Reptile & Amphibian Forums

On December 3, 3009, the Senate committee on Environment and Public Works will hear Senate Bill S373. The bill, sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida was initially introduced in February 2009. It is a bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal.

What does this mean? This means that the bill itself is going to place all species of Pythons on the Injurious Animal list of the Lacey Act, thus preventing import, export and interstate transport. That means all pythons from Children's Pythons to Reticulated Pythons will be considered injurious.

At this point the bill is at the second stage, which is to be referred to Committee. The committee will hear one witness for this bill and determine if any revisions are needed, if there is need to move ahead to Senate vote, or if it is to be dismissed. According to govtrack.us, most bills that make it this far never make it out of committee. This is no assurance that we are out of the woods, however. This is the best time to take action and influence Committee members with a grassroots effort.

Kingsnake.com would like to once again ask that you take time over the next several days to make calls and send faxes to members of the Committee to let them know you are not in favor of this bill. USARK has provided a good sample statement for you to use when you call in:

My name is ___. I oppose S373. Although I support and appreciate efforts to preserve the Everglades, this bill will hurt American families while doing little to benefit conservation. This bill would ban the captive bred trade in 40 species of pythons. It would destroy thousands of jobs in our state and across the country. Scientists have questioned the USGS report being used to justify this extreme proposal. Science should trump political expediency. Please oppose S373.

A list of the full EPW committee, with complete contact info, is below. In addition we suggest you also contact your senator. You can find out who your senator is, and get their contact info, here.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), (Sponsor S373)
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (Chair EPW)
Phone: 202-224-3553
Fax: 202-224-0454

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), (Ranking Member EPW)
Phone: 202-224-4721
Fax: 202-228-0380

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), (Chair Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-4524
Fax: 202-224-1651

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), (Ranking Member Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-6142
Fax: 202-228-1375

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Phone: 202-224-4944
Fax: 202-228-3398

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724

Sen. Max Baucus [D-MT]
Phone: 202-224-2651
Fax: 202-224-9412

Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond [R-MO]
Phone: 202-224-5721

Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]
Phone: 202-224-2441
Fax: 202-228-2190

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282

Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
Phone: 202-224-3244
fax: 202-228-2186

Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]
Phone: 202-224-3224
Fax: 202-228-4054

Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997

Sen. Bernard (Bernie) Sanders [I-VT]
Phone: 202-224-5141
Fax: 202-228-0776

Sen. Arlen Specter [D-PA]
Phone: 202-224-4254
Fax: 202-228-1229

Sen. Tom Udall [D-NM]
Phone: 202-224-6621

Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]
Phone: 202-224-4623
Fax: 202-228-5061

Sen. George Voinovich [R-OH]
Phone: 202-224-3353

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]
Phone: 202-224-2921
Fax: 202-228-6362
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Email Cindy
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I for one dont want to see any snake "banned" but the way the pet trade and lots of breeders are pumping out these large constrictors just to make a few bucks is killing the reptile trades image. Here is my post from another forum.
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This is politicians pretending to do their job. This ridiculous law will do nothing and nobody will get in trouble for crossing state lines with a boa or python, how would anyone know?

With all that said, the pet hobby is to blame for this more than anyone. It is completely irresponsible and needless to breed big constrictors. There is no need to breed common Burms, Retics, Rocks, Anacondas, or even Red Tails. 99% of these animals go to people who have no idea what they are in for. It takes a lot of know how and even more space and money to keep a large constrictor. The average snake buyer has NO IDEA what they are getting into when they but these cute little babies. Properly cared for, a Retic or Burm will be 6 feet after 2 years and too big and dangerous for the average person. In my area Zoo's and animal rescues are overwhelmed with the number of large snakes people are trying to unload. They wont even take them anymore. I can get half a dozen free large constrictors tomorrow if I wanted to. Until the pet trade and breeders stop the irresponsible breeding and sales practices of these animals, nothing will change. For christs sake, the Petco near me sells baby red tails and Albino Burms, I guarantee the type of buyer that would buy a snake at Petco has no idea what they are in for.

Breeders CAN NOT keep breeding these animals and selling them to just anyone, its IRRESPONSIBLE!!!!

Your allegation that PETCO sells any of the "big 9" is unfounded. I contacted PETCO and here is their response:

Thank you for contacting PETCO.com.

We checked and found that we do not sell Reticulated pythons, Burmese pythons or Boa constrictors. What we sell is Ball pythons both small and large and we don't sell it to beginners. We usually check if the customer is really capable and well educated on how to take care of this reptiles before we give the sale.

Thank you for your continued patronage. Please contact us again if you need any further assistance.

Sincerely,
Jeanet A
Customer Relations Coordinator
customerrelations@help.petco.com
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old

On Kingsnakes.com Classifieds! Or look on Craigs list. There are lots of people on craigs list all over the country trying to GIVE them away when they get to be juvenile sized or bigger.

IMHO Kingsnakes.com is doing the whole hobby a disservice by allowing them to be sold here. They are a big part of the problem too. If more organizations would stop allowing the sales of these animals it would go along way towards FORCING some responsibility on breeders, sellers, and buyers.

>>Your allegation that PETCO sells any of the "big 9" is unfounded. I contacted PETCO and here is their response:
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Vichris
"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius

The point was that there is alot of mistruths being spouted off as fact.
BTW I checked out Craigslist. I only made it through Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Chicago,Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and Orange County before I gave up trying to find free unwanted Burmese Pythons. Of those cities I think there were five for sale. Not really the epidemic you paint it out to be.
I'm not interested in anyones passionate beliefs. I'm only interested in facts.
While I sympathize with the isolated incidents that you have referenced, its not enough for me to support any legislation against the big 9.
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old

Ok, Vichris. You say:
"If more organizations would stop allowing the sales of these animals it would go along way towards FORCING some responsibility on breeders, sellers, and buyers."

What would happen then if these organizations (I asume you mean websites) were to adopt such draconion policies? What would people do with their existing animals? Breeders, sellers, or even people needing to rehome their existing animals for whatever reason through the website classifieds would not be able to and may end up having to euthanize animals or worse, release them into areas where they obviously shouldn't be. Seems to me that's the exact opposite of being responsible. There is a famous PETA slogan floating around out there; "Better dead then bred." Is that what you really believe and want to have happen? As long as no one is keeping and selling any large constrictors then the end justifies the means right?

Wow!
WOW!
WOW!
WOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

Do you really want life to be full of Government run safety features?

SERIOUSLY?

If so they need to ship you off to Laaa Laaa LAND!

WHat about the MILLION BILLION dangers of life? You should campaign to reduce the depth of cereal bowls, buckets...pot holes to make sure little kids don't drown in them!!!!!

Make Anti Freeze another color.....make it stink like CRAP!!!
So we don't drink it and die!

Maybe, work at making water safer? You know..... so people don't drown in it...

Do you hate Sharks too because they may prove dangerous when you swim in some waters?

I really just don't understand this type of thinking.... I am having a hard time at understanding your side!

Santa

>>On Kingsnakes.com Classifieds! Or look on Craigs list. There are lots of people on craigs list all over the country trying to GIVE them away when they get to be juvenile sized or bigger.
>>
>>IMHO Kingsnakes.com is doing the whole hobby a disservice by allowing them to be sold here. They are a big part of the problem too. If more organizations would stop allowing the sales of these animals it would go along way towards FORCING some responsibility on breeders, sellers, and buyers.
>>
>>
>>
>>>>Your allegation that PETCO sells any of the "big 9" is unfounded. I contacted PETCO and here is their response:
>>-----
>>Vichris
>>"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane"- Marcus Aurelius
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"Satan™" is a registered trademark of NERD, Inc. Any copyright infringement is punishable by ETERNAL DAMNATION and some other terrible stuff.

The PETCO here has Red Tail Boa's. As far as selling it to beginners, I wouldn't know. I've always bought my snakes online from breeders.

The Petco in Bridgewater had several baby red tail boas and several Albino Burmese Pythons, saw them myself when I was there a few weeks ago. The local Petsmart has albino burms as well.

Sad that they dont know what is being sold in their own stores.

I am assuming you are referring to the Raritan NJ Petco? When I googled Bridgewater Petco, that was the closest location that came up. There are no Petco stores in Bridgewater.
I called the store and asked to be transferred to the reptile department. When the girl picked up I asked what snakes they offered for sale. She said they currently have balls, boas and some corns. I asked if they carried burmese and she said no. They do not carry them and I would have to go to a reptile show if I wanted one.
Their number is 908 203-8840
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1.0 Albino American alligator, "Smoke"
1.1 American alligator,"Al Bite Ya & Molly"
1.1 Purple Albino Reticulated Pythons, "Gumbo & Abita"
0.1 Eastern Gaboon Viper, "Gabbie" Recently passed away at 24 years old