Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The US House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on March 23rd, 2010. Last week the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife held a joint oversight hearing on "How To Manage Large Constrictor Snakes And Other Invasive Species." The Subcommittees received testimony on efforts to monitor and control Burmese Pythons and other invasive species in Everglades National Park. USARK provided the leadership and expert testimony that the Reptile Nation has come to expect. In attendance were USARK Senior Political Advisors Frank Vitello and Todd Willens. USARK Science Adviser Shawn Heflick provided expert testimony.

Committee Chairman Grijalva made opening remarks regarding the risks to Everglades National Park posed by invasive species. Members in attendance were Ranking Member Henry Brown (R-SC), Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Congresswoman Nepolitano (D-CA).

Expert Testimony was given by: Bert Frost, Ph.D., Associate Director, Natural Resources, Stewardship and Science, National Park Service; Frank J. Mazzotti, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL; Marcy Heacker, M.S., Division of Birds, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; Daniel Thayer, Director, Department of Vegetation & Land Management, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL; Jorge P. Gutierrez, Jr., Civil Trial Attorney, Gonzalez and Garcia, Miami, FL; Shawn K. Heflick, M.S., Biologist USARK/ Science Officer CFHS, Palm Bay, FL; Daniel Simberloff, Ph.D., Gore Hunger Professor of Environmental Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; Phyllis Windle, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Invasive Species, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC; and Scott Hardin, Exotic Species Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL.

Ranking Member Henry Brown (R-SC) made a lengthy statement assailing the notion that listing large constrictors on the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act would have any positive impact on the Everglades. "How is putting thousands of Americans out of work and destroying thousands of small businesses going to eradicate Burmese pythons in South Florida?" Brown said. Congressman Bishop commented that it was clear pythons were an invasive issue limited to south Florida and would never be a problem in his home state of Utah.

Dr. Mazzotti from the University of Florida testified that 9 out of 10 of the radio telemetered Burmese pythons being tracked by the National Park Service in Everglades National Park succumbed to the recent cold snap and died as a result. Scott Hardin of Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation commission testified that he believed at least 50% or more of the pythons in south Florida died in the cold. Shawn Heflick, a conservation biologist and science adviser to USARK, said a cold-weather toll he estimated at 70 to 80 percent proved that federal risk assessments suggesting the snake could spread to other states were overblown. "This population of pythons cannot expand outside of Florida,'' he said. "This is a Florida problem, not a federal problem.'' Both Hardin and Mazzotti agreed that this was an issue limited to south Florida and the Lacey act was not an effective tool to control invasive species. They both urged a more pragmatic and comprehensive approach that was inclusive of the reptile industry.

Click here to read Testimony by Shawn Heflick on behalf of USARK:
usark.org/uploads/Heflick%20Testimony.pdf

Click here to read Testimony of all witnesses (click individual names):
resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=27&extmode=view&extid=340

The majority opinion amongst the witnesses seemed to be:

1. Pythons are a problem limited to several counties in south Florida.
2. As such a Lacey Act listing would not be warranted nor effective in addressing real problems.
3. A more comprehensive and pragmatic approach to dealing with potential invaders on a regional basis is necessary.
4. Collaboration between agencies, academics and the expertise of industry is key to finding real solutions.

USARK would like to thank the leadership and measured approach of Chairman Grijalva in conducting the hearing. We would also like to thank Ranking members Brown and Bishop for their astute comments and pointed questions revealing the true scope of the issues. Special thanks to Scott Hardin and Frank Mazzotti for bringing real perspective to what has been an over sensationalized regional problem. And a very special thanks to Shawn Heflick for his expertise and devotion to the truth on behalf of the Reptile Nation!

Please follow USARK on Twitter for updates and fast breaking news as it happens!

***Please Click the USARK Donate Button and contribute $10 to USARK ***

There Is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights! We can win this fight with truth and integrity!!

For questions or help contact:
Andrew Wyatt
president@usark.org

posted with permission of PHFaust and kingsnake.com
-----
USARK

Boy, we could not have asked for a more foruitously-timed cold snap, could we?

Can you tell us what the next likely step will be for invasive legislation in Congress? It looks like enthusiasm has waned a bit for the more draconian legislation?
-----
Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

The legislative proposals in the US House and Senate (HR2811/S373) are stalled for now. They can still come back. make no mistake. But we really did our work on them well. We built a coalition of Congressman and Senators who oppose these bills. We engaged the US Chamber of Commerce and a panel of independent scientists who reinforced our position. We reached out and had a personal meeting with Senate Committee Chair Ben Cardin. He agreed that the scientific process should not be circumvented by legislation. He also promised to speak with Senator Nelson in that regard. Then we had an unprecedented ground swell of grass roots support that dwarfed the efforts on HR669 last spring. Now we are in an election year and floor time is at a premium. Congress is going home in September... not Christmas Eve. Democrats are scrambling because they want to get back home and start campaigning for reelection. They are afraid that they are not going to get reelected. So for now the focus moves to USFWS and Proposed Rule Change. But... stay alert & stay alive!
-----
USARK

Absolutely first rate work! I'm glad (and, frankly, surprised in the current political environment)that there is widespread recognition that the scientific process should not be circumvented through legislation.
-----
Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

This is good news indeed.

Cardin's opinion has been changed somewhat by being presented with the facts. He was way off base at first. More than a few of us living in Maryland have talked to him in person or by email to inform him of the "error of his ways". Glad to see it's been somewhat effective. He has considerable pull in the environmental group.

Personally in light of the testimoney before congress I think we should offer our assistance to the researchers working on this problem of invasive herps. Even though most of us are responsible and knowledgable keepers the herps are here directly or indirectly because of the Industry at large. I believe I speak for ALL of us when I say WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EVERGLADES and the possible impact these herps can make on the eco system. Also I believe those of us that are in this Industry need to be more careful how we conduct business and more importantly how we contain our stock. The days of insecure enclosures are over and we should police our ranks or someone else will do it for us. I call on everyone to tighten up our protocal and make sure this never happens again. I believe that the attacks against us were for the most part unreasonable and Mother Nature has proved us right in all of our predictions concerning the places where these snakes can survive. Many of us have MORE EXPERTISE in these Pythons than any researcher regardless of our educational backgrounds because of decades of studies and observations of these snakes. It is my belief we could be an extraordinary asset to the researchers and we wouldn't ask for a dime in government money to do so. If Skip Snow, Frank Mazzotti, or anyone else ask I will be ammendable to doing whatever is asked of me if it's in my power to do so. I'm sure most of my peers feel the same way. At this point the ball is in your court and it's a win, win situation. Sorry for the long post and thanks...
-----
Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Thanks for saying that, Tom. All your points are, or should be, well taken.
-----
Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

Thank you, Tom. Your realistically frank and constructive sentiment is most appreciated.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

It is crucial that the Reptile Nation bring its expertise to bear in coming up with pragmatic solutions to problems in the Everglades. The Everglades is a sacred place to herpers. We need to work with academia to address concerns about invasive species. We need to adhere to Industry Best Management Practices that include secure containment, environmental protocols and disaster plans. If we take responsibility for what we do and show a willingness to work with scientists that are willing to work with us, we will all be better for it. It won't be a silver bullet. There will always be those who are ideologically opposed to what we do. They will continue to try and shut us down. We should work with the willing and create an environment for this debate that is less polarized. Thank you Tom for wisdom and leadership.
-----
USARK

Hey Tom...my daughter is just now starting to see some anoles, but still no iguanas.

my ? this is still going through usfw or whatever it is, there a 60 comment period that from what i am being told is almost half over, who are we supposed to write what are we supposed to do? i have yet to get the same story on this outta two people, and if its true that the comment period is almost half over why hasnt info on who to contact and what to say been released already?
-----
I love my country but I'm scared to death of its government
Ya believe what you read cause it's all that we give ya
Cause all of history is written by winners
I'm engaged in a frenzy of mass self-destruction
I feed upon your famine to fuel my corruption
I'm wholeselling hatred and international incest
To carnivorous hyenas in a global theft fest
I've mastered the arts of death and foreign nations genocide
And those who turn on me commit national suicide

I'm the queen of the global dream
And I rule a declining nation
I sit and watch all the violent screams
From the throne of your desperation
W.A.S.P.

We should probably send our comments as planned. I would hate to think the congenial conciliatory atmosphere/tone is but a ruse to have us let our guard down, resulting in fewer comments to the proposal.
jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

thats what it seems like to me
-----
I love my country but I'm scared to death of its government
Ya believe what you read cause it's all that we give ya
Cause all of history is written by winners
I'm engaged in a frenzy of mass self-destruction
I feed upon your famine to fuel my corruption
I'm wholeselling hatred and international incest
To carnivorous hyenas in a global theft fest
I've mastered the arts of death and foreign nations genocide
And those who turn on me commit national suicide

I'm the queen of the global dream
And I rule a declining nation
I sit and watch all the violent screams
From the throne of your desperation
W.A.S.P.

We are working on explicit instructions and a template for the general public to make comment that will have maximum impact. Please be patient. Challenging USFWS is very labor intensive and costly. Public comment is important, but only one piece of this puzzle. Please be patient and assured that we will facilitate the grass roots army of the Reptile Nation to make the most effective public comment possible. Coming very soon!
-----
USARK

my point is weve known about this since before it was anounced, had plenty of time to prepare, we are now half way through the comment period and still dont have anything at all, this sounds like someone dropping the ball to me, should have had this long ago
-----
I love my country but I'm scared to death of its government
Ya believe what you read cause it's all that we give ya
Cause all of history is written by winners
I'm engaged in a frenzy of mass self-destruction
I feed upon your famine to fuel my corruption
I'm wholeselling hatred and international incest
To carnivorous hyenas in a global theft fest
I've mastered the arts of death and foreign nations genocide
And those who turn on me commit national suicide

I'm the queen of the global dream
And I rule a declining nation
I sit and watch all the violent screams
From the throne of your desperation
W.A.S.P.

we did not have the details of the proposed rule change until it was published in the federal register. there is nothing stopping you from making comment without our best suggestions. go to the usfws website and do it. otherwise we will have our suggestions out well in advance of the deadline. everyone who wants our help making the most effective comments possible will get it.
-----
USARK

keep in mind that out of 1500 comments during the public comment period on the NOI in 2008, only 115 were used because the rest did not meet the parameters of the request. in other words people didn't do it right. of course it was difficult... but that is why we are preparing detailed guidance to be most effective.
-----
USARK