Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just spoke with my brother. He asked me if I'd seen the Today Show. Said they had just had a segment on the Ball/Burmese Python issue before Congress. Sounded like they intentionally combined Ball with Burmese to overstate the facts as to how many are imported annually. Some ungodly number that just had to include Ball Pythons. But of course the issue was the Burmese Python in the Everglades. A very convenient and deceptive method of spreading the propaganda. A shell game with the facts. A bit of slight of hand, I'd say.
Has anyone else seen this? Can someone find the segment on the Internet? It was either today or the day before, I'm pretty sure.
Something smells about this story and I don't think it's Burmese Python dung.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

There is a video link on the Today Show home page. I just watched it, they don't mention any python by name with the exception of the Burmese. They do say that 99,000 "pythons" are imported, but the way he says it, it could overall from the last ten years, or yearly.
-----
---------------
Bill
---------------
1.0 Banded Cal King
0.1 Striped Cal King
0.1 Aberrant Cal King
0.1 Chihuahua Mountain King
1.0 Arizona Mountain King
1.0 Anery Jurassic Milk
1.0 Nelson's/Corn snake hybrid
0.0.1 Viper Boa
0.0.1 South Florida Swamp Snake
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
2.3 African Dwarf Frogs
0.0.1 Alligator Snapping Turtle
0.0.1 Florida Snapping Turtle
0.0.1 Loggerhead Musk Turtle
0.0.1 Common Musk Turtle
0.0.2 Fly River Turtle

What a load of unconscionable crap! So many false statements, innuendo, rumor. They did say the United States imported 99,000 "Pythons" in the last ten years. I'm sure that 90% of that figure was West African Ball Pythons, the Corn Snake of the Python Clan - harmless, small, non-invasive, non-threatening, non-injurious. They did show some "Python Hunters" capture a 9 ft. specimen from under a boardwalk on the first day of the hunt. They did show the USGS Global Warming Invasion Map and cited it as a foregone conclusion. They did say there were an estimated 150,000 pythons in Florida. They did say Florida asked the Federal Government to ban the the importation of Pythons into the U.S. three years ago, as they foresaw a crisis brewing. They did say the U.S. Government replied that they would study it. They mentioned the attack of the child by the albino Burmese. Senator Nelson was shown saying it's only a matter of time before an unsuspecting tourist is attacked in the Everglades. And on and on. I believe the report was by Cary Sanders. Everyone should view this video. I will try to get the link.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

They also perpetuated the myth that people release their pet pythons into the Everglades after they grow too large. Did not mention Hurricane Andrew.
The 150,000 figure for Pythons in Florida did state specifically Burmese Pythons.
They also stated that the adult python can lay 100 eggs. They did not specify a time frame. Could have easily as not been understood as a per year figure.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

HOPE THIS WORKS...

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/32216600#32216600

jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Everyone should watch this. It is a synopsis of their talking points to date. Don't think they left out a thing. I'll bet some 501(3)(c) wrote every bit of it.
Hey, I don't even keep Pythons. It is a whole lot bigger than that.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

The Joe Friday Inversa Rule. Anything but the facts Ma'am.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

>>Hey, I don't even keep Pythons. It is a whole lot bigger than that.

Couldn't agree more. Anything can be banned if we allow junk
scientists to run wild.

Thanks,
Ed

Since the python will be exactly thge temp of it's surroundings, how will they find any of them? More idiotic junk science.

Supposedly they can trigger on female pythons that are temperature regulating their nests.

http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-07/uavs-search-everglades-pythons

Even so, seems like a ridiculous idea to send drones over a several thousand square mile area that contains tons of wildlife. And what exactly are they going to do if they finally find a nest after a month of searching?? Is there going to be a missile launcher attached to the drone?? Will they hire a python hitman and give him the GPS coordinates?? Is that going to even make any more of a dent in the population than the python bounty hunt??

If "we the people" don't wake up and start collectively and strongly challenging the junk science (starting with the USGS and NPS), we are all in deep trouble.

Wouldn't gator nests show up from the heat reeleased from the rotting vegetation?