Florida S318 passes committee...

[Ratman667]

Today's email from USARK...

Today the Florida Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee held a hearing to consider S318. Despite over 3700 emails generated by the USARK campaign opposing S318 the Florida Senate gave it a favorable rating and passed it out of Committee. USARK is very disappointed that more consideration and debate was not given this bill prior to being passed.

Another bill, S572 sponsored by Committee Chairman Constantine, was also given a favorable rating and passed out of Committee with little debate. Apparently text of this bill was not complete until late last night, and was not available for review prior to the Committee hearing. This bill is reported to address stricter penalties for violation Reptiles of Concern (ROC) statutes, as well as permits for dealers making internet sales into the state of Florida.

USARK is very concerned that these two bills passed with so little consideration and debate. We urge the Florida Senate to heed the recommendations of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the ROC TAG Committee commissioned to provide viable solutions. Currently we believe these bills represent the potential for economic and environmental disaster for the State of Florida. Hopefully a constructive dialogue can be engaged and a more pragmatic bill be substituted prior to a floor vote.

USARK will continue to engage the bill sponsors, Committee Leadership and Committee Staff to protect the rights of Florida Keepers to own and trade reptiles legally.

Here is the committee packet from today's hearing.

 

[maximusx6910]

This is what happens when we have reptile owners that either don't know what they are doing. They just buy what they want because its cool or something of the moment. They don't put into consideration of the future. This bill will spread through the south east.

 

[herpencounter]

This is what happens when we have reptile owners that either don't know what they are doing. They just buy what they want because its cool or something of the moment. They don't put into consideration of the future. This bill will spread through the south east.

I am almost sure that the majority of invasive snake species in the United States are the result of the unintentional release by the food industry, unintentional transference by the shipping industry, and hurricane Andrew in 1992 when zoos and homes lost many of their pets and animals. Big constrictors where first seen in the everglades in the early 1950s, most likely due to the food and shipping industries.


Careless pet owners don't help.


Josiah.

 

[maximusx6910]

I am almost sure that the majority of invasive snake species in the United States are the result of the unintentional release by the food industry, unintentional transference by the shipping industry, and hurricane Andrew in 1992 when zoos and homes lost many of their pets and animals. Big constrictors where first seen in the everglades in the early 1950s, most likely due to the food and shipping industries.


Careless pet owners don't help.


Josiah.

I agree with the hurricanes. I watched a program they were talking about how he has found a total of 30 king cobras in his career.

 

[goReptiles]

I saw something online a while back that said the majority of the wild boas in Florida was caused by the destruction of a reptile shop in Florida. I forget which hurricane the article said caused it. It was probably Andrew, but I'm not sure, as they said that the snakes have been able to produce many offspring. I think it started with like 30 and now there are tons. I can't really remember.

 

[latshki]

pythons have been in the glades for thirty years and we are just making a fuss of it now
I honestly think that we should be protecting land from our greed rather than a few snakes
people are angry that birds and stuff are being eaten by snakes yet they don't care that their subdivision killed thousands of animals in the process of it's construction and will only continue to do so

I also find it funny how it is illegal to kill or harvest these invasives