Here is a contact form everyone can use to contact the History Channel with their comments.
www.history.com/global/feedback/contact.jsp?site=HistoryChannel.com&NetwCode=THC
or you can send comments directly to A&E at feedback@aetv.com
Here is what I sent:
To whom it may concern,
I recently watched a program airing on January 27, 2010 on the History Channel titled "Monster Quest: Giant Pythons in America" and "Monster Quest: Giant Killer Snakes". I must say that these two programs were likely THE WORST cases of hype, misinformation, and outright speculation I have thus seen aired on the History Channel.
Both programs referenced the recent USGS report by Rodda and Reed on the expansion of the Burmese python and other 8 species of constrictors in the United States based on climate changes. However, these reports are fundamentally flawed in that they examined ONLY climate as a factor, when in truth, there are many other factors that would significantly influence and limit the distribution of exotic species of snakes in the US. Furthermore, this USGS report has in fact been deemed "unscientific" by an independent panel of 11 herpetologists and other scientists. Please review these documents by Dave and Tracy Barker regarding Burmese pythons in South Florida:
http://usark.org/uploads/Tympanum.pdf
http://usark.org/uploads/DistributionBurmesePython.pdf
http://usark.org/uploads/Burmese&Florida_(July_2009_compressed).pdf
http://usark.org/uploads/ReedRodda_Review_BarkerBarker2010.pdf
http://usark.org/uploads/ComeOutOfCold_BCHS.pdf
The amount of false information, outright speculation, and scare tactics utilized in the programs was absolutely astounding and completely unacceptable to myself and many History channel viewers. For example, It is entirely ludicrous that anyone, much less Joe Wasilewski, would firmly believe that Burmese pythons, or any other exotic boa or python species, could possibly survive, thrive, and reproduce in New York City's central park or elsewhere in the US based on the flawed and unscientific USGS report. Another astounding example of blatant lies and misinformation was when the narrator stated that pythons and cobras could hybridize! It does not take an expert herpetologist to realize that this statement entirely false. While snake hybrids of similar species in a same genus have occasionally hybridized in captivity, NO evidence of such hybridization in snakes has been so far been documented in South Florida or any other location in the United States. As it stands at this point, the issue of hybridization in the Everglades is purely speculative. Even if such hybridization did occur, the offspring would likely be sterile or infertile and certainly not the "super snakes" that the programs wildly claim. The program also wildly speculates that King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) are thriving in South Florida based on the capture of only ONE known escaped specimen. No other king cobras have been found to my knowledge surviving and reproducing outside of captivity in Florida.
Very little factual information at all was conveyed in both of these programs, with the possible exception of mentioning Hurricane Andrew as a factor for the snake's release and Wasilewski's statement toward the end of the program that venomous snakes and pythons could not possibly hybridize. After watching these two programs, It seems to me that the primary intent behind the programs is to simply incite even more fear and misunderstanding towards snakes by the general public rather than to provide quality, educational programming. I am most disappointed to say, that if the History Channel does not provide the informative quality programming that many of its viewers expect and deserve, I WILL NO LONGER be patronizing your channel. Thank You.
