USARK supports a Python hunt

This is an email I just received!! GREAT PROPS!!!! to USARK

This Press release was written by Shawn Heflick and Andrew Wyatt. This morning it was submitted to the Associated Press, Washington Post, The Orlando Sentinel, ABC News and FOX News.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Pilot Program For Python Hunt



Wilmington, NC July 16, 2009- The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) supports a bounty on Burmese Pythons. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been working very closely with key reptile experts in Florida to develop and implement a pilot program for permitting a select group of 20 Florida reptile experts to participate in a trial program that will allow permitted experts to hunt Burmese Pythons on FWC and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) areas. All participants must possess a valid Florida Reptiles of Concern permit and meet criteria laid down by FWC. Each Burmese Hunt Permittee will be allowed 5 additional hunters to accompany them into the field. Permitted individuals must carry GPS units and digital cameras, and supply data to FWC within 36 hours of capture. They will also be required to attempt to capture any other non-native species they come across during their hunts and call for permission from land managers into restricted areas before going into the field. Permitted individuals are free to take the specimens or euthanize them on site at their discretion.



FWC has worked very hard to step up and develop this program. They have worked very closely with the Florida Reptile Community in the development of this permit/program, and are eager to be part of the solution to this problem. Florida reptile experts spear-heading this effort with FWC are Shawn K. Heflick, Greg Graziani and Michael Cole.

The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) supports and applauds this effort by FWC and the Florida Reptile Community in taking concrete pragmatic steps in addressing the issue of feral Burmese Pythons in South Florida. USARK supports Senator Bill Nelson’s call for the US Dept. of Interior to open federal land where the epicenter of the population resides and is encouraging that this pilot program be considered as a model for a Federal Bounty Program. In a letter dated June 17, 2009 to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar USARK pledged $10,000 to this proposal.

USARK President Andrew Wyatt added, “It is time all interested stakeholders work together to address this issue. The reptile community has been unjustly cast as the villain being accused as the source of the introduction of Burmese Pythons, when a genetics study commissioned by SFWD points away from this likelihood. We are not the source, but we want to be part of the solution; and we are putting our money where our mouth is. We have more expertise with Burmese Pythons than all other stakeholders combined and now we are bringing this expertise to bear in addressing this problem in South Florida.”

USARK is a science and education based advocacy for the responsible private ownership of, and trade in reptiles. We endorse caging standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention protocols, and an integrated approach to vital conservation issues. Our goal is to facilitate cooperation between government agencies, the scientific community, and the private sector in order to produce policy proposals that will effectively address important husbandry and conservation issues. The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining ecological integrity are our primary concerns

Good. I believe I suggested some herpers go down to help hunt out burms as a good PR strategy.

I wonder what sort of permit the "5 additonal" people would have to have? How far is that drive to the everglades? Hmm.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Good. I believe I suggested some herpers go down to help hunt out burms as a good PR strategy.

I wonder what sort of permit the "5 additonal" people would have to have? How far is that drive to the everglades? Hmm.

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Not sure but I do know this USARK has done a good thing. :D

Not sure how much good this will do.... The problem will never be controlled. Even if it is slowed down a bit, people can't win.

They covered the hunt on the 6:00 news tonight. Included a shot of Greg Graziani reaching down by a dock and grabbing one out of the water with help from Shawn. Pretty amazing!

People almost won against alligators, what makes you think they can't win against Burms?

I agree. I think with enough vigilance they could put a huge dent, if not devastate the population. It's sadly been done with other wildlife many times before, but this time it's for a good cause!

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Originally Posted by JandDReptiles

Not sure how much good this will do.... The problem will never be controlled. Even if it is slowed down a bit, people can't win.

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People have created extinction amongst thousands of species in the wild. Burmese pythons will not be any more difficult than it was to exterminate alligators, wolves, and buffalo. If they can do it without harming the everglades itself though, is a whole new topic.

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Originally Posted by Alice

They covered the hunt on the 6:00 news tonight. Included a shot of Greg Graziani reaching down by a dock and grabbing one out of the water with help from Shawn. Pretty amazing!

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Did that station post a video link of that story?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Did that station post a video link of that story?

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No, just a written story. I know a couple other stations had similar stories . . . .I'll check their websites.

Does anyone know if there is anything being done about burm eggs? They pose as much of a threat as the burms themselves once they hatch and have the potential to grow into a giant.

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Originally Posted by the_Ryno

Does anyone know if there is anything being done about burm eggs? They pose as much of a threat as the burms themselves once they hatch and have the potential to grow into a giant.

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well thats something that they must take care of, though i read an article that said that alligators eat away a lot of baby burms:gj:

My local newspaper has pic of greg and the story in it as well. Its a good PR stunt IMO at the very least.

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Originally Posted by coolluigi007

My local newspaper has pic of greg and the story in it as well. Its a good PR stunt IMO at the very least.

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We can use all the good PR we can get..

"Permitted individuals are free to take the specimens or euthanize them on site at their discretion."

Honestly I think that killing of a species we deem as invasive is ignorant always have and this is not just the case of snakes. I believe that an animal that can survive in an environment should be allowed to they further develop North America's weak ecosystem and help natural selection in the areas they establish themselves in. I know they were introduced improperly however this is the case with many non native plants and animals that end up becoming a positive change in the ecosystem. Humans have always wanted to control the earth and the ecosystem and we will eventually be the most negative impact on it ironically.

/end rant.

Cliff, I think you're dead wrong. Invasive species destroy our native species which have developed especially for the ecosystem that's here. Not only that, but why should we allow one introduced species destroy all the ones here, just because it can? Several species of bird are on the brink of extinction because of rats in certain areas. So we should just shrug and say "Oh well" and lose those birds forever, because rats are better at living?

For all your touting that humans are the worst thing on the planet, you're certainly not advocating helping the planet in any way by that post.

w00t. I concur. I think euthanizing feral burms is a great idea, and a necessary one. It is unfortunate, but definitely necessary. I LIKE my collection, and I dont want to lose it because of the irresponsible snake keepers that introduced these guys into the wild. Hurricane Andrew didnt help either. For the sake of our hobby and our NATURAL eco-system, the burms must die. To think otherwise is to look at the situation in a jaded manner...yeah we all love snakes but these snakes in the Everglades are a threat to too many things at the same time. I dont want to lose my collection or not be able to breed my collection because of im sympathetic towards some wild snakes, do you?

Can somebody tell me where USARK came from and when? I had never heard of them before the HR669 stuff started. Are they a 501(c)3 not for profit group? I can't seem to find that on their site. They have at least 1 person on their leadership team that I personally wouldn't associate myself or my organization with. But I suppose if they are trying to do some good then that's great.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Can somebody tell me where USARK came from and when? I had never heard of them before the HR669 stuff started. Are they a 501(c)3 not for profit group? I can't seem to find that on their site. They have at least 1 person on their leadership team that I personally wouldn't associate myself or my organization with. But I suppose if they are trying to do some good then that's great.

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They were started by the same people who ran NCARK http://www.ncark.org/, and are an offshoot of them. I had heard of them before HR669, but I can't remember when they started it - I think Reptile Radio had them on before HR669 but I'd have to look at archives.

I think I know who that one person is that you're referring to, and I was not aware of their affiliation until HR669.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

They were started by the same people who ran NCARK http://www.ncark.org/, and are an offshoot of them. I had heard of them before HR669, but I can't remember when they started it - I think Reptile Radio had them on before HR669 but I'd have to look at archives.

I think I know who that one person is that you're referring to, and I was not aware of their affiliation until HR669.

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Im all for any group out to protect our rights as reptile owners. I just can't support this group because of that affiliation...

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Im all for any group out to protect our rights as reptile owners. I just can't support this group because of that affiliation...

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Well, I'm hopeful that in the fight for our rights, when we really need to get in and dig deep (like the letter writing, phone calling, e-mailing in April) that folks in this industry can all put their personal feelings aside for the common good of us all. :)

But, I get where you're coming from.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Cliff, I think you're dead wrong. Invasive species destroy our native species which have developed especially for the ecosystem that's here. Not only that, but why should we allow one introduced species destroy all the ones here, just because it can? Several species of bird are on the brink of extinction because of rats in certain areas. So we should just shrug and say "Oh well" and lose those birds forever, because rats are better at living?

For all your touting that humans are the worst thing on the planet, you're certainly not advocating helping the planet in any way by that post.

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Wolfy I have studied biology for years and sometime my views can be viewed as controversial this I understand. However the inhabitants of this earth will always change and evolve through natural selection as long as we allow them to do so. The rat is one of the most successful creatures on this earth in terms of surviving and reproduction it does have its place no matter what species may eventually be harmed. We can always believe in conservation and take species that are harmed and need assistance and help to reintroduce them in an ecosystem that they can actually thrive in. This being said the everglades are perfect for a large constrictor. They are not the top predator in the area, they will be a large food source and will prey mainly on species that are overcrowded in that area. Regardless I think the Burmese is here to stay in the everglades as it is already established and the removal of them may bring more upset to the balance of the ecosystem than leaving them. The biggest downfall is that this issue is blamed on us as keepers.

The rat doesn't have a place in areas it didn't evolve to fit. That's why several islands have NO native birdlife left, because rats eat the eggs. That's NOT natural selection, that's stupidity on the part of people who allowed it to happen.

If Canada's Ontario(I think it's ontario...) can make itself be rat-free, then there's a chance of us getting enough burms out of the everglades to make a huge difference. A top predetor like a burm(and yes, they are a top predetor, no matter what eats the babies), can only do harm. We already have top predetors in the everglades which belong there.

Just because hyenas eat lion cubs don't make lions a prey species. If you study biolofy you should know that.

The downfall is that if we sit back and say burmese belong in the everglades, we look like irresponsible dimwits. By trying to help the situation, we bring good PR to the herp hobby overall, no matter if we manage to finish off the clean up or not. It's the attempt that makes a differnce, and removing burms is not going to harm a ecology that didn't develop with them in it to begin with.