Nelson bill to ban trade of pythons

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LEE COUNTY: U.S. Senator Bill Nelson is working to stop the spread of Burmese pythons. The large reptiles can grow more than 20 feet long and weigh up to 250 pounds.

Pythons are capable of killing and swallowing animals as large as alligators.

While just the thought of that is terrifying to most, it's troubling to Nelson.

The Florida democrat has been working to stop the spread of snakes that have been known to eat endangered species for lunch.

Losing any native species poses a major environmental threat.

"The ecological balance of nature as it was intended, Mother Nature, it's being upset," said Nelson.

"They're resource hogs, they're eating things they shouldn't be eating and they're competing with native wildlife," said Biologist Larry Richardson.

Experts say in the last five years, the US has imported more than 140,000 Burmese pythons - a popular and legal pet.

"People import these snakes, their pets. They get so big, they let them loose," said Nelson.

That’s why Nelson is proposing a bill that would ban the import or interstate trade of pythons.

Opponents to the bill say they think a new Florida law that requires python owners to both micro chip and pay for a permit for their reptiles is enough.

They think the bill has no basis in scientific fact and will devastate the reptile community.

"Believe it or not, there's a lot of people that are employed in the herpetological businesses here in the state of Florida," said David Piper of Everglades Wonder Gardens.

Andrew Wyatt of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers said, "There is no credible evidence to suggest that passing this bill will do anything to help the Everglades, which is the only place there is a problem with pythons in the entire country. Passing a federal law to address a south Florida issue is like curing a mosquito bite with an amputation."

"We have to stop the way these animals are entering into the ecosystem and until we do that, we'll constantly be fighting this problem," said Richardson.

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

Opponents to the bill say they think a new Florida law that requires python owners to both micro chip and pay for a permit for their reptiles is enough.

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I agree with that 100%. They are having a problem with certain species in a certain area. No need to make laws in other parts of the country where there isn't a problem. And dont ban them, just make owning them more regulated.

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Originally Posted by brainman1000

I agree with that 100%. They are having a problem with certain species in a certain area. No need to make laws in other parts of the country where there isn't a problem. And dont ban them, just make owning them more regulated.

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I agree also! If the owners were more responsible with large snakes would there be such a problem? --Josh

this is what hes selling, but his bill is to ban all pythons period!

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Originally Posted by nixer

this is what hes selling, but his bill is to ban all pythons period!

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THIS
Now people will just hear the word "python" and think of a burmese pythons. Not all pythons are giants!

ive sent him 2 emails so far. google him and email him and tell him what you think!!!