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

[fl_orchidslave]

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.

The ecological issues came to the forefront when federal dollars for Everglade restoration projects were threatened, then cut. Sen. Bill Nelson started reaching for straws and found $$ from animal activist groups to propogate fear as a means of generating public support which quickly turned to attacking the exotic animal trade. There are hundreds, if not thousands of both non-native plant and animal species that have found a comfy home in south Florida. The only organized group they could find to pin it on was the pet trade. If it becomes a federal law, the Lacey Act designation, the Everglades stands to gain millions of dollars for years to come. The state law isn't really a bad thing, as controls have become necessary, but as you pointed out, the climate in most of the country isn't as hospitable as Florida to many of these species to live in the wild. Recent studies have shown more than 70% of the burmese did not survive our colder than normal winter this past year. If the pet industry could effectively educate people to surrender rather than release, the laws would not be necessary. It's not for a lack of effort. Unfortunately too many don't pay attention until it's too late, and their cute little turtle has outgrown it's 10gal tank so they set if free to be happy in the wild.

 

[Tony C]

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.

Oregon law prohibits all but five species of Caudates for that reason, along with many other amphibians and reptiles.

 

[Dron2124]

i Seen a whole national geographic program on this problem. Living in Florida i have herd of a lot of crazy shit going on down int eh glades with pythons and killing animals that are endangered and that are getting eat by an animal that is not even suppost to be there.