection of the Everglades.”
Salazar added that the new ban would take effect within about 60 days and make it illegal to import the snakes or transport them across state lines.
Despite the government’s efforts to protect the Everglades from the four nonnative snake types, some conservationists said an additional five other species that were recommended to be banned should have been included on the list.
“While we are pleased that four extremely harmful constrictor species will no longer be allowed into this country, we are disappointed that five of the proposed snakes were not included in the rule,” said Peter Jenkins, spokesman for the National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species in a statement. “The snakes that were excluded pose a serious threat to our already fragile ecosystems and to humans. If your boat is leaking, why would you only plug some of the holes?”
As previously reported, Pythons have become a growing problem in Florida’s revered swampland as they consume native wildlife and compete with native predators. Biologists say most pythons in the Everglades are thought to have been released there by their owners once they realized that the “pets” can grow from just a foot to 12 feet long within their first two years of life.
One was found last October to have just consumed an adult deer.
Here is a local news clip discussing the snake ban and its effect on the Everglades:
via Sun-Sentinel
Jan 18, 2012
I want to know why they were allowed in this country in the first place with the fools we have in this country each any every snake need to be destroyed to halt this invasion even so called pets…
Jan 18, 2012
The only people that are for this ban are uneducated people that are either afraid of or not educated about snakes. Then we have individuals wanting to destroy these animals. Why not destroy humans that cause harm to the planet also? That sounds as stupid as some of these posts.
Jan 18, 2012
Do some research. Most of the pythons are not released pets. They are from a large breeding facility that was destroyed by hurrican Andrew and have had years to grow and multiply. And what about the green iguanna, also an invasive animal but because they aren't as "scary" as snakes the never get mentioned.
Jan 18, 2012
funny to think that people can have a relationship with a snake. it makes a great pet right? rediculous….(a previous snake owner).
Jan 18, 2012
it not about your deisre to own a snake as—- it's about the safety of people and their property and native wild life it matters not how they got in to this country they should be destroyed for reasons of public safety if not they are not confined to in a zoo.
Jan 18, 2012
In america every year thousands of perfectly good dogs and cats are put to sleep because no one wants them, and some of the same folks want snakes or lizards because they think its cool. Tell me how this makes sense.
Jan 18, 2012
I have two ball pythons, and granted they are still young, they are probably one of the most rewarding pets I have owned. It takes research and a lot of hard work to care for these animals properly, and learning about these animals has been the best part of ownership in my opinion. Just because certain people don't want to commit to the work it takes providing the proper care and nourishment for these fascinating creatures, doesn't mean the ones who do should be punished. Until I got my two girls, my boyfriend felt the same way as many of the posters here. "They're icky, they're slimy, they're not real pets, they're dangerous, etc." It took him five minutes of holding one of them to change his mind. Now, he has just as much a hand in their daily care as I do. He and I are constantly browsing the internet or reading books about how to increase their comfort levels, or what is the very best for them to eat. I agree, some people shouldn't own snakes. And certain snakes, when released and allowed to survive on their own, can in some cases pose a threat. But not all snakes should be clumped in with the minority, and I personally don't feel this ban will do what most are expecting it to.
Jan 18, 2012
As a wildlife biologist and pet owner, snakes make great pets they however can be very invasive. Many animals and plants have become invasive look at the browntree snake in Guam it eradicated almost all of the native fauna before wildlife services stepped in and started eradicating them. This is on US soil and we should stop these snakes from living in the wild and if that takes banning them as pets then that's fine by me. IF you want a burmese python go live in North Dakota so when it gets out it wont survive the winter. Sometimes invasive can never be eradicated completely but to a controllable level they can be managed.
Jan 18, 2012
What kind of a pet is a snake. It shows no love for it's owner or anyone. All it wants to do is kill and sollow. so, it must take some sick idiot to watch a snake squizze the breath out of something and then sollow it whole.
Jan 18, 2012
I say BURN the everglades, put any and all snakes on a hut list–no limit- and start over. Make it against the law to own a snake and if you slip and have one the damage done by a snake is as if you did it. for example, if a snake kills a person, the owner is tried for 1st degree murder. It is like the hand gun, the bullet comes from it to kill, the owner/handler is tried.
Jan 19, 2012
Whats wrong with you people? Noone has even commented on this post. Even if you are not a herper this pertains to YOU ALL. This is just another Constitutional Right that is being exploited for money by persons in positions of power. If the government gets started Banning these snakes. Do not think that it will stop here, this is just the beggining of sadder days…….. Let your voice be heard!
Jan 19, 2012
Agreed. Everyone wants everything banned that they dont like, and eventually their own activities get banned.
Jan 20, 2012
Over the past decade, the public debate about pythons in the Everglades has too often been informed by partial facts and rooted in personal philosophy. The proliferation of these captivating constrictors has become one of the most prominent biological invasions on the planet and, therefore, deserves a more holistic examination.
The full details of south Florida's python saga can be found in the upcoming book "Snake in the Grass: An Everglades Invasion." It can be pre-ordered on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Snake-Grass-Everglades-Larry-Perez/dp/1561645133/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327029629&sr=1-1.
Jan 21, 2012
Most of these post against reptiles are simply from uneducated people on this subject. You are listening to BS reports that are mostly being made by organizations that have been formed by PETA to hide there agenda. If you do your research (esp in Ohio) these organizations like The Humane Society of the United States are formed from PETA groups and play on your fears and misinformation to help push there agenda. The head of HSUS stated at a hearing in Ohio that "they are starting with reptiles because its easiest to get people on board with them and they will not stop till ALL animals that contained would be illegal". That includes any animal in contained in a cage(hamsters, rabbits, etc) or contained in a house or kennel. I am not saying this is your locate Humane Society…it is only the Humane Society of the United States and other national organizations that get your donations to lobby instead of helping animals. All money donated goes to lobbying against owning any pet. They tell you to donate to help stop animal suffering and cruelty, but there idea of this is to not allow ANY pet ownership. The fact on snakes are this: only 7 human deaths have been attributed to "the large snakes" in the past 15 years in the United States. There are twice that due to dogs and nearly that from cat attacks(scratches that go untreated) per year! They only want there foot in the door with telling us what we are allowed to own and what we can't own! Anyone who is for this type of restrictive legislation is just asking for the government to control all that they can have or do!
Jan 23, 2012
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/overturn-python-ban/4wGFbc4Y
Jan 23, 2012
This is how we as pet lovers can overturn this ban, please sign