Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Two bills (SB 0482 and HB 1472) were recently introduced into the Indiana House and Senate Natural Resource Committees that could potentially ban almost any kind of snake ownership in the state (and would prohibit you from owning a Hippopotamus as well...).

If you're an Indiana resident, or do business with anyone in Indiana, I suggest you take a look at this. Here's a link for each bill:

Senate Bill 0482
http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2007&session=1&request=getBill&docno=0482&doctype=SB

House Bill 1472
http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2007&session=1&request=getBill&doctype=HB&docno=1472#latest_info

There's more discussion going on in the Herp Law and Ball Python forums if you want to read what other people are saying. I've also posted contact information for the Senate Natural Resource Committee members in both of forums and will do the same for the House NRC members later today.

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1238240,1238240

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1240050,1240050

Let me know what you think.

Derek

I guess this is what happens when boas and pythons are found wandering through the neighborhoods and people are getting killed by their burms. Lately I've been reading so many stories about animals being found, mostly pythons. That's crazy, all my boas and my carpet python would be illegal (over 6 foot). Aren't ball's and gopher snakes 6 footish when full grown and $100.00 per animal for a permit?? I think it means that we all need to start being responsible pet owners and also be responsible in who we sell are animals to. A part of me thinks there should be a permit required for large burms, retics and anacondas etc. I sure hope this law does not pass.

This is off topic, but if laws are meant to protect us, Why don't they make cigarettes and alcohol illegal. I work in healthcare and it seems that's the main reason people die. Heart attacks, strokes and car accidents kill... Boas and pythons??? get real.

Tony.

Most people do not know enough about snakes...and certainly should not be making laws regarding them! I teach high school biology, and every year I bring snakes into the classroom. I am a big believer that people save what they love (as the croc hunter always said), so I try to get more people interested in these facinating creatures!
-----
Thanks,
Amy
www.myboids.4t.com
----
2.17 Normal ball pythons
1.0 Pastel ball pythons
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
0.0.1 Plains Garter
0.1 Normal Kenyan Sand Boa
2.0 Anery Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Mid-Baja Rosy Boa
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
1.2 Dumeril's Boa
My list is too long, so I'll stop here!

I agree with you completely, there's a perception issue that has been skewed by popular media and a couple of stories about people getting killed by their animals. I just read another post where an 2.5 foot albino corn snake bit a 9 year old girl on the toe in Virginia (or Maryland maybe...). The animal was identified as an albino python and they refused to correct the story even though they received the correct identification as the animal's picture was posted along with the article. To the general public keeping a snake is as "freaky" as it gets and they refuse to understand or learn that snake attacks are rarer than Great White Shark or Grizzly Bear attacks.

I'm not trying to sound preachy but everyone that has a stake should start writing to our lawmakers to let them know they're only going to create a problem where one doesn't exist if they leave this bill the way it is currently worded. While I agree most people don't need an elephant, rhinoceros, or wolverine banning constrictor snakes that can "potentially" reach lengths of 6 feet is going to cause a huge problem if thousands of animals hit the market because it's illegal to keep them anymore. I think, and hope, they just don't know this and will listen.

I've already written to all the members of the House and Senate Natural Resource Committees, in addition to the Governor, and am also going to email them and will probably follow up with letters to all the lawmakers if this bill makes it out of committee. Anyway, check out the other forums for more information and contact information for the committee members if interested.