Florida proposed hunting of Burmese Python

[jonny666]

I don't know if anyone else has heard or seen this but apparently someone in Florida has proposed going out and hunting Burms for sport. I guess because there are so many in the everglades that they are going to kill them for sport. This is BS! The animals were released because of hurricanes or irresponsible owners and the snakes suffer? I understand they are worrying about the species taking over because there is not much threat to a 16-20 foot python in the wild but there has to be a better way! The government finds another way to make some cheap cash it amazes me. What does everybody else think?

[Will0W783]

That's awful- poor Burms! There definitely must be a better way. They could humanely catch them and adopt them out to responsible herp owners.

[jonny666]

Yeah I agree. Why don't they hire a team and go and catch and give to zoos and/or persons that want them. It makes more sense than killing innocent creatures. But once again as soon as the state can figure how to make money....

[Will0W783]

Don't get me started on politics....I'm so infuriated with the whole mess. They keep worrying about bullsh*t little policies and acts that won't do squat to improve the crumbling economy, but do they take time to actually fix the things that need fixing??? No they'd rather pick on herp owners or go snake hunting....********.

[Aaron_S]

The problem with catching burmese pythons who are now "wild caught" in the Florida Everglades and giving them to zoos is that the zoos are already full. People try to give away their burms or other large reptiles to zoos all the time. It's why they are then dumped in the wild. I don't think there's anyone who really needs to be given a burm that's collected from the "wild". It's easy enough to get free ones from other shelters.

[Will0W783]

Yes, but there must be a better way to deal with this than to go shooting the poor snakes. I don't much approve of hunting anything unless it's for food, but to each his own.

[siz]

Euthanasia would be more humane than going around burm shootin'.
I obviously would rather not have them killed at all. I mean, it's not their fault that their owners can't take care of them and dump them. I almost think a giant snake ban would be helpful in this situation. That being said I am not familiar with the bylaws in the area, just throwing some ideas out there.
The crappy thing is that as Aaron said, zoos are full and if people are dumping them they obvisouly don't want them. It's upsetting to see this happen.

[Will0W783]

Yes, it is. People get them, in theory it's cool to have a snake that big, but as the cute little baby grows they're struck with the harsh reality of what caring for a 20-foot-long snake actually entails and they bail. Sad. People shouldn't get pets they can't care for. But they do, and they will.

[jonny666]

Yeah and they always will as long as people don't do research and ask questions. When looking at a new reptile I always try to find as much info as possible. Some people don't and you have the problem you are getting now. Although I'm having trouble finding much info about Malayan Pit Vipers.........

[Will0W783]

It's a must to do research before buying any reptile, or any pet for that matter.

[JMixx]

This is why, although I have always liked Burmese Pythons, I've never gotten one as a pet. I don't think I would be able to handle or afford to feed and house one as an adult! (Hence my history of keeping Garters/Ribbons!)

The big problem in Florida is that the ones that have been "set free" by the irresponsible owners have been breeding, so it isn't just a matter of re-capturing "escapees" or "dumped pets"; there is an established population now of relatively large, non-native pythons who have never been handled by a human being. I think it would be a horrible shame to slaughter a group of animals that have done nothing except to be what nature, or God, or whoever, made them to be. At the same time, populations of native species will be decimated if the Burms aren't somehow taken out of the environment.

I don't have the beginning of an answer. I am just continually amazed at how many people are afraid of snakes, spiders, dogs, and so on, when CLEARLY the most destructive, aggressive, and downright dangerous animal on our planet is Homo sapiens sapiens. Sigh.

[JMixx]

Which, btw, makes me grateful on a daily basis that my dog and cat are still willing to be friends with, and be seen with, me.

[GoodSmeagol]

Which, btw, makes me grateful on a daily basis that my dog and cat are still willing to be friends with, and be seen with, me.
great sentiment.


On, Steve Austin, a Steve Irwin wannabe, he went into the everglades to find and capture a single burm. They did not make it look easy AT ALL,
Easy to find, but not easy to catch, on the show(reality? I will go on that basis) it appeared they lived in deep mangroves, making it difficult to maneuver.
I am amazed that they would open such a hunt, it just does not seem to be right.
It is an interesting dilemma...

[jonny666]

I wonder if I proposed a bill of hunting people that are stupid if I would get it passed. I mean think about it they are breeding, taking my air and other natural resources, And I just don't like them......LOL. On another note I understand the problem I just hope they can find a better solution.

[Kmef07]

If people want to eat them after they shoot them then i say go ahead. if left unchecked with no natural predators they will destroy the ecosystem. In my area, Cincinnati, OH. they took out all the natural predators that deer have here and they run everywhere. The deer population here is so bad and they are so docile towards humans in some parts that they let people kill as many does as they can during a certain time with no tag for it. hell the deer will come on my back deck and eat plants!! I think that hunting an animal as long as you use it for something other than show is fine. but it must be regulated. We hunt countless types of "helpless" animals. and im sure some of you saying dont kill the burms have hunted or eaten wild game.

[jonny666]

Burmese steaks anyone? I agree with what you are saying if they do pass this I hope they utilize the snake other than for a trophy. I highly doubt that will happen but maybe. It just sux that it is not the animals fault wther it be reptile,mammal,amphibian, or fish. It is doing what comes naturally to keep the species going. Some of it is the forces of nature but a good amount is from irresponsible owners.

[bagus]

Which, btw, makes me grateful on a daily basis that my dog and cat are still willing to be friends with, and be seen with, me.

hmm,I agree with you J...
look at these creatures..

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt131/bagus_batura/Foto009.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt131/bagus_batura/Foto012.jpg

they're still willing to be friends...

Regards,

[gonesnakee]

What really surprises me is that all you folks from the US have not mentioned the new legislation they are proposing for the entire US in reguards to the trade in exotics directly related to the Burmese issues in the Everglades.
The entire hobby is currently at risk in the US as a direct result of such.
I don't have any links but I'm sure I could find some if I looked hard enough. Mark

[gonesnakee]

A quick look on Kingsnake.com found tons of crap on it, heres a sample, if you guys are not aware of this crap you had all better have a look at these proposed bans. Mark


The Senate Committee on the Environment & Public Works (EPW) is planning a hearing for the 8th of July following the holiday break. The Committee Chair is Senator Barbara Boxer (D) of California. It will actually be a joint hearing in front of two subcommittees; Senate Water & Wildlife and the EPW Oversight. The topic for discussion will be Threats to Native Wildlife Species. We believe this will be a precursor to the introduction of a new Senate version of HR669. S373 will also likely be discussed. Although we do not want to assume her position, Senator Boxer has strong historical ties to the Animal Rights and Environmental movements that are pushing for this hearing.

USARK will NOT request to be a witness at the hearing. This hearing is supposed to be about ALL invasive species and we do not want to let Senator Bill Nelson and the committees turn this into a circus with Pythons and the Reptile Industry at the center. There is much unwarranted sensationalism surrounding the Burmese Python and it would play well for our opponents to put us in the spotlight. Reptiles represent the smallest portion of invasive species in the US so we must keep them from focusing solely on us. We won't play into their hands on this point. We will not win this debate arguing about Burmese Pythons. It is about addressing ALL invasive species without putting our Industry and Hobby in jeopardy. This battle will NOT be won on the floor of the committee, but at the grass roots level and behind the scenes. That has been our strength. Discretion is the better part of valor.

HR669 - The Non Native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (or Senate companion Bill) could BAN the import, export, interstate transport, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of most non native animals... including reptiles & amphibians. It is a fee based approved "white" list that functions on the premise of guilty until proven innocent. The burden is to prove each animal would never, under any circumstances, be a threat to the environment, agriculture or human and animal health... and you have to pay to have your animals considered for this "white" list. USARK OPPOSES HR669, "White Lists" or complicated regulatory schemes that would alienate any segment of the Reptile Industry and Hobby.

S373 would amend the Lacy Act by adding the genus Python to the Injurious Wildlife list. It is commonly known as the "Python Ban" and would end the import, export and trade in all the most popular Pythons in the reptile trade. USARK OPPOSES S373 or any legislative manipulations of the Lacy Act.

Both bills are disingenuous because they do not actually address the issue of invasive species which they claim to be so concerned about. Both of these bills would have far more impact on legitimate captive breeding operations already here in the US than addressing invasive species in the wild. Neither bill would have any demonstrable effect on established populations in the wild. Because of the size and ecological diversity of the United States we believe invasive species issues are best addressed as issues in individual states.

As we have done since our inception, USARK will fight tooth and nail for the Reptile Nation. But we need your help. These are dangerous and uncertain times for our Industry and Hobby. We have positioned ourselves well to fight these battles. We have the best lobbyists in Washington working to put us in a position to succeed, but without the financial support of the Reptile Nation this battle can't be won. MORE and BIGGER FIGHTS are coming. We know there are many out there who will fight with us. Please donate to the cause! Whatever you can afford... $10, $20, $100, $1000! It will ALL be matched by Zoo Med... dollar for dollar. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

Many have gotten comfortable with our success in the US House of Representatives. We derailed HR669 in the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife with 50,000 written letters. It was the biggest letter writing campaign in 30 years on Capitol Hill. It is time to wake back up! Now we are in the Senate. We may need an even bigger effort to stop Animal Rights Extremists in the Senate! BE READY!!! We will keep you posted as things develop. The Reptile Nation is even stronger and more organized now!!



Picture above from left to right - Andrew Wyatt ( USARK President ), Congressman Henry Brown ( SC ) and Tom Wolfe ( USARK's Washington Representative ) - HR669's 50,000 letters from the REPTILE NATION.

Please click here to Join USARK with dollar for dollar matching from Zoo Med
usark.org/join.php

[Aaron_S]

Exactly Mark. All that needs to be said.

[snakemaster1]

I wonder if I proposed a bill of hunting people that are stupid if I would get it passed. I mean think about it they are breeding, taking my air and other natural resources, And I just don't like them......LOL. On another note I understand the problem I just hope they can find a better solution.

They would never ever propose such a bill to hunt the stupid or ******** or incompetant people as then they would have no politicians to run the country or the truly incompetant government employee. But on a side note if they did what a huge pile of new jobs would open up and save the economy.