Posted on 03/15/2010 12:46:53 PM PDT by JoeProBono
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed last Friday to add nine constrictor snake species, including Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, boa constrictors, and yellow and green anacondas, to the list of injurious reptiles, which would prohibit the importation of any live animal, gamete, viable egg, or hybrid into the United States except by permit for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes, and also would prohibit their interstate transportation. While FWS will accept comments on the proposal until May 11, it already received 1,528 comments during a 2008 public comment period held after the South Florida Water Management District in 2006 requested that Burmese pythons be considered for the list.
Some of these are giant snakes growing to more than 20 feet in length, and some of the species, including Burmese pythons, are already established in South Florida. FWS wants to stop them from becoming established in new areas where the climate suits them, such as far south Texas. Five of the species have been reported in the wild in Puerto Rico.
The number of Burmese pythons caught and removed from Everglades National Park in Florida and nearby areas has grown steadily since 2000, with 1,334 of these snakes removed during 2000-2009, according to the park's online annual tally. Park officials say the number being caught probably represent only a fraction of the total population of Burmese pythons in the area.
Did John Edwards’ legal career make the list?
What the heck? why not...
They gotta do something to collect their fat govt paychecks
Talk about closing the barn door after the horse is already out.
They will have to take my reticulated python from my cold dead hand. atr - David Carradine.
Why do we still sing “land of the free”? It’s such a joke.
There’s already a solution out there in places: open hunting. Lots of people will be willing to go after these critters for their meat and skins.
“There’s already a solution out there in places: open hunting. Lots of people will be willing to go after these critters for their meat and skins.”
Excellent...now we have 2 votes, can I get a third?
Without “Carville” the list is invalid.
You would think they would be welcome in New Orleans where the nutria make swiss cheese out of the levees with their burrows.
I thought those little green turtles were injurious by spreading Salmonella. They too are only for “educational” purposes and are in every pet store.
I love the snakes they are talking about and have had them as pets. But I would never release one. Perhaps there is another solution to make it more difficult to possess one of these snakes or limit ownership to responsible people. I dunno...
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