In 2001, I had the opportunity to visit Sanibel and Ft. Myers at X-mas, New Years. I was a mazed at the number of different animals I saw in the week I was there that were just out and about. Alligators in the back yard, corn snakes in the bushes, anoles every where! I hope to get to go back again when it is a bit warmer so I can see a lot more animals. The highlight of the trip was getting to visit Kathy Loves' facility and to get a great tour and just getting to talk to her about breeding and keeping snakes
One thing really stuck out about Hoppy's posyt and that was the number and diversity of introduced species that have adapted to the climate there. I know Hoppy wasn't in support of releasing animals into the wild, so please don't take this post that way, but as cool as it would be to see boa and other boid populations in your own area of the country, it really hurts not only the native populations but also all responsible herpers. Being from Ohio where we have a department of natural resources that opperates similar to the Gestapo, hearing of species being introduced really worries me. In Ohio, it is illegal to own or capture ANY reptile that is deemed native without PIT tagging the animal and registering yourself and animals with the state. Oh yeah, if you want to breed any of these animals, you need a permit for that too, and you better keep d@mn good records. Red eared slider turtles are considered a native species here even though they were introduced to this area. Being primarily a colubrid, mainly cornsnskes, keeper,it kills me to hear of people letting corns go free here. I have no doubt that they could become established and deemed a native species which would really hurt not only me, but any breeder who keeps and breeds corns. I know that I don't really have to tell anyone here not to release animals in areas where they don't occur naturally, but just felt it needed to be said.
And Hoppy, the next time I'm down in your area, I may give you a hollar to go see your spot!
Thanks,
Rick S.
