Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Some recent posts really got me thinking...

A TON of reptile breeders live in Florida…and many people have inquired into the status of various breeders and their facilities due to the hurricane. Well, I was wondering, for those that live in an area (like Florida) where tropical storms (or other natural disasters) occassionally hit, do you reinforce the structure of your facility or building? or take other precautionary measures? Naturally, I have this image of detached garages, sheds or other buildings being blown away and 100's of reptiles either killed or released into the wild.

Well, what happens when an entire collection of selectively bred corns (or any herp) with genetic mutations or hets are accidentally released into the wild....In upcoming years, should we expect to see new breeders claiming to have produced new strains of existing morphs due simply to catching one of these escaped herps? Not to mention what effect this could have on wild populations. I know Florida is a well known hotspot for alien species already and I know that no one intends for this type of emergency but do some of you plan or prepare for an emergency like this in some way? There are so many unforeseen things that can occur and as we all know, owning reptiles is not a right, but a privelage which is constantly under threat and scrutiny. Therefore, its important to always think ahead and learn from others' experiences in matters like this. Please share your wisdom or emergency procedures, if you have any...
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Sincerely,
Jason
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www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

Well, I live up here in Panama City...we got hit by the HORRIBLE (insert sarcasam) tropical storm Bonnie! I keep a couple small sterilite boxes that I can easily carry with me to put my snakes in, in case of any emergency such as that. So far I haven't had to evac. in the 8 years i've been here (fingers crossed). Honestly, I do have to say I will put my dogs in a priority to the snakes, but that's only in the situation where I could take one but not the other. Few shelters around here accept cats and dogs, so it's really up to where you can find someone to take the snakes for you.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
1) Female Licorice Stick Black Ratsnake - Lola
2) Neonate Black Ratsnake (Het for Lic Stk's) - Frankie
3 & 4) 2 Bairds Ratsnakes - Rosie and Jose

I bounce around a lot of forums here and was also curious. What really had me wondering was all of the hots being kept. I read one post about big hot keeper and they said he had his snakes in a fortress, but how many others aren't as responsible as he is. I think it is crazy reading about burms and snakes like that already creeping around Florida, imagine what could happen during one of these storms. It kind of brings to light the debates found on the hybrid/morph forums and why many are oppossed.
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0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn (Cosmo '03)
0.1 Baird's ratsnake (Sugaree '04)
1.1 Shepherd mix (Dylan 5yrs, Porter 20weeks)

I guess that is how natural selection and evolution happen in the wild, species get distrubuted due to natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, ect. They either survive, push out previously native species, or perish. Because of man's transport of species around the world, we have African bees out west, non-native fire ants and kudzu in the Southeast, and pythons, caimans, and monitors living and reproducing in South Florida. I am sure somewhere down there, there have been many different species let loose. It is a scary thought that someone could be cleaning up debris and come across a mamba, cobra, or similar. I have heard stories of folks buying cobras up here in NC, getting sick of them, and letting them go in the woods. Fortunately, they cannot survive the winter here. I am sure that in a few years, folks will begin seeing some very interesting "wild morphs" down there.
As far as emegency procedures, I live up in the NC mountains, and my big worry is when the power goes out in Winter. It happened last year when it was in the 20's outside and I had to pack my 12 snakes and monitor up in smaller sterlite containers and find a hotel with power. Are they having problems with too much heat and no ac down there now? A sad story - one Christmas my wife and I went to visit her mother. I asked her to turn the heat "down". She turned it "off". We came back to a 34 degree house. Unbelieveably, a blacktail cribo and two glades rats survived, but the ball python died. Only the python had heating in it's cage.

sorry to hear about your python dying...but there is a big problem with non-native species in florida. I, myself, have come across multiple non-natives species around my house and some friends. I actually killed this one snake who chased my friends dog and killed it, later to find out it was a green mamba. turns out the guy down the street just got bored with it and let it go in the woods behind the houses and thought since it was warm it would be fine and with all the woods and the creek it wouldnt ever bother people....I actually had a black rat in my backyard (they don't come this far down naturally), and a lot of morphs out there that are far from natural, lol. There was this guy on the news who ran a zoo, and he closed it down, and he got arrested because he let ALL his snakes out....hot and non-venemous...along with other animals not native down here. Sad how ignorant so many people are in this area.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
1) Female Licorice Stick Black Ratsnake - Lola
2) Neonate Black Ratsnake (Het for Lic Stk's) - Frankie
3 & 4) 2 Bairds Ratsnakes - Rosie and Jose

a couple years ago we were having the big ice storm here in new york, and the power was out for days. I just had my bearded dragon then, so once my room hit 60, I packed him up in a rubbermaid container and set him near the fireplace (I tyed the cantainer to a couple of chairs so the cat wouldn't accidently knock it over or something). By the last morning of the 3 or 4 (?) days I spent without power, heat, anything, even the fireplace (actually a woodburning stove) wouldn't keep things warm enough, and my bearie's temperature reached just about 55 degrees. Then, luckily, the power came back on, and he was able to get back under the heat lamps. That was the scariest thing about the whole ordeal, worrying about what would happen if Sydney got too cold. I also had to go down in the basement every twenty minutes to pump water from the sump pump to the drain so the basement didn't flood, which would ruin my music equipment that's worth thousands of dollars. I wasn't too worried about that though, because we have insurance for that. Losing my lizard would have been terrible.

It is important to all reptile owners to note that emergency shelters will take animals -- that includes Red Cross, FEMA, and Salvation Army. Reptile owners must make alternative plans in advance. Consider going to a hotel or a friend's home that is a safe distance away.

Keep a transportation container (bag, deli cup, etc.) for each one of your reptiles on hand. This is for both evacuation and trips to the vet. Styrofoam boxes are needed to keep the repitile in a semi-stable temperature, but don't expect that it will remain so for long time periods. Heat packs or cool packs may be needed.

THE BEST material for building construction that is rated for hurricanes and tornatoes is insulated concrete forms. Homes, storm shelters and commercial building can be built from these. http://www.forms.org/product_info/index.html

Generators for your heating and cooling system is important for anyone who is caught at home without electricity and has reptiles. (you may have to decide what is more important -- your refridgerator or your herps)

I can go on and on about what is needed to prepare for a disaster when one has reptiles. Think ahead of what you need and have things ready.

I don't really think there is a lot you can really do.I remember killing myself before Hurricane Andrew putting up heavy plywood over all my windows.We had only minor damage this far north,BUT when I saw the photos of the direct hits in Kendall,I realized I pretty much wasted my time, as the whole roof probably would have gone,along with the plywood, in a direct hit.Charley seems the same.
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.