With the killing? Or against?

[marisa]

There is a large differance in my mind between a guinea pig being eaten by a captive snake over a species invading an area.

Some areas in my mind are more important wild life wise than others. Florida, Hawaii, Austrailia being a few examples. These are HIGHLY delicate ecosystems that might not be able to handle what another area can.

I honestly feel they should do all they can to trap and eliminate all non-native reptiles in Florida. Simply to protect the already unstable populations of native reptiles there.

Marisa

[BWSmith]

They are not native and need to be extirpated. But the govt is going about it all wrong. If you want to get rid of the pythons, cobras, monkey, etc ....................... OPEN A HUNTING SEASON with no bag limit. Hunters would jump at the chance to take out a 15 foot snake or a monkey.

The kicker for me was visiting some friends in Ft Lauderdale and seeing Jackson's Chameleons, Cane Toads, and a Savannah monitor in the wild.

[mudflats]

Jimmydavid, exactly. Recently i heard about hundreds on marine toads or canes toads around lake in dade county. Where where called to basically Kill'em all. When i got to this canal/lake and saw how many there where it was disgusting. But i captured one and took my time to observe these creatures, there amazing. Not there fault they where introduced here. So to all of you saying Kill'em, you might be refering to what you want Other people to do. But i know for afact you willl not take a hatchet to a burm. I just ask that you all dont pull the terminater BS, there is another way to do this, i am looking for ideas. Because killing them all, is not an option, it is impossible.

[BWSmith]

As a side note, if you want to see the potential of invasive species ................. look at GUAM!

[BWSmith]

But i know for afact you willl not take a hatchet to a burm.

That is a very bold statement, and you are wrong. If it means protecting my native ecosystem, I will shoot a Burm in a heartbeat. I would kill Cane Toads all day long if they were in my area. I have 6 cats, but I feel that every ferel cat on state parks and wildlife refuges should be killed. I even have a kitten that I got at a state park, but I will still do what it takes to protect our native species. So do not presume that everyone is in your mindset. Some of us are fine "pulling the trigger"

[Tim_Cranwill]

Originally posted by mudflats
I just ask that you all dont pull the terminater BS, there is another way to do this, i am looking for ideas. Because killing them all, is not an option, it is impossible.

But you asked if we were WITH/FOR the killing or AGAINST. What other options do we have? You only gave us TWO!

[JimmyDavid]

Humans are the only species that justify killing with reasons. A burm has the same right to live being in India or Florida. You said it yourselves "it's not their fault they are there", so there's got to be better ways.

[nat_the_brat]

again with the killing of non native wildlife... some of you say you will do whatever it takes to protect the ecosystem which I think is very noble statement... but rather then state you would put your efforts towards the destruction of animals that never asked to be placed there in the first place I don't see why more people are directing that energy towards prevention and punishing those who caused the exotics to be loose in the first place. Honestly, I don't even know why pet stores are allowed to sell exotics like burms... as impluse buys. I mean if you are serious and knowledable about owning a 16+ foot snake you would go through a breeder anyways.

[nat_the_brat]

sorry for the run on... I just think exotics are way to easily accessed by those who are buying them as novelty resulting in the thousands that are dumped annually after the appeal wears off. I think if this aspect was address some way or another I think that we would at least see partial reductions in the exotics being dumped and that would be start. Novelty animals are often purchased through the pet stores... and yes I am aware that someone who isn't serious about his pets could still go through a breeder but its less likely that they would invest the time and money in getting the snake.

[lostwithin]

Just got caught up on this post and decided I had a bit more to say on the subject, I can see why some people don’t like the idea of killing them all. I can also see why people might think we only say that because it’s not us personally who would do the killing. But I know there are many people who would in fact do the killing, I know I would and I LOVE Burmese pythons, I own two of my own and would never harm either of them. But those animals that are introduced are also killing other animals.

The question isn’t “should we wipe out species of animals” it is “which species should we wipe out”. Weather we do it directly ourselves or indirectly through the species we introduced, animal species will be wiped out of these ecosystems. And what is REALLY important to realize is that is we hunt down the introduced species we are eliminating a population. If we don’t we are eliminating species that we can get back. So which would you prefer, Kill of some animals or Kill of some species.

And I agree completely if a species can thrive in an area there should be extremely strict policies on who should be able to own them, for obvious reasons.

Devon

[BWSmith]

some of you say you will do whatever it takes to protect the ecosystem which I think is very noble statement... but rather then state you would put your efforts towards the destruction of animals that never asked to be placed there in the first place I don't see why more people are directing that energy towards prevention

I offer a great deal of public education throughout the state. If there is more that I can do other than education, please let me know. But so far, it is the best solution I have come up with. Citizens are not in a position to "punish" irresponsible keepers. There are laws in place that punish for release of non-native wildlife. But unless a wildlife officer sees someone dumping a burm out of abag intot he swamp, it is difficult to enforce.

burm has the same right to live being in India or Florida. You said it yourselves "it's not their fault they are there", so there's got to be better ways.

In my humble opinion, no it does not. I am truly sorry that the animal was put in that position through no fault of its own, but it must be extirpated. Again, I say look at Guam. Boiga irregularis have completely destroyed the ecosystem beyond repair and cause unrecoverable extinction and extirpation. If a little tree snake can do that, imagine what a large constrictor can do. A snake that large could seriously devistate populations of keystone predators. And because of their small birth size and large adult size, they affect wide spectrum of native wildlife. Lets also not forget the problem with introduced pathogens.

I love snakes and most other animals, but sometimes you have to put logic and the good of the environment above your personal feelings.

[concept3]

I agree almost 100 percent with everything BWSmith said. If a not native species invaded alberta, no matter what it was I would pick up a rifle in a second. Its not the burms fault their their, Its ours, SO therefore we must fix our own mistake by any means neccesary. Yes of course it would be nice If we could capture everyone and give it a home but in REALITY it cant be done.. It would cost WAY to much and noone has enough room.
Why should the government or anyone spend money on rescuing those snakes when their is PEOPLE one the streets starving that need rescuing? Mudflats if you want to save the world give your money and efforts to unicef or somthing.

[mudflats]

I have done my part in doing all that i can, and it obviously has done nothing, not one bit. Just looking for more ideas on what can be done, and my mind set was on that everyone would be on the same track as me and look for an allternitive other then killing them. Guess not. I have tried capturing, giving many juveniles away to homes i know they will keep, and winde up killing hundreds threw the years ( not i, but the rangers helping) , None is seeming work, and noone wants to deal with large aggresive snakes.

[BWSmith]

I honestly don't think there is much else that CAN be done other than killing invasive species. Current laws need to be enforced with greater penalties and we need to continue educating in order to discourage releases. But I see no other alternative for wild populations of ferel species. If they can be captured alive, then it MAY be possible to find homes for them. But I have had my share of rescue Burms come in, and they are hard to place in responsible homes. But I am picky. I will not place a Burm with anyone that may breed it and thus contribute to the problem. In the end, euthinization may be the most humane course, as they cannot stay in a foreign wild to destroy it, albeit no choice of theirs.

A small bounty on ferel species may help get the public involved. Hunters at least. I still say that a hunting season on ferel species would get a great number of people looking for them. Not only that, but it would create revenue. Not only are the "Ferel Hunters" not getting paid, but they have to PAY the state for a hunting lisence. Recude invasive species and bring revenue to Florida, Georgia, and the Federal Fish and Wildlife. Not a bad plan off the top of my head.

[mudflats]

How would someone go about doing soemthing like that BW? Should i write a letter to the Florida fish and wildlife commision, and see what can be done, or take another approach? Becase what we are doing now is obviously not enough. An i think your idea on opening a season for them, is a last resort on what must be done. jon