WDBO (Orlando, Florida) 07 October 09 State lawmaker urges 24/7 amnesty for snake owners (Joe Ruble)

Broward County's Senator Eleanor Sobel simply wants to outlaw reptiles of concern in Florida and make snake owners get a permit to keep them.

But for those who can no longer care or choose not to, she also wants to make it easy to turn in the snakes to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

"I think amnesty is a good thing, 24-7, We'll take these snakes, if you want to turn them over," she explained.

Last Saturday, during an amnesty program at Gatorland, 45 reptiles were handed over, no questions asked.

Because many owners consider the reptiles as pets, the state makes sure they can find safe places for the snakes to live out their lives.

"We're looking at care facilities that can take care of them into perpetuity," said Tim Breault, FWC Biologist.

Without those facilities in place, he fears snake owners will simply set their pets free and hope they can survive in the wild.

Top officials with the FWC admit that the snake hunts are going slowly right now and there simply is little chance of getting all the reptiles living in the Everglades, after being released into the wild.

Their thought now is to contain them, and not let them spread northward.

"Try to draw a line in the marsh, literally," said FWC Lt. Col. Jim Brown.

http://wdbo.com/localnews/2009/10/state-lawmaker-urges-247-amnes.html
State lawmaker urges 24/7 amnesty for snake owners

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