I have been having debates with Gino Sassani of Lost World Reptiles about this for...well, almost a year now since he first found out they were attempting to do this. In that time, not a week goes by that I don't see an over-hyped story on tv or in a paper about an escaped/released snake, with info that is a total lie. Like the 6ft burm in a koi pond that a "reptile expert" deemed a lethal threat to the 8yr old on the property.



What it comes down to, is that the government is not, and will not, do it's job. It's supposed to protect the minority...which is us. However, through the media they've turned 90% of the state AGAINST snake possession. Till the story about the burm with the gator, and all the "backyard invasions", most people didn't really care about what we did. Now, they see us as a threat and want us stopped.



I whole-heartedly agree that new regulations should be passed, and they should include burms, retics, afrocks, amethystine, condas, and possibly some of the larger bcc (i.e. peruvian and suriname). However, I don't see this bill passing without an all-encompassing rule. It's going to end up, "all pythons and boas", which isn't going to help anything.



Also, if you make the ban something like $100/animal it's going to make things worse. What is the breeder in miami with 50 burms going to do? pay the $50,000/year? nope...dump um off in the glades. even a $100/animal one time fee is going to cause issues like this.



I think the best way to get things improved, is to require all exotic snakes to be registered, and a $100/year permit to keep an unlimited amount. You should have to agree to a random inspection by a FL wildlife officer if keeping a snake that can grow over 15ft, and any escaped animals should result in a HEFTY fine, something in the $500-2,000 area.
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Female Ball possibly gravid from 66% poss het axanthic

Trio black rat snakes placed together 12/14/05



Chris LaViola

CMLReptiles

Website under construction

CMLReptiles@aol.com

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