Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Wasn't sure if anyone had seen this yet...

http://www.theledger.com/article/20100105/EDIT01/1055001?Title=Dangerous-Reptiles-Overhaul-Florida-Snake-Trade

[ DANGEROUS REPTILES ]
Dangerous Reptiles: Overhaul Florida Snake Trade

Published: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 12:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 7:52 a.m.

Reptile breeders and sellers say a bill before Congress to ban the import and sale of several dangerous snake species will do great economic harm to their businesses. They are undoubtedly right.

But it is equally true that the Everglades is becoming infested with escaped Burmese pythons and other exotic snake species that are wiping out native wildlife and posing a threat to public safety.

"All these snakes that are being released in the Everglades are reproducing in the Everglades, and they're catching and killing a lot of the endangered species that do live and belong there," said Don Anthony, spokesman for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, last month.

Allowing that infestation to continue in the name of economic development makes no sense.

>>Wasn't sure if anyone had seen this yet...
>>
>>http://www.theledger.com/article/20100105/EDIT01/1055001?Title=Dangerous-Reptiles-Overhaul-Florida-Snake-Trade
>>
>>[ DANGEROUS REPTILES ]
>>Dangerous Reptiles: Overhaul Florida Snake Trade
>>
>>Published: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 12:01 a.m.
>>Last Modified: Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 7:52 a.m.
>>
>>Reptile breeders and sellers say a bill before Congress to ban the import and sale of several dangerous snake species will do great economic harm to their businesses. They are undoubtedly right.
>>
>>But it is equally true that the Everglades is becoming infested with escaped Burmese pythons and other exotic snake species that are wiping out native wildlife and posing a threat to public safety.
>>
>>"All these snakes that are being released in the Everglades are reproducing in the Everglades, and they're catching and killing a lot of the endangered species that do live and belong there," said Don Anthony, spokesman for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, last month.
>>
>>Allowing that infestation to continue in the name of economic development makes no sense.

This is exactly why we need to NOT allow this to become purely a "business vs. the environment" battle. It is paramount to expose the junk science at every chance, as well as economic loss. Yes, many breeders will lose their livelihoods if the laws pass. Is that fair? Of course not. But if people think snakes are taking over Florida (or 1/3 of the country) and could eat their kids, they don't give a crap about snake breeders' livelihoods.

What about the human infestation?

I second that. The economic forces of agricultural development, and development for human habitation over the course of decades has indelibly altered the Everglades ecosystem for the worst. No doubt about that. It's a little late to put that gene back into the bottle, so they look for the easiest scapegoat to blame.
A sad commentary on the greed and hypocrisy of Man.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

This is not just about the economics for snake breeders. Has anyone written a letter to Home Depot, True Value, and the like? How many of us shop at home improvment stores instead of pet stores for our reptile supplies? I've known people who had additions added to the house and/or basements finished to make better/more enclosures for their pets. Where does the building materials/experience come from? This would be less income for the construction businesses, too.

And then there are the pet stores, the veterinarians, and so on. State income and sales tax, too. Hotels and restaurants for expos (what hotel and restaurant chains are near the big expos - anyone written to them?). Do any mom & pop type restaurants or other businesses get a lot of business from a show? That would be a perfect "non-herp" person to write in.

Katrina