>>Today most non-native invasive animals and plants come from >>the pet and nursery trades. There are very few exceptions.



"Non-native" is not equivalent to "harmful." With regard to

Burmese pythons, there is no evidence they are "devastating" the

ecosystem. If there is, please provide it.



>>

>>You may choose not to believe that or to ignore that, but you >>do so at your own peril and risk of your pastime and all of >>the economic and social benefits that comes with it.



I'm simply pointing out that it makes no sense that millions and millions of dollars of tax money goes to a scientific endeavor (ie, getting rid of invasive species, especially vertebrates) that has a track record of failure. If I had such a poor track record, I'd get fired from my job, I wouldn't get *more* money. In the real world, results matter, not just intentions.





>>The fastest way to make the federal government go away is to >>say we have a problem, we will fix it ourselves. Spend your >>tax dollars on something else.



I totally disagree. The forces behind the pending legislation don't want responsible ownership, they want NO OWNERSHIP. Your attitude will actually help them achieve their goal. No one here is advocating irresponsible ownership, but empty rhetoric of

"fix it ourselves" is meaningless. How exactly would we "fix it ourselves?" Am I supposed to police my neighbor down the street who owns some herps? It's ALREADY ILLEGAL to release non-native animals, and there are animal cruelty laws. Why would some idiot who would break the law today magically follow the rules set by some trade organization if they don't follow the law?







>>

>>You have the wrong target. Pythons researchers in the >>Everglades are not against you, HSUS is. By refusing to >>acknowledge the problem your are playing right into their >>hands.



Absolute BS.



1) The USGS python range map is garbage. The model is flawed, it was released BEFORE any type of real-life data was collected, and it flies in the face of 30 years of herpetoculture. And why is the DOI trying to rush the Lacey Act process BEFORE the SREL study results are done and BEFORE the effects of the cold snap are clear?



2) As I said before, ASSUMING the pythons are wreaking havoc on the ecosystem is not science, it's speculation. If you think for a minute that the "researchers" played no part in generating the hysteria that's going on now, you are sadly mistaken.



You, my friend, are playing into the hands of the HSUS and PETA.

Dogs and cats run loose all the time and all over the country, and they are PROVEN to be dangerous to humans and wildlife, yet somehow some pythons in the Everglades are a gigantic problem for which we need to become hysterical over and scare the public.



>>

>>You have met the enemy, it is yourself.



Right back at you.

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