Hey there Rich, good to see you here. This is not "dragging" the issue out because its a real issue, with real problems, and answers that are very complex. I've got thick skin so I tend to just say things the way they are and if folks get their girdles up in a bunch, well, so be it. There are no easy answers to this problem and some may not even consider this to be worthy of being considered a "problem" in light of all of the other problems our environment is experiencing. I do think we need to find a very cost effective method for tracking the "problem" and having a way to track those who may not be doing things ethically or by the book. The idea of pit tagging was something I felt would work because it isn't expensive and provides a permanent way to identify a burm should it ever be used for something that it wasn't intended for (release into the 'glades). This is probably just one of 100's of possible solutions. The bottom line is that it is unfortunate that "we" (hobbyists) can't unite and have a united front to come up with our own solutions; instead, we let the outsiders simply come in and make all herps illegal; and, state by state, its slowly happening. Hopefully, we can stop that momentum but it will only be up to us to figure that out. The CHS could provide a great vehicle for being a catalyst and perhaps by networkign with herp societies all over the U.S. we can come up with something that makes sense.
>>Sorry for dragging this into a new thread, but I don't visit this forum to often and just read the self-policing thread.
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>>I liked the points read below about pit-tagging burmese pythons and the concept of sterilization on non-breeding burms. I agree pit-tagging is more economical and far less invasive than surgery. Sterilization will most likely be to cost prohibitive to actual implement with any consistency. However, as long as imported animals continue to be dumped in the pet trade, economics will drive the supply of cheap animals into the hands of inexperienced keepers. Much like requiring people to register guns and/or possessing a owners card, tagging does not hinder the secondary markets from continuing to trade or sell to inappropriate/ill-prepared owners.
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>>It is nice to see people who keep burms actually discussing this topic of self-policing in a cool manner. I remember a couple years ago Rob Carmichael would get picked on for raising such topics.
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>>Had to plug a picture appropriate for the forum, enjoy!
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>>Support your local herp society
>>www.chicagoherp.org
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL
