Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi again all,

Let me thank everyone for their generous help as I've posted questions to this site over the past six months. You have helped bring me from an ignorant, but interested, wannabe herper to someone who is preparing to actively step out against the constricting snake ban in my city.

I am going to propose a revision of the ban on constricting snakes, but I am unsure whether I should aim for a complete removal of the ban or an amendment (such as, banning all constrictors over a certain length, or even only specific species). Remember, anything will be better than the current law which bans *ALL* constricting snakes regardless of size or genus. This includes all boids and almost all members of Colubridae available in the trade.

Does anyone have any suggestions and reasons why they would take a particular course of action? Any reliable statistics on deaths from constrictors, average size of constricting snakes, etc (with sources)? Anything you guys have used in the past to persuade your city to change an ordinance?

Please reply as soon as you can. I really appreciate any help you can offer!!

Be careful of the wording. I think they would be amenable to allowing snakes up to the size of a boa constrictor, if they can see an adult boa and understand their actual size. If they allow you to show them such an animal, it will go a long way toward achieving your goal. It's very difficult for some people to visualize a 10 foot long snake. If the boa is too big for them, show them a ball python.

If the ban is altered to include snakes over a certain length, be sure that the wording is "snakes that have an adult size over XX long", and not just "snakes over XX long". Otherwise, pet stores will be selling baby burms and retics and folks will keep the snakes, then be forced to get rid of them once they reach a certain length--NOT behavior you want to encourage.

That's a great idea. I'm sure I can get someone to work in conjunction with me to get snakes to show in person. What would be the best way to persuade them to let me bring in an actual animal?

Good point on the wording, too. I'll be sure to be careful.