"Snake Infestations"

[Bluebonnet Herp]

Being both the only snake lover and, unfortunately, the youngest person(human-wise) in the family, I have to combat the snake-hatred against the other members of the house so I can progress with my own snake-collecting agenda. One comment amidst the rage of the house that came out last night was that by having any amount of pet snakes, this will attract more wild snakes to our home, as well as risk a possible snake infestation. This kind of behaviour, of course, made me absolutely disgusted, so as tempted as I was to retaliate, I simply gave up furthuring the discussion. Of course, I always plan on clearing up any myth later when it comes up and said person isn't actually yelling so loud as to be impossible to communicate with, although I always like to source my arguments somewhere. However, some searching on Google and Bing left me surprised that this myth has not been touched up on. So, now is it even myth or fact? I would think that, theoretically, pet snakes couldn't attract other snakes simply because they aren't social, except in times of breeding. (even then, they must be following a scent trail that is NOT airborne, as well as they must be the of same species, etc) Also, even if the former statement were true, or if several snakes of the same species were to escape, no infestation would be possible any way, unless your A/C were to break, as well as a surplus of mice were present, correct? (i.e. a rodent infestation) Now, by infestation, I'm not talking about that house in Idaho that had garter snakes hibernating underneath it, but like, and actual infestation comparable to that of roaches or mice, with breeding animals.

Just thought I'd get input from people who keep more snakes than I do, and whom go so far as to breed them. You know, the "reptile people."

[Valentine Pirate]

I don't know whether to joke or give you a serious answer, you seem earnest.

No, snakes kept as pets will not attract wild snakes... For any reason. There's no science behind it because it's never happened. I wasn't aware it was even a myth.

Edit: Have to add my disclaimer that that statement is "as far as I know" and "as far as google would take me." There were no documented cases of pet snakes attracting wild counterparts. If a member on here has better information I'm sure we'll hear it. I'm just boggled by the idea that someone came up with the thought...

[Pythonfriend]

Its hard to disprove.

but then, many things that do not make sense are hard to disprove, like faeries or unicorns or angels or djinns or dragons (the ones with wings that spit fire), or for that matter all the different gods people believe in.


But you could just say that you do not believe it because there is no known mechansm by which this attraction between captive and wild snakes could possibly work. What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence, so dismiss it and ask them, not for evidence (they wont have any evidence), but just for a mechanism. Smell? Sound? i mean, they need to come up with a mechanism.

As soon as they go for smell, you can easily challenge or even disprove that. And if they argue that snakes "just feel it", dont settle for that.


Later, if that doesnt work, you can still progress to the harder line: Dismissal because what can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. And just keep asking them to stop spreading bull:cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: and lies if they keep bringing it up and keep asking for evidence.

Basically, first try to get them to realize that they just dont know what they are talking about on their own, and later just tell them that they just dont know what they are talking about based on the fact they cannot provide any evidence, not even a clear mechanism that makes sense.

Thats how you deal with unfalsifiable nonsense, if you cannot flat-out disprove it, expose it as vacuous crap.

and now suddenly this all reminds me of "Storm" by Tim Minchin, and ill post it just to show.... you are not alone and its a common problem many intelligent people deal with all the time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0W7Jbc_Vhw i know its a bit offtopic. I guess im failing to take it totally seriously