Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here is a recent article published by CBS12 news (West palm Beach, Florida)

http://www.cbs12.com/news/edit_4716113___article.html/needs_problems.html

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U.S. Senator Bill Nelson wants to use snake skin to demonstrate the problem with the release of pet Burmese Pythons in South Florida.

Nelson filed a bill earlier this year to ban the import of the snakes. The pythons are starting to breed in the Everglades National Park and some are worried they could start extending their range to areas outside the park.

Nelson says wildlife experts have already found endangered species in the stomachs of pythons. He worries much more could be found there.

"I hope it doesn't get to the point that they're going to have to find the endangered Florida panther or much more, a child," Nelson said.

Nelson says he wants Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to visit the Everglades to get a firsthand look at the problem.

The senator says he will have park rangers bring out an 18-foot python skin and wrap it around Salazar to make a point about the problems that non-native species are causing in the Florida Everglades.
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Dr Warren Booth
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology
3309 Gardner Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613

Oh boy, an appeal to fear and emotion. Obviously this man has no real debating skills.

I must say that Senator Bob Nelson really gets on my nerves. Unfortunately those of us in FL have to put with him quite a bit.

Sen. Nelson is using the Burmese Python as way to distact attention from a real problem and that is the missappropiation of Everglades restoration money diverted to pork barrel politics and political cronies benefiting at the expense of the Glades. That is his REAL mission. He should be ashamed of himself. I know I'm ashamed of him....
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

wow!what a shame.Id like to see a chart of domestic feline's adaptability to harsh conditions on a map next to the burms. as well as the house cats nasty habit of killing endangered or thereatened species (marsh rabbits,piping plover etc.).i say this as a loving reptile/cat owner and just think its interesting to scapegoat an animal that can survive in very little of the united states.