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N.C. clamps down on deadly, exotic snakes
charlotteobserver ^ | Jul. 10, 2009 | Kevin Kiley

Posted on 07/10/2009 7:01:32 AM PDT by JoeProBono

The Burmese python can grow longer than 20 feet, produce several dozen offspring in a litter and devour small children and pets. In North Carolina, they have a new natural enemy: the lawmaker.

There could be thousands of exotic, deadly snakes slithering loose in the state with the potential to harm not just people and animals, but entire ecosystems. But the legislature is likely to give final approval next week to a bill that would restrict the ownership and prevent the escape of venomous and large constrictor snakes, as well other dangerous reptiles.

The bill adds provisions to a law that hasn't been updated since 1949, when large snakes were less of a problem. In the intervening decades, perhaps abetted by Alice Cooper, Nastassja Kinski and Jake the Snake of the World Wrestling Federation, the reptiles have gained a certain popularity as household pets.

The bill, which received preliminary approval Thursday, would require these reptiles to be housed and transported in escape-proof containers and would punish people for violating safety precautions.

While it seems like common sense to not let deadly animals escape, that hasn't stopped it from happening.

“Snakes are escape artists,” said Andy Wood, an education director for the N.C. Audubon Society, who has handled snakes since he was young. “And they escape due to human error.”

In North Carolina, Wood said he regularly sees evidence of these escaped creatures in the wild, and that there could be a thousand slithering around the state.

He once found the skin of a 20-foot python under a house, where it had survived the winter.

‘They're not pets'

Snakes slithering free can do serious harm.

On July 1, a 2-year-old in Florida was strangled to death in her crib by a 9-foot-long Burmese python. The animal, which belonged to the toddler's mother's boyfriend, wasn't properly kept and escaped from its aquarium.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: nc; python; reptiles; snake


1 posted on 07/10/2009 7:01:32 AM PDT by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono

A law is not going to “prevent the escape....”.


2 posted on 07/10/2009 7:08:20 AM PDT by NEMDF
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To: NEMDF

3 posted on 07/10/2009 7:09:21 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

Who in the world would want a snake? They are unpredictable.
I’ll stick to my cats and dog.


4 posted on 07/10/2009 7:11:49 AM PDT by coconut47
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To: All

5 posted on 07/10/2009 7:12:22 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: coconut47

Not only that, but invasive and non-native species have wreaked havoc upon native plants and animals.


6 posted on 07/10/2009 7:25:18 AM PDT by 12Gauge687 (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice)
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To: JoeProBono

And what would the penalty be for allowing a dangerous reptile to get loose? What would the penalty be for failing to keep a dangerous reptile secure? What would be the penalty for releasing a dangerous reptile into the wild?


7 posted on 07/10/2009 7:33:00 AM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel
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To: JoeProBono

what is that?


8 posted on 07/10/2009 7:36:13 AM PDT by wardaddy (Proudly Anti-Abortion, not and will never be Pro-Life...........Sarah Palin, there is no substitute)
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To: JoeProBono

having a big constrictor around a toddler unsupervised is not wise


9 posted on 07/10/2009 7:36:45 AM PDT by wardaddy (Proudly Anti-Abortion, not and will never be Pro-Life...........Sarah Palin, there is no substitute)
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To: JoeProBono

About 10 ears ago I briefly considered the possibility of getting a boa constrictor. Then I read about what it entailed, inlcuing an 80 degree climatge controlled terrarium and constant cleaning of both snake waste and mildew. Pythons, being far larger, are much worse. Anyone who chooses to own one of those giant snakes, even if it is an excellent, tractable pet, will discover it actually owns him.


10 posted on 07/10/2009 7:42:21 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: NEMDF

“...a bill that would restrict the ownership and prevent the escape of venomous and large constrictor snakes, as well other dangerous reptiles.”

How is the bill going to prevent the escape...? Are the snakes supposed to read it? I mean, none of the snakes in congress do!


11 posted on 07/10/2009 7:49:31 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: JoeProBono

>> On July 1, a 2-year-old in Florida was strangled to death in her crib by a 9-foot-long Burmese python.

Well, that’s different. Most of the numb-nuts who own these things in South Florida just truck ‘em out to the ‘Glades and dump ‘em when they get too big. How about turning them into dog food instead?


12 posted on 07/10/2009 7:50:02 AM PDT by QBFimi (When gunpowder speaks, beasts listen.)
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To: wardaddy

>what is that?

“Beast versus Beats, its a grudge match at the top of the food chain in the Miami everglades. A 13 foot Burmese python literally exploded after it bit off more than it could chew trying to swallow a six foot alligator, which was both whole and alive at the time.

The left over bits or evidence was filmed by a biologist in a helicopter.”


13 posted on 07/10/2009 8:00:49 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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