Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The transcript from last Friday's panel chat has been posted.
We moved some of the posts around to put them in the proper sequence and make it more readable and fixed some (not all) the spelling errors. We did not delete anything that was said.

View the transcript at the link below.
USFW Panel Chat Transcript - click here!

I just read the USFW Boa/Python Panel Transcript, and one thing strikes me as very odd - that is the amount of discussion around the USGS maps showing the "possible" expansion of an invasive species of boa or python in the U.S. Many suggested conducting experiments on live animals to test their survival over various temperatures to the point of death of the test animals.

To me, this seems to be very wrong and would justifiably bring the wrath of the animal rights activists, and even the animal welfare activists, down upon we reptile enthusiasts.

A much more logical approach would be to study an existing model, complete with historical climate data, food supply, predators, etc. which is already available! That model is the native range of the boa or python in question. Simply ask and then answer the question, "What factors have stopped the spread of the snake in question in its own native habitat?" and then correlate that data with the conditions in the U.S.

Comments?

Erin Williams: PLEASE submit comments and INFORMATION

Seems to me like poor Erin kept asking for DATA and information and all people wanted to do was give their opinion with no factual backing or just whine about the issue.
-----
Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"