New Orlando Sentinel Editorial

[Joe Hiduke]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...4594549.column

A call to ban all exotics in Florida, and a poll.

J

[RhacHead]

Wow soken like person who is truly believes all the hype.I'm kind of pissed they allowed that editorial out but thats the media for you
I don't like how he states 30feet like its a FACT that all Anacondas reach that size and then uses a movie scene to back that upI do Like how they gave his info out at the end though! If anyone missed that part here it is.
Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

[mainbutter]

Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

lol.

Be prepared to win the internets.

[Raptor]

I e-mailed him. Read from the bottom up.

-----
From me:
150,000 is the number he claimed. I also have no interest in rat snakes, it's also amusing that you seem to assume I own pythons, which I do not. I in fact, have a cornsnake and have an interest in getting into ball pythons at a later date due to their wide variety of coloration. Despite what you may think, ball pythons, and numerous other pythons don't get to large sizes.

Subject: RE: It's a slithery slope
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:24:57 -0700
From: MThomas@orlandosentinel.com
To: aryn_nightglider@msn.com



I didn’t use Nelson’s number. Nor did I use his claim they would eat fla panthers.



Get a rat snake.
--
From me:

Dog and cat owners are irresponsible, as well. They let their animals run lose without vaccinations where they could easily get rabies and bite someone. They too, aren't native and cause damage to the ecosystem, yet no bans are being called for. Next, I know of many people who keep the larger snakes when they get past being 'small'. It's no different than one person wanting a yorkshire terrier and another wanting a great dane. It's a matter of preference and have the space to accommodate.

Furthermore, your copied and pasted reply backs up what I said, especially with 'though individuals at this length are rare and/or poorly documented'. On top of this, many scientists are saying that the 150,000 number that was claimed by Sen. Nelson is false. Even the wildlife people are saying the same, as seen here: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep...de/news-metro/

Of course, I'm sure it's easier to just use the outlandish information provided by alarmists than to do your own research.

Subject: RE: It's a slithery slope
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:13:11 -0700
From: MThomas@orlandosentinel.com
To: Aryn Smith



The snakes are an invasive species and do not belong here. And too many owners are not responsible, as we now are seeing.



Averages 6 m (20 ft.) in length; average diameter is 30 cm (12 in.); reportedly can grow in excess of 10 m (32.8 ft.) in length, though individuals at this length are rare and/or poorly documented; the largest credibly documented specimen was reported to be 11.4 m (37.5 ft.) in length, though this 1944 figure is not innately accepted throughout the entire zoologic community; newborn anacondas are 30-60 cm (12-24 in.) in length



The fragile wetlands known as the Everglades have now become home to more than 150,000 alien Burmese pythons dumped there by uncaring pet owners. What threats do they pose for other indigenous wildlife? Read on and…shiver a little.

According to wildlife biologists, these troublesome snakes are wreaking havoc with endangered species like the wood stork and Key Largo wood rat. In the words of Skip Snow, an Everglades National Park biologist, as he showed a 15-foot python to Ken Salazar, US Interior Secretary who was on a fact-finding mission to the Everglades sparked by the Obama administration.

“They eat things that we care about. These snakes could eat a small deer or a bobcat without too much trouble. They're fine when they're small, but they can live 25 to 30 years. When they get bigger you have to feed them small animals like rabbits, and cleaning up after them, it's like cleaning up after a horse. People don't want big snakes.”


From: Aryn Smith
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 4:03 PM
To: Thomas, Michael(OSC)
Subject: Re: It's a slithery slope


Your lack of knowledge about snakes is absurd. Anacondas do not get to 30 feet, and using a movie as proof of your claim is just downright foolish. Hollywood makes everything bigger and badder than they really are. The actual size is around 20 foot. All the claims of super huge anacondas are nothing more than claims without proof to back it up. Much like your article. Any responsible snake owner is going to find a proper home for the animal if they have to get rid of it. Further more, the reports of the pythons in Florida eating bobcats and other large animals has yet to be proven. Thus far, all pythons that have been captured and had their stomach contents examined have been feeding on rats. In short, do some research before spewing alarmist type propaganda that feeds on peoples' fear.