What a bunch of crap. This will be in tomorrows paper.



A Times Editorial

U.S. should ban big snakes

In Print: Thursday, February 4, 2010





Deputies caught a 12-foot green anaconda last month in an Osceola County horse park. Miami-Dade County trappers encountered African rock pythons, which have been known to eat crocodiles and kill children. Urged on by Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, the Obama administration is moving more quickly than Congress to ban the snakes that pose a serious threat to life and the environment.



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed banning nine species of giant constrictor snakes, including the Burmese, North African and South African pythons, the boa constrictor, and the anaconda — green, yellow and Bolivian. It says about 1 million such snakes have been imported in the past 30 years and even more have been bred domestically.



These predatory reptiles should not be sold like puppies, and they are overrunning the Everglades. Last summer a hungry, poorly secured pet python killed a 2-year-old Sumter County girl. Banning their import and interstate sale is the only reasonable response.



While a federal regulatory rule would be welcome, Congress should pursue the legislative ban sponsored by Nelson and Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami. Their bills would restrict importation and interstate sale and transportation of the nine species. Nelson's bill passed a key committee in December and is ready for a vote by the full Senate. It should not be a difficult vote.







Here is the link.



http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/edit...snakes/1070555

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