I attended the Gulf Coast Reptile Expo in Mobile, AL this weekend and was talking with a couple of the vendors regarding the python ban. One vendor is a breeder of Boa constrictor ssp. and actually lives near me in the Baton Rouge, LA area. The other vendor was from the Mississippi coast area. I was under the misconception that the python situation in Florida was due mainly to releases. I was informed that the populations being seen today are primarily due to a very large shipment of pythons that was in quarantine back in the 90s when Hurricane Andrew hit and destroyed the facility the pythons were being held in. This makes more sense to me regarding such a large influx of the species in the area. However, this still shows me how important certain regulations may be regarding prevention of escape during natural or man-made disasters. To be honest, I dont know who could prevent such a thing from happening, and I am sure the fairly recent hurricanes (Katrina and Rita) along the Gulf Coast area may have similar impact with regards to escaped animals.
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Some Python Info I Heard this Weekend
Replies (3)
THIS IS VERY OLD NEWS TO MOST OF US.
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Archie Bottoms
It may be 'old news' to you but it is NOT old news to the public and it's not how this situation is being portrayed in the media! It's the first I've heard of it and I'm a herper. To the general public, who doesn't pay close attention to this issue, the perception is that it's all due to the irresponsible reptile owners who released their pets when they got too big.
This is going to be the end of your hobby and you guys can't even be bothered to set the record straight? Yikes! No wonder the HSUS has chosen you as the target.
This is EXACTLY the kind of info that needs to be spread to the public AND our government representatives not shot down with a THAT'S OLD NEWS response.
Nobody really knows how the burms got established. Hurricane damage is one theory, but pythons have been found in the glades since at least the early 80s -- long long before Hurricane Andrew.
In truth, most likely there are several sources of the feral snakes.
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (TBA)
0.3 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Hari)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (TBA)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters
