Dogs bite harder, run faster, and are usually bigger than almost any herp. Cats are widespread in breeding colonies, kill lots of native wildlife, can live in areas that freeze, and are excellent escape artists. All mammals (including hampsters, cats, dogs, rats, and other commonly kept pets) can carry rabies which can be passed onto humans.

A monitor is only dangerous if cornered. A rabid dog can chase you down. A snake is very slow and 99.999 (my estimation) % of the time would not even consider a human as food. Large mammals may se us as food or a rival for territory (and try to do something about it, other that run away like an iguana or a monitor).

Probably the most dangerous herp in the wilds of florida is the native american alligator (or maybe the crocodile). And anyone who lives here (and is not an ignorant fool) knows that you have to be doing something that obviously involves the risk of getting attacke by one in order to get attacked by one (swimming in lakes, jumping on an alligator). And though non-native herps can impact native wildlife, I don't think it even compares to the impact that feral pigs, cats, dogs, and whatever other mammals are out here have on native wildlife (both flora and fauna).

I wish that people and politicians would consider this more often, especially when it comes to legislation on herps.

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