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I think my IQ dropped 10 points just watching this "news" report. I contacted them and as politely as I could told them they need to work on their fact checking and that the expert that they interviwed needs to pick up a field guide, but I'm sure they'll ignore me.
Anaconda Found Loose in Springfield

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www.cafepress.com/jbartolettherps

it hissed....wow! crazy what some people write and what some people read and BELIEVE!

Pitoon

>>I think my IQ dropped 10 points just watching this "news" report. I contacted them and as politely as I could told them they need to work on their fact checking and that the expert that they interviwed needs to pick up a field guide, but I'm sure they'll ignore me.
>>Anaconda Found Loose in Springfield
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>>www.cafepress.com/jbartolettherps
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Homepage
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2010 European Shows

Where do I start? Let me start by saying, I'm really embarrassed for all in the story, especially that "licensed" exterminator! My favorite part is, they can't even ID the animal but they're all insistant that "he hasn't eaten for awhile"!

What's even worse, at the beginning of the segment, they actually DO have a picture of an anaconda...you would think that SOMEONE in the studio would be like, "Hey guys, those snakes look nothing alike."

>>What's even worse, at the beginning of the segment, they actually DO have a picture of an anaconda...you would think that SOMEONE in the studio would be like, "Hey guys, those snakes look nothing alike."

Yeah no doubt!.It's like one hand doesnt know what the other is doing..or something like that.

I sent an e-mail to the address shown in the clip towards the end (jcline@wggb.com)

The snake that was referred to as an Anaconda by your "expert" is actually a Bull snake..Which also happens to be indiginous to the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake

Oh and yeah,the person that was keeping it obviously didn't understand proper caging
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Charles Glaspie
picasaweb.google.com/coldthumb

All the press cares is to make snakes look bad because they are all scared of them and dont understand them. News articles like this are a waste of time and they just want people to be scared.

Your right though, they will just ignore you because to them you are just some guy that called in and they have an "expert"!!

I live in west michigan and last month some kid brought in his 3 foot male ball to school an left it in his locker for the night and the janitor found it and said that as soon as he looked at it it went into "attack mode"!!!!! oooohhh watch out for the scary ball python!
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1.3.2 normals, 1.3.1 pastels, 0.1 mojave, 0.1 pinstripe, 0.1 albino, 1.0 yellow belly, 1.1 het pied, 1.0 amelanistic corn, 0.1 normal corn, 2.1 miniture dachshunds, 0.1 beautiful fiance
*snakes are like oreos, no one can just have one!*

I just finished talking with someone at the news dept. from the TV station in question. His attitude was I was bothering him and that it's no big deal. I also mentioned the photo of an Anaconda and the snake in the video and how they look nothing alike. His words were one dept handles video and another handles graphics or whatever, but the point being they don't share information. Also ask why they didn't check to make sure what the idiot was saying was accurate and he said we have to believe those who say to be expert's blah blah. Ask to talk to the main news guy to get them to do a correction story and have left a message. Doubt this idiot will call me back but I will be calling him every day until he talks with me. This is just indicative of how bad a job news organization are doing these day's. If Watergate were to happen today it wouldn't make the front page. Yet back in 1972 it won two reporters Pulitzers and the Washington Post also was awarded a Pulitzer.

Sorry it was in 1974 not 1972.

Just Like the type of snake they found, this news cast is just a bunch of bull.

What a sad group of experts.

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

Well, that exterminator may be an expert at bugs, but he certainly doesn't have a clue about snakes.

Though I have to admit who ever owned that bull snake, isn't a very good keeper if he couldn't even set up a secure cage for it. It wouldn't take much for it to push the plexiglass over even with that piece of cement to hold it down.

The news story certainly makes the reporter look like a total moron too. Kind of like saying a Siberian tiger was found loose in an apartment and they show a ginger tabby kitten being put into a cat carrier.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/pac/pac_agents_cvd.htm
E-mail address

TSupinski@braman.biz
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Thanks and Take Care
Thomas Jones
sweetpetsshop2@yahoo.com

Personally, I like how they say that anacondas can measure up to 18-24 feet... when the longest that I've ever heard of was 28 feet. So make that more close to 30 and you've got it. I suppose 6-12 feet off isn't so bad, right?

If i got scared every time a snake hissed at me, I would have never been able to get started loving them!
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Teresa
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3.0 Dogs (2.0 Chihuahuas, 1.0 Toy Poodle)
1.5 Cats
1.0 Cockatiel
1.0 Indonesian Blue tongue skink

Ball Pythons
0.1 100% Het Albino (Watsini)
1.0 Pastel (Sweets)
0.1 Spider (Daisy)

That is the WORST piece of GARBAGE EVER!!!!!

Nature's Creatures????

KILL CRUSH DESTROY.....

C... I... L.... L.... mi Lanlord

INBRED IDIOTS
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"Satan™" is a registered trademark of NERD, Inc. Any copyright infringement is punishable by ETERNAL DAMNATION and some other terrible stuff.

I called and left a message....
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"Satan™" is a registered trademark of NERD, Inc. Any copyright infringement is punishable by ETERNAL DAMNATION and some other terrible stuff.

and they replied they are working on a retraction story today.

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Jon
Cold Blooded Addiction

We seriously need to not let such things go and at least try to show reality and EDUCATE the willing....and FORCE the unwilling to at least try to be as smart as a third grader!

It is the only thing we can do, if we don't try then we are beaten already!!!

I wonder if the News Station cares? Would think NOT!!!!

SATAN
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"Satan™" is a registered trademark of NERD, Inc. Any copyright infringement is punishable by ETERNAL DAMNATION and some other terrible stuff.

AMEN. I sent an email and ill give them a call.
Isn't it sad that a 15 year old knows more than the "licensed" exterminator?
I was referring to myself, if you didn't catch it.
Im so tired of seeing this crap. It makes me sick. How could someone be so dumb? "Inbred Idiots", as Kevin would say..
Also, its been a while since Ive talked to you Kevin! Like 3-4 years?
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Got Balls?
Josh Molone

Time flies when your DUMB!

Well, when your trying to deal with so many issues....

Fifteen years old now? You have a long way to go and I wonder how much gas will be when you should be retiring and collecting Social Security but there is none because of the WEAKNESS that is our GOVT.

That guy just has no excuse for such Idiotic LYING!

SANTA
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"Satan™" is a registered trademark of NERD, Inc. Any copyright infringement is punishable by ETERNAL DAMNATION and some other terrible stuff.

Hah, yeah. Im starting to drive and such. Expanding my Ball Python Collection too!
Me and my dad have been making our homeade rack system. Full with Direct Logic 06 PLC, programmed with temps to heat tape, connected to a bunch of nice probes. My dad really like to make things complicated. Were building our own Scada sytem to control all temps from anywhere in the US, from any computer or BlackBerry, touch screen monitor, and all this crazy crap!
Its a blast. Spendin time with the father, and messing with BPS!
Hows NERD been going?
And darn our stupid Goverment!
Or as I like to say, "The Reign of Obama".
That was a joke, lol.
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Got Balls?
Josh Molone

Spoke to Rob who is either the manager or owner. Very nice man, he had only a vague idea about the story but listened to my criticism of his "Expert". I now have sent him a link to the story so he can see what we are seeing. He was agreeable to not wanting his employees to pretend to know something and preaching to others. I explained a bit about "our" plight with reptiles in the news and the skewed facts that only hurt the public's version of snakes. I give him credit since he was reasonable and did not get defensive and allowed me to explain how such things were TERRIBLE. He will look at the video and then speak to his employee. His employee had way too many incorrect things to say and now it has become "fact" in so many people's eyes!

To us a man is describing the terror of a Firetruck running out of control into a heavy foot traffic traffic area and pointing at a Big Wheel as it leaves a trail of Rogue Metal Carnage!

Just the way the snake was being handled was less than kind... I would have loved to have taken that snake away from him and then hand it to a five year old child to show off the extreme danger that snake poses!
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"Satan™" is a registered trademark of NERD, Inc. Any copyright infringement is punishable by ETERNAL DAMNATION and some other terrible stuff.

Thank you Satan!!!
This just proves that the public in general are "MINDLESS SHEEP" and will swallow anything that the media spoonfeeds them!

SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!

Dave
High End Royal Pythons

Thank you Kevin.
I think its good when one of big breeders can take their time to confront these kind of situations.
Even if the news station, or expert catcher dont care. Getting out the real information is the way to go
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Dave

15.24 brbs
4.8 crbs
Im an aussie in an arctic environment
Helsinki, Finland

I just may have more fancy snakes that still mess up their cages the same as your's do!

I HATE this total ignorance and I want to SCREAM when I see this stuff.....

We are never gong to accomplish anything when we are so easily "victimized" by such mud raking!!!!

It is as if there was an intentional SMEAR Campaign against Reptile Addicts.

When that Exterminator comes down here I will add a new ring to HELL!!!

SATANANA
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"Satan™" is a registered trademark of NERD, Inc. Any copyright infringement is punishable by ETERNAL DAMNATION and some other terrible stuff.

Even if somebody knew nothing about snakes saw the video, they should at last be able to notice the picture of one snake looks nothing like the snake that was caught in the lady's apartment. The color is all wrong, the girth is all wrong, the scale structure is all wrong...kind of like comparing a watermelon to an apple.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

Yes, but the general public is stupid. 16 years of customer service jobs has made me realize there is no limit to the stupidity of the general public.

I've met people who are convinced that ALL snakes are "poisonous". I've met people who ask me if I am afraid of my giant ball pythons killing me while I sleep.
I once met a guy who told me he owned a rattlesnake/python hybrid...when he showed me a pic...it was a carpet python. (head desk...)
To some people...a snake is a snake.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

np
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Proud supporter of USARK and Kingsnake.com
“We stand together or we fall apart”

Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid"
David Coverdale

As I mentioned the assistant head of the news dept. had an attitude that it was no big deal that they got it wrong. His words were it was a really simple story and not like the incorrect reporting had caused harm to it's viewers. Basically I was making a mountain out of a mole hill and felt it was not worthy of his or anyone else's time beyond what had been devoted to the story already. The conversation took place the same day I saw the thread but it looks like over the next few day's, so many people made contact that they made the correction. I'm so seriously proud and happy to the hilt that we as a group made an impact in the positive. Take care and wishing all a most joyous and productive season to come. Andrew

Andrew,

i agree, our efforts had an impact, great job!

best wishes, Kyle
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Proud supporter of USARK and Kingsnake.com
“We stand together or we fall apart”

Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid"
David Coverdale

Someone should cross post this on the Pine/Bull/Gopher board. They'd be interested for sure and could join the bandwagon of letting the news station know they can't just do stories like this without knowing all the facts. What a disturbing thing to watch. From the horrid cage to the way he was holding it up by the neck to the bad facts, wow. One of the worst I've ever seen. I would feel bad for the snakes owner if not for the horrible caging situation. That wasn't the news peoples fault I know but airing things as facts that are outright lies should be against some kind of news regulations. I would like to see the retraction when they do it. Hope someone can find it and share a link.
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.

Have you been hugged by your snake today?

Ball Pythons
1.1 100% het Caramel Albinos (Edward & Bella)
0.1 66% ph Caramel Albino (Rosalie)
0.1 Caramel Albino (Bellatrix)
1.0 Butterscotch Ghost (Nick)
1.0 Honey Bee (Aragog)
0.1 Pastel Orange Ghost (Nagini)
0.1 Spider 66% ph Ghost(Nymphadora)
1.1 Mojaves (Lucius & Renesme)
0.1 Pastel Lesser (Narcissa)
0.1 Pinstripe (Arwen)
1.0 Pewter (Salazar)
0.1 Bumble Bee (Alice)
0.1 Lemonblast (Luna)
0.1 Blond Pastel (Katie)
1.0 Bell Pastel (Jasper)
0.1 African Dinker (Esme)
0.1 Normal (Madame Olympe Maxime)
0.0.3 Baby 66% ph Caramel Albinos (Edward x Bella)
0.0.3 Eggs in the incubator (Jasper x Esme)

Corns
1.1 het Amel, Anery, Charcoal, Bloodred (Romeo & Juliet)
1.0 Blizzard het Bloodred poss het Anery Lav (Tumnus)
0.1 Anery Lav (Lucy)
0.1 Plasma (Victoria)
0.1 Opal (Jewel)
0.0.22 Babies (Romeo x Juliet)
0.0.18 Babies (Tumnus x Lucy)

Hogs
1.0 Albino Western (Hogwarts)
0.1 het Albino Western (Hufflepuff)
0.1 Tri Color (Molly)

Someone should introduce a bill that forces news agencies to dedicate the same amount of news time or space to retract blatant inaccuracies. In other words the same full page or minutes of the COMPLETE news report would be required to show just how stupid they really are and that their only intention was to misinform the public for the sake of ratings and sensationalism. If they all had to retract using the same space it wouldn't be long before they really thought out these stories and started reporting the true facts. Time and space MONEY!

Oh yeah, and they would also have to end every retraction with, "We reported the story inaccurately because WE ARE COMPLETE IDIOTS! And that's the truth."
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www.ballpython.ca

I emailed them and told them that their "expert" needs to do some research before he talks and that the reptile industry and reptile keepers face enough negative stigma without "professional" reporters spreading misinformation.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

"as long as it's YOUR ass on the line and not ours!!".

god, i hate the press.

I don't know if this video has already been posted, but the news channel not only did a redaction, they did a short piece speaking to a few (real) snake experts. They still have the original article and video on their website, but it's nice that they turned their misreporting into a cute pro-snake piece.

Here's the video if you haven't seen it yet
The Great Snake Debate