Here are news articles from HSUS. Figured I would post them here for anyone who wants to read them that has not already done so. These are direct copy and pastes.
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July 16, 2009
The HSUS Urges End to Python Trade
But Says Proposed Hunt Would Be Ineffective, Inhumane
The Humane Society of the United States
While deeply concerned about the trade in pythons and the dramatic expansion of populations of this exotic species in the Everglades and in other parts of Florida, The Humane Society of the United States considers it wrong-headed for the state or federal government to authorize a program to allow the hunting and killing of Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park. Instead, policy responses should focus on passing a ban on the import and interstate trade in pythons and other large constrictor snakes, so that populations do not get established in the South or in California.
The private ownership of large constrictor snakes is a prescription for threats to public safety and the environment. A 2-year-old girl was tragically killed by a Burmese python kept as a pet in her Florida home on July 1 – the fourth person killed by a pet python in the United States since 2006. From a small number of animals escaped or released from the pet trade, there are now tens of thousands of Burmese pythons established and reproducing in the Everglades. These snakes have been found elsewhere in the state and have the potential to inhabit the southern one-third of the country, according to U.S. Geological Survey scientists.
"Because of the reckless practices of the pet trade, and the foolish decisions by people who want to own exotic animals, Florida has a major problem on its hands," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "While the problem is severe, we should not pursue wasteful and futile strategies like bounty programs and public hunts in Everglades National Park. They won't work, and could do more harm than good."
The number of snakes removed could not possibly keep up with the reproduction of the snake population. The snakes have enormous reproductive capabilities and are also very difficult to find. One female was reportedly captured with 85 developing eggs.
Bounty hunting won't help, but it could do significant damage. Bounty hunting could put people at risk of injury or death and cause environmental damage from increased human traffic and improper collection. Hunters could mistakenly remove non-target snakes from the ecosystem.
For decades, members of the public have been strictly prohibited from hunting or removing wildlife from national parks. This prohibition should not be hastily overturned. Instead, action is needed to address the problem at its source.
The HSUS applauds U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's proposed legislation (S. 373) and the companion bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (H.R. 2811) to add pythons to the federal injurious species list, prohibiting their importation and interstate commerce for the pet trade. This legislation will close a major introduction pathway, help prevent Burmese pythons from becoming established in other areas and stop species such as the reticulated python from becoming the next Burmese python. The need to stop the trade in large constrictor snakes has never been more urgent.
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November 6, 2009
The HSUS Testifies in Support of Bill to Restrict Trade in Large Constrictor Snakes
The Humane Society of the United States
WASHINGTON — Nancy Perry, vice president of Government Affairs for The Humane Society of the United States, testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security in support of H.R. 2811, introduced by Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla. The legislation would add certain nonnative large constrictor snakes to the list of injurious species that cannot be imported or moved in interstate commerce for the pet trade.
Perry urged that the legislation be amended to include all species of large constrictor snakes identified as posing risk to the environment by the U.S. Geological Survey in a new report, "Giant Constrictors: Biological and Management Profiles and an Establishment Risk Assessment for Nine Large Species of Pythons, Anacondas, and the Boa Constrictor." Currently, the bill only includes Burmese pythons and African rock pythons.
"H.R. 2811 is an important step," Perry said. "But if only some large constrictor snakes are included, the trade will simply shift to others, and risks to public safety, animal welfare and the environment will remain. The Humane Society of the United States appreciates and celebrates these animals, but these giant nonnative snakes belong in their natural habitats in their range countries, not in America's wilderness or communities where they harm our natural resources and put people at risk."
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. Senate, S. 373. The HSUS commends Rep. Meek, Sen. Nelson and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for their leadership on this issue. The agency testified that it supports the bill as reported, and recommends amending it in light of the USGS risk assessment to include all nine species.
People often purchase these animals while they are young and manageable. When they grow too large and dangerous to keep, the animals may be abandoned outdoors. Burmese pythons, boa constrictors and probably some African pythons are already established and breeding as invasive species in parts of Florida. Burmese pythons likely now number in the tens of thousands spread over thousands of square miles. According to the USGS, Burmese pythons are putting a very large number of Florida's imperiled species at risk, and they could find a conducive climate in many other states.
Facts
* A 2-year-old Florida girl was killed by a Burmese python kept as a pet in her home in July 2009. She was the fourth person killed by a pet python in the United States since 2006. The other three were adults with experience handling reptiles, two of them killed by reticulated pythons.
* Without an amendment, H.R. 2811 will not address reticulated pythons (the world's longest snakes), anacondas (the world's heaviest snakes) or boa constrictors. In fact, the number of these snakes imported and sold would likely increase, as the trade in Burmese pythons falls.
* H.R. 2811 does not result in confiscation of existing snakes. It applies to imports and interstate movement, not to the possession of animals within a state. In addition, animals could continue to be imported and moved across state lines for zoological, educational, medical and scientific purposes with a federal permit.
* Reptiles are often marketed as low-maintenance pets, but keeping them healthy and secure in captivity takes sophisticated care that many owners cannot provide. These snakes grow very large very quickly, resulting in enclosures that are inadequate for their size and to prevent escapes.
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December 10, 2009
Senate Panel Approves Large Constrictor Snake Trade Ban
The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for approving S. 373, a bill to add certain constrictor snakes to the list of injurious species that cannot be imported or moved in interstate commerce as pets. The committee amended the bill to cover nine species of large constrictor snakes identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as posing high or medium risk to the environment. The amendment was supported by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Sen. Bill Nelson and The HSUS. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
"The Humane Society of the United States is grateful to lawmakers and Interior Department officials for working to prohibit the trade in all nine species of large constrictor snakes, getting ahead of this problem and not facing the next new fad in the exotic pet trade," said Michael Markarian, chief operating officer for The HSUS. "Congress must swiftly pass this important bill to prevent further threats to public safety, animal welfare and our natural resources."
The HSUS and HSLF express their thanks to bill sponsor Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Committee Chair Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Subcommittee Chair Ben Cardin, D-Md., for their leadership on this measure.
"As stewards of our country's vast public lands and natural resources, we have to deal with the threats posed by invasive species," Sen. Nelson said, adding that more still needs to be done to better regulate all kinds of foreign plants and animals coming into the United States.
If large constrictor snakes escape or are released outdoors, they can multiply rapidly and prey on native wildlife, depleting vulnerable species. Burmese pythons are already widely established in the Everglades, making it difficult if not impossible to remove them, and boa constrictors and Northern African pythons have been found in a smaller area of Florida. Action is needed now to prevent these snakes from spreading further and to prevent other species from becoming established. If only a few species are included, the trade will simply shift from one giant snake to another.
Facts
* A 2-year-old Florida girl killed by a python this year was the fourth person killed by a pet python in the United States since 2006. The others were adults with experience handling reptiles, two of them killed by reticulated pythons.
* S. 373 targets the exotic pet trade. These snakes could still be imported and moved in interstate commerce for zoological, educational, medical and scientific purposes with a permit.
* The bill would not affect possession or sales within a state. People would keep and retain responsibility for existing animals.
* The nine species included in the amended bill are: Burmese/Indian pythons, Northern African pythons, Southern African pythons, reticulated pythons, boa constrictors and four species of anacondas.
* Related legislation (H.R. 2811) was approved by the House Judiciary Committee, which held a hearing on Nov. 6 where HSUS testified in support of the bill and urged an amendment to cover nine species.
