Wilmington, NC July 16, 2009- The United States Association of Reptile

Keepers (USARK) supports a bounty on Burmese Pythons. Florida Fish &

Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been working very closely

with key reptile experts in Florida to develop and implement a pilot

program for permitting a select group of 20 Florida reptile experts to

participate in a trial program that will allow permitted experts to hunt

Burmese Pythons on FWC and South Florida Water Management District

(SFWMD) areas. All participants must possess a valid Florida Reptiles of

Concern permit and meet criteria laid down by FWC. Each Burmese Hunt

Permittee will be allowed 5 additional hunters to accompany them into

the field. Permitted individuals must carry GPS units and digital

cameras, and supply data to FWC within 36 hours of capture. They will

also be required to attempt to capture any other non-native species they

come across during their hunts and call for permission from land

managers into restricted areas before going into the field. Permitted

individuals are free to take the specimens or euthanize them on site at

their discretion.



FWC has worked very hard to step up and develop this program. They have

worked very closely with the Florida Reptile Community in the

development of this permit/program, and are eager to be part of the

solution to this problem. Florida reptile experts spear-heading this

effort with FWC are Shawn K. Heflick, Greg Graziani and Michael Cole.



The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) supports and

applauds this effort by FWC and the Florida Reptile Community in taking

concrete pragmatic steps in addressing the issue of feral Burmese

Pythons in South Florida. USARK supports Senator Bill Nelson's call for

the US Dept. of Interior to open federal land where the epicenter of the

population resides and is encouraging that this pilot program be

considered as a model for a Federal Bounty Program. In a letter dated

June 17, 2009 to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar USARK pledged $10,000

to this proposal.



USARK President Andrew Wyatt added, "It is time all interested

stakeholders work together to address this issue. The reptile community

has been unjustly cast as the villain being accused as the source of the

introduction of Burmese Pythons, when a genetics study commissioned by

SFWD points away from this likelihood. We are not the source, but we

want to be part of the solution; and we are putting our money where our

mouth is. We have more expertise with Burmese Pythons than all other

stakeholders combined and now we are bringing this expertise to bear in

addressing this problem in South Florida."



USARK is a science and education based advocacy for the responsible

private ownership of, and trade in reptiles. We endorse caging

standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention protocols, and an

integrated approach to vital conservation issues. Our goal is to

facilitate cooperation between government agencies, the scientific

community, and the private sector in order to produce policy proposals

that will effectively address important husbandry and conservation

issues. The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining

ecological integrity are our primary concerns

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