Florida Gov. Crist signs bill banning Burmese pythons and 6 other reptiles as pets

[JordanAng420]

We all knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of when. It has finally happened.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/fl-crist-pythons-20100604,0,2740048.story

TALLAHASSEE Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a bill banning the ownership of Burmese pythons and other reptiles, and a bill requiring tracking of over-the-counter ephedrine sales.

The reptile bill (SB 318) signed Thursday prohibits importation and personal ownership of seven non-native species.

Burmese pythons have become a problem in the wild when they escape or are released. One killed a 2-year-old Sumter County girl last year as she was sleeping.

The pythons can grow as long as 20 feet.

In the Everglades, pythons that escaped from pet shops during hurricanes or were released by owners who grew tired of them are threatening the region's balance of species.

Florida wildlife officials have licensed trappers to kill pythons. Since 2000, more than 1,200 of the snakes have been removed from Everglades National Park alone. In January, 25 Burmese pythons were captured in South Florida by water management workers.

Over the past three decades, about 1 million constrictors such as the Burmese have been imported into the United States.

The ephedrine law (SB 1050) is designed to help catch those who use of the substance for making illegal methamphetamine.

Crist also signed bills loosening Florida seaport regulations so they'll be more competitive with ports in other states (HB 963) and lifting restrictions on siting homes for developmentally disabled people (SB 1166).

 

[Reptile Ryan]

The ephedrine law (SB 1050) is designed to help catch those who use of the substance for making illegal methamphetamine.

(SB 1166).

What is that in there for??

And even if you ban them people will still get them. It will just add a certin allure to the species like oooh its illegal . I think they should have gone with permits before a all out ban.

 

[T-ReXx]

And it begins..

 

[BrilliantEraser]

What were the other banned species? This doesn't bode well for the hobby.

 

[T-ReXx]

Burmese Python, Reticulated Python, Green Anaconda, African Rock Python(Both subspecies), Amethystine(Scrub) Python, Indian Python and the Nile Monitor.

 

[MiamiLeos]

Honestly I've always felt that certain reptile species such as large pythons, iguanas, and large monitors should need a permit to be owned and serious consequences for those who choose to bypass said permit. Not only do I feel this is beneficial for the animals since many are not properly cared for, but I feel it would be better for the local wildlife as well.

 

[gixxer3420]

Can you blame Florida for doing this? Look at the problem they are having with the pythons down there. To me we are our own worst enemy. Reptile keepers of this snake that could not take care of them and then ended up letting them go in the Florida wild. Its sad that it had to some to this. I agree they should have at least came out with having to have permits before all out banning them.

 

[robin]

Honestly I've always felt that certain reptile species such as large pythons, iguanas, and large monitors should need a permit to be owned and serious consequences for those who choose to bypass said permit. Not only do I feel this is beneficial for the animals since many are not properly cared for, but I feel it would be better for the local wildlife as well.

this isn't necessarily about that but whats next corn snakes. sand boas, what about leopard geckos. this could effect the ENTIRE hobby.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Wonderful example of the governmental machine in action-

bad policy, in response to a problem, probably just to say they did something, and that policy will only worsen things.

Where do they think all these now "illegal" snakes are gonna go?

BING! You guessed it, the backyard.

The snakes have already been introduced and are reproducing. Banning them will only make it worse.

 

[T-ReXx]

A lot of the pythons in Florida may not have been released pets actually, many were escapees from pet stores and animal dealers during the hurricane.

That being said, I do believe that some sort of policing in necessary for owners of potentially dangerous reptiles like large constrictors and monitors. I do not, however, feel a blanket ban is the way to deal with this. Punishing the reptile owners who house and care for their animals responsibly alongside those who don't is an unfair and misguided policy. At this point I suspect more states will adopt these laws, potentially moving it to a federal level. And from there, other exotics may be added to the list, it's likely actually, with organizations like HSUS doing what they do. The fight isn't over now, in fact this just intensifies it.

 

[MiamiLeos]

this isn't necessarily about that but whats next corn snakes. sand boas, what about leopard geckos. this could effect the ENTIRE hobby.

There is a line of reason here... Corn snakes cant eat your neighbors dog or a juvenile alligator. I live just a few mins from the Everglades and we've had several instances of large pythons, and on one occasion an anaconda, being captured and having large alligators in their stomachs. Needless to mention the other small animals that are being eaten. About a year ago, an elderly woman was forced to watch as her neighbors escaped burmese python came into her patio and ate her pomeranian. The photos she took were astounding. Anyways, I am by no means denouncing the hobby but I am strongly on the side of reinforcemnt here. If a snake can defeat and consume a 5ft alligator, what would it make of my 3 year old nephew?

 

[Northstar Herp]

#1- Any snake that will eat a pomeranian is ok by me.

#2- Sure, it sets a precedent, but there's some common sense to what they're doing with the big pythons. They can be dangerous. There's also something very sillly about it all, too. It's one dollar short, one day late.

There's a saying that we have in the construction industry, and tell our newbies all the time-

"Do somethin', even if it's wrong. Just don't stand there doing nothing."

 

[BrilliantEraser]

I think that needing permits to own potentially dangerous animals would have been a better reaction than this knee-jerk blanket ban. And just because we don't view a corn snake as dangerous doesn't mean that the general public thinks they're nice little pets. Heck, they could even point to reptiles carrying salmonella (some of them, at least) as a reason for banning an even greater number of species. Just look back to the salmonella scare in the 1970's, when pet turtles were becoming popular.

This was supposed to have some sort of point but I'm tired and old and crotchety. Get off my dang lawn.

 

[Dog Shrink]

This is no different than the breed bans they do to dogs. Again a sensless ploy to punish the naer do wells that always backfires because those that break the law aren't going to follow a breed ban simply because they say so. It's the good guy that suffers in the long run. Honestly if they really wanted to fight this they could find out what their state law says about breed bans. I know here in Pa. State law says it's unconstitutional to impose breed bans and county law can't over ride state law. They could certainly try to make a fight against it on that level couldn't they. Use the dog presidence to help the reptile bans they're imposing.

 

[T-ReXx]

I think that needing permits to own potentially dangerous animals would have been a better reaction than this knee-jerk blanket ban. And just because we don't view a corn snake as dangerous doesn't mean that the general public thinks they're nice little pets. Heck, they could even point to reptiles carrying salmonella (some of them, at least) as a reason for banning an even greater number of species. Just look back to the salmonella scare in the 1970's, when pet turtles were becoming popular.

This was supposed to have some sort of point but I'm tired and old and crotchety. Get off my dang lawn.

Exactly. The point is, law makers and the general public make no real distinction between a burmese python and a corn snake. Or a nile monitor or a leopard gecko. A step in this direction is a step in the direction of a nationwide ban on ALL reptile species.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Because of all the recent changes in legislation, Florida Fish & Wildlife has really been on a tear at reptile shows. More than the usual looking around for venomous and checking ROC permits. We worked our tails off to make sure we had every bit of documentation required befoe the Tampa show last month. So my bf invited them over to check us out and to point out (any additional) paperwork they would be looking for. He was very nice about it all and really gave us the rundown on everything they're checking. We don't handle any special permit animals but they still want to know what is coming into the state, from where and when. We were prepared, thank goodness, but saw one vendor near us cited and another shut down. Our herp society rescue works closely with FFW on reptile rescues, and strives to educate people about the laws. I think it's a better plan to be on friendly terms rather than fearing them. Oh, they also will call and set up to buy a snake from a craigslist ad. So if you are meeting someone at a public place, take your paperwork!

As far as the burmese permits, no new ones are being issued except by educational facilities. If a current owner lapses in renewing his grandfathered permit- no renewal. My fear is a lot will be turned loose now because penalties are being levied and FFW will come looking for the snake. If there isn't a legal paper trail on where the snake was surrendered to, somebody is in trouble. FWW is making a list and checking it twice! I just hope folks can find a pet amnesty rescue ad don't release it to the wild.

 

[Eureka]

Won't this bill only hurt the responsible owners because they will be forced to give up their snakes? Irresponsible owners will either A) Not give a damn about it being illegal, thus the ban won't help or B) They will release them because it's easy, thus the ban still won't help.

 

[M_surinamensis]

Eh.

It seems more like the identification and a new legal status of species that are of, or potentially of, significant ecological concern, rather than an attack on the pet industry. The state of Florida should have bans on the ownership of a lot of tropical species, its climate is such that more introduced species represent more of a danger than they do in the greater part of the United States.

The large constrictors are being singled out because there is no analogous native species, with a similar ecological niche and similar set of predators keeping them in check. They are out-competing and consuming native species in an environment where nothing has a defense against them.

Similar bans are in place for similar reasons all over the country, just not often with reptiles because the bulk of species in the pet trade cannot survive in the outdoor conditions in most of the United States. If you take a look at the laws from state to state that regulate say... aquarium fish... you suddenly find thousands of species that are banned because they represent a potential ecological hazard. Plants, insects, mammals and birds- they are all treated like this when it is appropriate.

 

[Eureka]

That is a good point. The climate in Florida has made it possible for the species in the ban to not only survive on their own, but thrive enough to be a real problem for native wildlife and the ecosystem.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Won't this bill only hurt the responsible owners because they will be forced to give up their snakes? Irresponsible owners will either A) Not give a damn about it being illegal, thus the ban won't help or B) They will release them because it's easy, thus the ban still won't help.

I don't know the exact specifics of time frames for pre-existing owners, but if they got their permits when it became a requirement, they are grandfathered in. Burmese have to be microchipped when they reach a certain size. But no more breeding and/or sales. Officials are hot and heavy on enforcement, not just writing tickets with some hefty fines, but also arresting people. Especially if they are caught with the snake out of cage as in attempting to release. The ban *might* help, time will tell, but I think more will be released in other parts of the state other than south Florida where the population boomed in the Everglades.