Reptile & Amphibian Forums

1. It is a South Florida Issue- Burmese Pythons as a feral and Invasive Species are Endemic to South Florida below Lake Okeechobee only. They do not exist anywhere else in the US. Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission has taken steps to limit further introductions.

2. Not Released By Pet Owners- According to the Genetics Study presented to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) by Florida International University & the National Park Service, the vast majority of Burmese Pythons sampled come from identical genetic stock. This population of pythons was NOT introduced over time by irresponsible pet owners. It points to a mass introduction; possibly Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

3. Will Not Spread out of South Florida- The US Geologic Survey (USGS) Map Published in 2008, illustrating the spread of Burmese Pythons over the southern third of the US, has been characterized as ‘Junk Science’ by many in the Herpetological Community. It has been rebutted and contradicted by more objective studies. The only place in the country that has the proper climate is S. FL & S. TX, but only S. FL has the necessary habitat.

4. Federal BAN Won’t Work- There is No Credible Scientific Evidence that passing Federal Legislation Banning the Import and Trade of Boas & Pythons will have any affect whatsoever on the feral Burmese Python population in the Everglades. It would be costly and impossible to enforce.

Andrew Wyatt

First of all Andrew Wyatt I would like to say thank you for posting this information. I know that everyone is heated about this topic and probably ready to go take someones head off, but we all know we cannot do that. However Andrew is very clearly showing us how this battle must be won. It is all about facts, not opinions but hard core facts. Now I have only been following this for a day or so but from what I have gathered from the news clips and forum tabs is that there is a problem in southern Florida with Burmese pythons, some say it is an over population problem but it seems to me that the extinction of a wood rat and a deer is what is really the root of concern and main thrust of this movement. I mean the report that is linked in topic I am sick of this crap said that they didn't know there was a snake problem until they found the wood rat tracer inside it.

So my question is first of all does this seem like the root of the problem?

If so, how much do we know about this wood rat and deer? This is key because if this is the root of the problem we do not only need to encourage the stop of this ban but also help find a solution to save this deer and wood rat. Personally I have a hard time believing that this problem is that big because I know that in the northern states deer and rats are considered pest because they are over populated, but as I have said I am in the north I have no clue what is like in Flordia.

What I would like to encourage everyone to do, is sit back, dig up facts, think things out, and then fill us all in to keep the team (all herpers) on the same page. We need to stay clear thought and professional even if we think this ban is a childish way of handling the circumstances. Remember to stop this bill we need to convince lawyers (the house or who ever) that this is not the right way to go about this; however, to keep this type of purposal from coming back every year we need to offer alternative suggestions and start pushing those.

I know that there are tons of great minds out here we just need to address the real heart of the issue and solve it.

Matt

Matt, there are NO Burmese Pythons found anywhere close to where the Key Deer are located plus there are natural barriers like the Atlantic Ocean preventing them from reaching the lower Keys where these Deer are located. That is a propaganda piece of crap reason to justify this unreasonable bill. Read some of my other posts on this subject I've written. Everyone needs to come together and join PIJAC and USARK which Andrew is the founder of. I'm a proud member and he's doing an outstanding job with little financial support from us, the herp community. GET ON BOARD NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com