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Originally posted by Georgia: We can go on and on about snakes and how dangerous venomous snakes are. The snake itself isnt the danger, it's the keeper. The same goes for large constrictors.
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Excellent post Georgia!
The vast majority of times, the venomous snakes we keep pose a danger only to us and the other people living in our house. If they escaped, most non-native venomous would not survive more than a few days, especially in the northern areas of the country. It's simply too cold for them, and they are not used to the native parasites and viruses. However, it's the keeper's responsibility to ensure safety is maintained. An irresponsible keeper is like an irresponsible gun owner- you are entrusted with ownership of a very dangerous item; and if you are careless it could result in your death or another's death.
I do not think that private ownership of venomous snakes should be banned. They are truly amazing animals, and private keepers have maintained some very clean bloodlines of otherwise rare, even endangered, species. Many people owning and working with species also helps us learn about their behavior, requirements, etc. However, I do not think that just anyone should be allowed to own them. You can't drive a car without a license; you can't own a gun without a background check and license.....why should it be different with a dangerous wild animal? Most exotic mammals that pose a danger to humans require licensing and training to own- venomous snakes and large constrictors should too.
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