Florida proposed hunting of Burmese Python

jonny666 · 05-30-09, 09:16 AM

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 · 05-31-09, 04:58 PM

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 · 05-31-09, 05:13 PM

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 · 05-31-09, 07:46 PM

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** · 06-02-09, 03:15 AM

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 · 06-02-09, 07:52 AM

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 · 06-04-09, 07:46 AM

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 · 06-05-09, 02:12 PM

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 · 06-05-09, 11:53 PM

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 · 06-06-09, 11:57 AM

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

JMixx · 06-06-09, 09:30 PM

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 · 06-06-09, 09:32 PM

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 · 06-06-09, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 06-07-09, 09:05 AM

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 · 06-07-09, 10:10 AM

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.