Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering, if and when boa constrictors and burms are made illegal what will the big breeders do with their collections? A 500-snake colony is usually not economically feasible without income being made off the snakes. How will these people get rid of their animals if they have to? Would people have to euthanize (I hate that word)?

crocacutus

I believe they can still sell within their state.

But yes, no doubt many snakes will be killed due to the economics of the situation. I hate the word euthanized too.

I also think that those who hold onto their animals will be in the best place if the law gets turned around.

Funny thing, I can go to downtown Los Angeles and watch street vendors sell baby turtles and baby bunnies that are dying from heat, lack of food and neglect - and the best the city law enforcement can do is tell them to leave and/or cite them (but the tickets are useless - you don't really have to pay if you are not a legal citizen.) But they will do what they can to save the world from the dangerous, ecosystem-killing boa constrictor.

BTW, why are snakes able to live in the Glades? Because there is food in the form of rodents. And why? Because the original predator base has been largely wiped out over the decades by man. So the snakes are doing what the other predators were doing. And this is going to destroy the Glades? I don't even get that.
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Mark

If it were going to destroy the Everglades, the population would not be sustainable. Frankly, I find it hard to believe there is enough prey there to support so many large pythons. Of course, Burmese pythons occur in relatively high population densities in their native range considering their size, because they can go so long without eating.

Personally, I think a bad frost will kill off most of the pythons. And claiming that something as heat-dependent as an anaconda or African rock python is just ridiculous. If you haven't read it already, I highly recommend the Barkers' paper on the subject.

And since you bring up rodent pop. increase in the Everglades ...

Look up the nutria, an invasive rodent common in much of the south. It is considered a pest, but I know of no control attempts being made because the fur is used for commerce. Also, the nutria introduction was partly what helped bring back the alligators from endangerment.

crocacutus

I still believe this ban will not pass. Too many influential and financially capable people are on our side.

And as I said before, if that's the real reason then banning or restricting pythons north of a certain equatorial line would be unconstitutional.

If it came down to it (which it wont), I'd never let them touch my pets.

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