Off Topic, Important: Feds Move To Ban Pythons & Boas

[NomadOfTheHills]

From Kingsnake.com:


Feds Move To Ban Pythons & Boas

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has made a significant move towards banning the importation and interstate transport of Boa Constrictors and Pythons in the United States. Quietly published in the Federal Register, the agency is accepting public comments until April 30th. If enacted this will devastate an already hard hit industry, dealing a fatal death blow to a large number of businesses dependent on this segment of the industry and drying up the supply of these pets to pet owners across the United States. Noted herpetologist, author, former zookeeper, and one of the leading private researchers and breeders of pythons in the United States, David Barker, had this to say...

This is the formal notification and request for public comments regarding the intention of USF&W Service to place ALL snakes in the genera Boa, Python, and Eunectes on the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act.

If enacted as regulation, this will ban the importation of said snakes into the USA , and ban all interstate transportation of said snakes.

There is a request made for public input and we feel it will be very important that all keepers with an interest in boas and pythons make written response before 30 April.

This is VERY important. Don’t take this lightly.



Once the importation and inter-state transport has been banned, there will be a rapid exodus of breeders of these species, and eventually they will disappear from the marketplace along with a significant number of businesses and jobs. Pet owners will feel the pinch as dry goods suppliers and caging manufacturers stop producing products for that segment of the hobby, and eventually it will be impossible to obtain a new pet boa or python.

To review the USF & W Service proposal, please look at the following document. http://kingsnake.com/FWSReview.pdf

Please note that this is a .pdf file and requires Adobe Acrobat to open and read it.


http://www.pethobbyist.com/sitenews/...hons-Boas.html

[sheslikeheroin]

holy s**t! thats bad bad news everyone on this site in america has got to act fast! where i live all constrictor snakes are banned (saltwater crocodiles aren't though, go figure). that includes wee little rosy boas. once that bill is made law no amount of lobbying or petitions will change it. herp keepers here have been trying to get our law changed since the 80's with no luck. i can understand banning huge burmese python because most people shouldnt start out with a snake that size and stores selling babies neglect to mention how big they get or they lie. then when the animals get huge they let em go into the wild( i believe theyre breeding in the everglade) but there should atleast be a permit for the big guys. everyone like Nomad I urge you guys to do something you don't want to end up like my provnce where if you caught with a ball python your entire herp collection can be taken from you. good luck.

[evil pixie]

On one hand I can understand the concern of said species of snakes being release and causing harm to native wildlife. I don't, however, think that an out-right ban is the answer.

[NomadOfTheHills]

Burms are already in the glades, banning them won't do anything.

We are in a time of economic uncertainty, and they want to destroy a multi million dollar industry... I don't understand it.

[herp boy]

Carq I ment to call to call about that today.

[Fatal_S]

In Winnipeg we have laws against any caimen, anacondas, retics, boa constrictors and a few other large species of snake. However outside the city it's pretty much legal for anything.

At the shelter we'll get someone coming in with a boa constrictor about once a month -.-' I definitely think there should be a ban on the larger species of snakes, but not everything, a ball python is one of the nicest snakes a person can have IMO.

But I guess in Manitoba, if a snake is released, it'll die over the winter, so no chances of them breeding. I hope something is done ASAP in the US to prevent this total ban. Good luck guys.

[NomadOfTheHills]

I don't think a ban is nessesary. Permits? Without a doubt. But more people are killed by labs every year than pitbulls and burms or retics combined!

The thing is, once it is these constrictors, they will move down the line, until all exotic pets are banned. Hopefully this act will be stopped in its traces!

[jasjmm27]

How can we show our distaste in this effort? Just send letters to the contacts on the document?

[NomadOfTheHills]

Yup.

[sheslikeheroin]

you guys i wish you all the luck and hope you get it stopped, and nomad your wrong more people are killed or mauled by dogs more than every species of constrictor snake in the last 10 years! and thats across north america! you guys must get that stopped write letters and complain as loud as you can. heck if it helps maybe the rest of us can try sending in letters to help. though they probly won't care about foreigners if they can be convinced of the large economic impact the ban would have they might give up. good luck

[jasjmm27]

Anyone know where we can find some good economic information in regards to the Herp industry? It would be good to compile some information and try to use it in some well thought out, bulleted, and concise letters with supporting information or sources at least...

[Zach]

I don't think a ban is nessesary. Permits? Without a doubt. But more people are killed by labs every year than pitbulls and burms or retics combined!

The thing is, once it is these constrictors, they will move down the line, until all exotic pets are banned. Hopefully this act will be stopped in its traces!

I agree, I simply don't see any real threat of any kind...

[LittleFoot]

This will get more pull in the government then any type of federal breed specific dog ban. Snakes are vilified too much and don't have a cute and cuddly rep. People in Florida and other states will probably love this law since snakes are released into the environment all the time. Heck, back in NJ, we had to stop carrying snakes at a pet store I worked at when I was in high school because one itty bitty baby ball python got loose and wound up in Sears bath room. (Oh the screams of terror, it was highly amusing, this snake was maybe 10 inches long)

We should see if any of the monthy herp magazines know about this and should publish this so it doesnt get passed.

[jasjmm27]

This will get more pull in the government then any type of federal breed specific dog ban. Snakes are vilified too much and don't have a cute and cuddly rep. People in Florida and other states will probably love this law since snakes are released into the environment all the time. Heck, back in NJ, we had to stop carrying snakes at a pet store I worked at when I was in high school because one itty bitty baby ball python got loose and wound up in Sears bath room. (Oh the screams of terror, it was highly amusing, this snake was maybe 10 inches long)

We should see if any of the monthy herp magazines know about this and should publish this so it doesnt get passed.

I agree with trying to get this published in Herp magazines and advertising it on other forums...maybe kingsnake.com, etc.?

As I mentioned in a previous post...is anyone familiar with how we can get financials on the herp trade and possible economic impact to help put together a good "fight it" document/letter?

Maybe the herp magazines/websites can help with resources to find that? I have seen on some sites that they have $XXX Million in sales posted right on the site...wonder if they can break that down at all?

[Lucifer_Spades]

Not only could this be bad economically but think of the educational ramifacations?!
How many of us had science and biology classes where we used Balls and other constricters as learning tools? In my 7th grade science class we hat two balls and 3 cornsnakes. 15 out of the 30 people in my class had previously been of the "kill all evil reptiles" type. By the end of the class 4 of them had taken home some of the cornsnakes babies and all of us were reptile enthusists. If we start banning the constrictors it's not too far before all snakes follow and then perhaps all herps!

If it hadn't been for the experiences they had in the classroom there would be 15 people still out there killing native snakes as fast as they can.
Heck even my step dad was a snake killer untill my mom brought home Lillith (a beautiful Ball) He still isn't fond of them but he no longer chases them down with lawn mowers!

This is deffinately something that needs to be nipped in the bud, but quick!

[NomadOfTheHills]

nomad your wrong more people are killed or mauled by dogs more than every species of constrictor snake in the last 10 years!

That was my point haha

[Raven_Vivi]

;O

I get putting bans on larger snakes unless you're some expert or something but ALL of them?!?! T_T

There goes my dream of having ball pythons and an albino boa constrictor...flying out the window ~_~

[NomadOfTheHills]

That is the thing. Some people are in support of large species bans. However, this just leads to more and more species being banned, from big to small.

[Fatal_S]

I support large species licensing, where you need a permit to own one. Any snake over 8 feet is technically considered dangerous to human life, and should have an experienced owner with 2 people around whenever it is handled. I've gotten this opinion from the many, many stories I've heard (a few I've known the person) where someone is stupid enough to try playing with their 12-foot boa and ends up attacked. Stupid humans. Some people are just too stupid to be allowed any pet, never mind something like a retic -.-' We actually had some guy who wanted a pet cobra, never kept a reptile in his life, and he was a total idiot about them. I don't mind the idea of him being bitten, but I don't want the snake to have to put up with him in the first place

[Lucifer_Spades]

I support large species licensing, where you need a permit to own one. Any snake over 8 feet is technically considered dangerous to human life, and should have an experienced owner with 2 people around whenever it is handled. I've gotten this opinion from the many, many stories I've heard (a few I've known the person) where someone is stupid enough to try playing with their 12-foot boa and ends up attacked. Stupid humans. Some people are just too stupid to be allowed any pet, never mind something like a retic -.-' We actually had some guy who wanted a pet cobra, never kept a reptile in his life, and he was a total idiot about them. I don't mind the idea of him being bitten, but I don't want the snake to have to put up with him in the first place :D

Problem with that is that the snake would be destroyed. Stupid people need signs!