Not to mention that exotic species are an important part of the pet industry. This site does a good job in pointing this out often and members of the herpetological hobby seem to organize to prevent the hysteria often associated with the invasive classification. This proactive approach to Burmese problem by big names in the herp industry will help quell fears of a massive Python invasion out of the Everglades and into more Northern states, even if those fears rest on some very shaky science (the orginal USGS report)
Many in the political environmental movement want laws to ban all exotic species or apply what is called the "precautionary principle" to exotic species. The precautionary principle sounds good at first glance. It sounds like look before you leap. However, in many of these proposed invasive species laws, the US Fish and Wildlife Service would have to "prove" that the exotic species to be imported is not harmful if it determines to take no action. "Proving a negative" in science is impossible. It's like assuming guilt before innocence and it would hamper the economic incentives to do business and innovate in many fields-for example, the chemical industry, electronics industry, agriculture, aquaculture, as well as the pet industry. I'm not for no risk assessment but the precautionary principle puts all the burden of proof on people who want to try new things. The first people to import and sell Ball pythons may have never got the chance if a strong environmental precautionary principle based law was around at the time they were first imported.
You can read more about precautionary principle here...... http://www.reason.com/news/show/30977.html
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