Just like rotties (I'm a proud owner of two female rottweilers that I got through a rescue program....best dogs in the world), large constrictors are the product of both good owners and bad owners....unfortunately, the bad owners make the news and that is how most people base their opinions. I just feel like we have far too many baby burms, rocks, etc. flooding the market place and not nearly enough capable owners out there. This is a species that VERY FEW people should even consider keeping and that's not to knock those on this forum or those who breed them for a living. I just feel that there are many other species that make better and safer pets for the average herp enthusiast. Education is certainly the key and it looks like some breeders are taking an aggressive stance on educating their customers but they are few and far between. As more large constrictors become available, we will only continue to see these stories more prevalent in the news. And that will lead to further restrictive legislation against the keeping of these types of reptiles. Just my .02.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
>>When I sign on to comcast they have a story about a python being removed from a ceiling, and if its not that then its one from a toilet. Is it because snakes have been more accesable and people just don't want them around so they are getting bad raps. Its like a Rottweiler, people should be punished for their pets not people who take care of them.
>>Suggestion is to chip every snake and ID it with an owner when they buy it. If that snake is lose and gets caught its tracked, and if they sell it to someone else then they take over as owner on it.
>>It just seems that people who care about things like this get it taken away.
>>
>>Rob, I am sure you have to deal with questions like that all the time or people that say snakes are stupid. How can they be educated.
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>>0.2 Rotts
>>1.0 Super Tiger
>>0.1 Green Burm
>>0.1 Ball Python
>>0.1 Red Tail
>>0.1 Blood Python
>>1.0 Green Ananconda
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL
