WESH (Orlando, Florida) 04 October 09 Snake Owners Take Advantage Of Pet Amnesty Day - 46 Reptiles Turned Over To Authorities

Orlando, Fla.: Snake owners handed their pets over to authorities over the weekend as part of Pet Amnesty Day at Orlando's Gatorland.

The amnesty day aimed to give snake owners an opportunity to let go of their pets rather than pay fines or serve jail time for keeping illegal animals. It also hopes to prevent people from releasing non-native species into the wild.

The new requirements came after a large python strangled a little girl in Sumter County.

Snake owner Thomas Eddy said many people who keep snakes as pets cannot afford the permits and microchips that the new rules require. He turned his snake over to the Fish and Wildlife Commission on Saturday.

"With the fines and stuff, I decided this would be a better way because I can't afford the chip and permits," Eddy said. "It's like losing a baby."

Authorities said 46 reptiles were surrendered at the event. One of the biggest snakes turned in was Marissa, a 13-foot phython.

Marissa's owner, Sean Watson, said parting with their pet was difficult for the whole family but said it was a better alternative to paying fines or seeing her destroyed.

"You're going to spend six months in jail, you're going to get a fine and the animal is going to be destroyed,"

Watson said. "She's a docile animal. She's not an aggressive individual. There's no reason to have to destroy (her)."

The surrendered reptiles will go to licensed adopters approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Some will get a new home at Gatorland.

Authorities said six of the snakes turned in will become part of a new Burmese python exhibit at Gatorland so their owners will be able to continue to visit them.

http://www.wesh.com/news/21197943/detail.html



ORLANDO SENTINEL (Florida) 04 October 09 Gatorland's exotic pet amnesty day brings in pythons, scorpions -- and tears; Exotic pet owners say they had no choice but to turn over beloved pets (Eloísa Ruano González)

Tears slithered down a few faces as pet owners surrendered their exotic snakes — some longer than 10 feet and weighing hundreds of pounds — for adoption Saturday.

Owners weren't eager to turn over their pets to state wildlife officials and reptile handlers during Nonnative Pet Amnesty Day at Gatorland, but they thought the timing and public sentiment were right.

The reptiles had been part of their families for years, and some snakes even had their own bedrooms. But the pet owners said they had no choice as state and wildlife officials tighten permitting regulations and consider a ban on exotic reptiles.

With the fear of snakes spreading since early July, when a 2-year-old Sumter County girl was killed by her family's python, Sean Watson of Deltona worried about the well-being of his roughly 14-foot Burmese python, Marisa, which he often placed in his front yard for neighbors to pet.

"With the public fear, she's not worth having as a pet ... she's more a liability than she is a pet," Watson, 39, said. He said his 5-year-old snake was gentle and never escaped her cage in the garage.

The amnesty day, which began in 2006, allows people to legally get rid of their exotic animal without releasing them into the wild.

The event at Gatorland focused on reptiles that wildlife officials deemed a concern for Florida's ecosystem. Among them are anacondas, pythons and Nile monitor lizards.

Saturday, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials collected 46 reptiles, including 12 Burmese pythons. Among the strangest "donations" were six emperor scorpions.

The largest snake was Speed Bump, a 250-pound Burmese python, which officials had to pick up at a home north of Apopka — near where wildlife officials collected a 400-pound python, Delilah, last month.

Marisa came in second. Both were adopted by Gatorland — one of nearly a dozen organizations ready to adopt reptiles dropped off Saturday.

Many owners said they volunteered to bring in their pets because they were concerned a disgruntled neighbor would turn them in. Fines are hefty and misdemeanor charges are possible if the snakes escape.

Pythons didn't require a permit until 2008. The license costs $100. It has to be renewed each year for another $100.

Since news of the Sumter County attack, fish and wildlife officials have noticed an uptick in reports.

"With all the media coverage about pythons, folks have been calling. Folks have decided they don't want them," Game and Fish official Jennifer Tinnell said.

Not everyone who dropped off a snake was without a permit. Shawn Nesselt of Sarasota wanted to downsize his snake collection, so he brought in an albino and a green python that were about 9feet each. Both snakes had permits and had been tagged with microchips.

Nesselt said the state should have required permits years ago on pythons, which have put a squeeze on wildlife in the Everglades. They've been known to kill bobcats and endangered wood storks.

"A lot of people are inexperienced in what they're getting themselves into. They [wildlife officials] should qualify people before they can get one," Nesselt, 32, said.

Watson, who did extensive research before he adopted Marisa, was glad to hear Gatorland will become her new home. Marisa, whom he use to shower with when she was only a baby and measuring just 6feet, helped him educate children in the neighborhood on proper animal care.

"I'm glad I won't see her destroyed. Her purpose will be served [educating]. I know she'll live a good life," he said.

The next amnesty day is Nov.7 at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-locpython-amnesty-day-100409100409oct04,0,1224329.story

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• FL Press x2: Amnesty day brings in pets - W von Papineäu, Mon Oct 12 19:57:17 2009