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WPTV (North Palm Beach, Florida) 22 June 10 Certain pets might be banned - FWC may stop sales of certain species (Glenn Glazer)
Jupiter, Fla: This week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is meeting in Orlando to discuss making certain reptiles "conditional species."
"A conditional species means that that species cannot be owned or possessed in the state of Florida," said Gabriella Ferraro, FWC Public Information Officer.
And at the heart of the issue, an animal we have all heard a lot about.
"Well, we know the Burmese python is the poster child for this issue," said Ferraro.
But also on the list, certain types of anacondas and monitor lizards.
"We realize now the impact that these animals have had on the environment. Perhaps hindsight is twenty-twenty they should have thought about regulating these animals twenty years ago," said David Hitzig, Executive Director of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary , Loxahatchee River District.
But along with these new rules there comes a lot of questions; for example, what if you've already had one of these animals as a pet for a long time?
"Anyone that currently owns a Burmese python, and Anaconda, a Nile Monitor Lizard, they may keep that animal for the life of the animal, but after that that's it," said Ferraro.
But with reptile sales already down, how do pet store owners feel about these possible new rules?
"I think of those particular animals it would be a good idea, but only those," said Nancy Pilsen, owner of Splash Landing Pets and Supplies .
Nancy Pilsen is worried about the environmental impact of those animals, but she also doesn't want to see the commission go too far.
"If they don't get carried away with stupidity, I think it's a good idea. But when they want to put a blanket, I've heard that to, that they want to blanket all snakes, all pythons," said Pilsen.
The FWC says it gets the message.
"We don't want to jeopardize peoples livelihood, and certainly their input has been taken into consideration, and they've provided a lot of comments to these new rules," said Ferraro.
Wildlife experts think it's going to take a lot more than stopping sales to get this issue under control.
"But you have to start someplace and that's the reason why they're doing this. They really want to put a squelch on what's been going on out there," said Hitzig.
Certain pets might be banned

""We realize now the impact that these animals have had on the environment. Perhaps hindsight is twenty-twenty they should have thought about regulating these animals twenty years ago," said David Hitzig, Executive Director of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary , Loxahatchee River District."

I wonder if Mr. Hitzig could enlighten us as to what impact these animals have actually had on the environment?

They upset their delicate purist naturalist sensibilities.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
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