TALLAHASSEE, Fl - Governor Charlie Crist met with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officials Wednesday on the subject of snakes.

The agency is considering asking the state to ban the sale of Burmese pythons like the one that killed a Sumter County girl last month. "First and foremost the most important thing is to protect the people. So when there's a safety factor involved in it that's a priority," said Gov. Crist.



While a ban is considered, officials want to see stricter regulations for snake owners, including a requirement to put micro-chips in the reptiles and strict fines for those caught turning them loose. Mike Sole was at the meeting Wednesday. He is the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and says, "the longer you wait, the more expensive, trying to control the problem will be."



The Governor praised the commission's efforts in hunting pythons. Officials estimate tens of thousands of the non-native snakes

are loose in the Everglades. Hunters have captured and killed just six so far.



Bobby Rex owns Scales in Brandon. He says snake owners need to be smart. "To keep an exotic (snake), you have to know a little bit more than just throwing kibble in a bowl."



He doesn't sell Burmese pythons because of all the permit issues involved, but he does sell other species of pythons and large boa constrictors. He doesn't want to see responsible pet owners punished. "If you don't keep your dog locked in your yard, they take it away. If you don't keep locked in it's cage, they take it away. Don't punish me because someone else does it incorrectly," said Rex.



Rex says just the talk of banning any kind of snake is bad for business, and it ever happens for real, he says it could eventually force him to close up shop.

"I think that if it's the larger species, the regulation that is in place is adequate. I think they just need to enforce the current laws, they don't need more."



Along with looking into an all out ban on Burmese pythons, wildlife officials say they may also ask the state to stop allowing internet sales of those snakes. Meanwhile they also agreed to extend the Everglades hunt past the original end date.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Officials-consider-Burmese-python-ban/0mcy1gWfI0GYEMud1Ofexw.cspx

[ Show Entire Thread ]