Burm tests in SC

[MarkS]

Although I think this test will prove that they will not survive a slightly more northern climate. I think the article was ridiculous, I just can't believe how so called scientist make crap up like they would love poodles. Aren't they supposed to base their opinions in science and not speculation?? This is a small part of a very big problem. And that is that the majority of people in this country read these so called scientist opinions and take them as fact. We are losing the war on public opinion and we need to do something about it quick or your Ball Python and it's fangs will be out lawed as well! Brian(BHB)

I wouldn't call Witt Gibbons a 'so called' Scientist. He's been in charge of the Savannah River Ecology Lab for quite some time, several decades I think. And is a very well respected herpetologist who has authored several papers and booklets on reptiles from serious studies to identification guides. Some people here may even have read his works without even knowing it. I believe he wrote, or wrote a large part of, the Boy Scouts Reptile merit badge guide.

I remember watching him give a talk about 15 or so years ago on one of his projects involving the study of snake ranges and tracking their movements using PIT tagging techniques. It was a very interesting talk, but what I remember best was his quirky sense of humor. The type of humor that would be very easy to misrepresent in a printed article. I don't doubt that he actually said what he is claimed to have said in the article, what I would like to know is how he said it and the tone of voice used.

I believe that this study will show very quickly, that burmese pythons can NOT survive as far North as was claimed by that stupid map. Then there would be actual PROOF, not just guesses.