This is a subjective term, and few people I have spoken to about this ever consider the implicit underlying message carried with it. Basically it argues that the burmese python is bad, and the native species are good. Why? New species are introduced to new areas all of the time. It's part of the natural process of expanding ranges to populate new areas. Some plants and animals are better at it than others, and human induced globalization has made this process really easy now. I won't disagree on those points, but I think there should be a honest dialogue about what animals we as humans value and why. Maybe the Burm is a bad animal for the everglades and is a good animal for Myanmar.Quote:
invasive species
If we take the stance then that the Burm is bad for the everglades then it should be removed. At what cost? Should time and resources be put here instead of somewhere else? If that happens, doesn't that imply that say the eradication of the Burmese python from the everglades is more important than removal of feral hogs? Do the most of amount of good with the least amount of resources. That is a hard one to calculate.
And if say that yes, time and money should be put towards the removal of burms from the everglades, then what is the best feasible method? I think a hunting season seems reasonable. From what I have seen/read about hog hunts, it usually is left to people who know what they're doing, even though it is open to the public. It isn't like a bunch of college frat kids are going out on a snake shooting frenzy. People are smart enough to know if they want to consider messing with a 12ft+ ticked off python. There are plenty of 'experts' that currently don't have the degrees or authority, and I suspect this public snake hunt is just a way of inviting them along. Plus, there might be plenty of non-experts who are willing to help, and they might be useful in other aspects of snake hunting, like driving trucks or organizing parking. There is probably some logistical operations that the media won't cover because who wants to see some insurance salesman who is a snake enthusiest in an orange vest directing cars to the parking area.
http://www.pythonchallenge.org/
The rules and training are interesting to look at, as well as the lengthy waiver you must agree to.
See here: http://www.pythonchallenge.org/registration.aspx
And humane killing methods listed here: http://www.pythonchallenge.org/toolkit/euthanasia.aspx