Just posted

[nixiefee]

I just posted the following on a Florida Fishing and Hunting forum. I don't know if it will do any good, but here is hoping.

Here is what I posted,

[ Exotic snakes are pests in the Everglades area of Florida, that I will agree on, and they need to be culled and removed. They have been let loose to run rampant by irresponsible, uneducated owners that did not realize that they get as large as they do, nor did they care to research them. To learn of the different breeds of these snakes, you can research, look at pictures, and do your studies of them. They are not inherently mean, will not attack out of spite, and are generaly docile (unless provoked or hungry). These snakes are carnivourous and most eat prey around the size of large rabbits. The largest snake on record (not in Florida), is a Reticulated Python, at the length of 33 feet and 300 lbs. A snake that size would eat prey that is around the size of a small goat (at the largest). They CANNOT eat an adult human being, and are NOT known to intentionaly eat humans. The news stories have been sensationalized. The only reason that they would kill a human is in defense of their lives or if they felt threatend.

With all of the cold weather that has been in the country as of late, you will find less and less of these large, tropical snakes. They do not have the instinct to search out warm areas when in these cold temperatures, and if a reptile (in this case, Giant Constrictor type snake), is kept at 40 degrees or less for an extended period of time, they will freeze to death. They do not have the means of keeping themselves warm. IF they DO survive, they will more often than not die from certain nerve dieseaes as they "thaw" out.

I hope everyone stays safe in this hunting season, and that you take great cares to be humane in your hunting ways. I support hunting avidly. Just wanted to give some information on one of the prey items that are on the hunters lists.

Google the following breeds of snakes to find out more information as to habits, habitats, and more, to help inform about the best way to hunt these wonderful creatures.

Burmese Python
Reticulated Python
Green Anaconda
Yellow Anaconda
Nile Monitors

Also, you can look into the Reptile Forums that exist around the web. There are many knowledgable people that will be able to provide insite on these animals ,both in habits and feeding, as well as where they could "spread" to, the type of habitats they needs, etc.

Lobby for responsible ownership, and reptile husbandry education.

Lastly, do not support SR 373. Responsible people in the rest of the country would be hurt by this bill. It is not based on scientific evidence, and will harm the country more than protect it.

Please, hunt the feral snakes, let's take back the Everglades, and then ban anyone from owning a giant snake, until they have had an education course in them (like the hunters safety courses).

Thank you for listening,

Nixiefee ]


I hope it does some good...but I am not counting on it.

Nixie

[snakemastercanada]

The facts of how the burmese got there you posted in your letter is completely WRONG. What part of did you miss in the 200 or so reptile forums any many posts on how the burmese got there from HURRICANE ANDREW in 1992 did you miss .
1) The Barkers study was HUGELY informative. It did point out the Boa Constrictor Occidentalis was the only snake which avoided cold temperatures. Interesting because there has been a push to designate this locality as its own subspecies. This behavior would add support to that argument.

2) THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE "IRRESPONSIBLE OWNER" THEORY. Please stop buying into the media driven hype! It's been said and repeated so many times that everyone just BELIEVES IT. And that's part of the problem. We need to be saying, and repeating the above (very large) statement over and over until people begin to believe it too!

The evidence available actually suggests that the MAJORITY of the pythons in the Everglades are the result of a "mass release". The only example I can think of where these animals had the opportunity to be released in mass was Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

[singingtothewheat]

I have to agree.
We can not say that no owner has ever let loose a big snake in the everglades. However, a much more likely scenario is that someone who was bringing in snakes, or had a large group of snakes (importer), released snakes.

Snakes absolutely will seek out warmth. I don't know where you came up with the idea that they wont.

This statement however made me cringe!!!!
"Please, hunt the feral snakes, let's take back the Everglades, and then ban anyone from owning a giant snake, until they have had an education course in them (like the hunters safety courses)."

[nixiefee]

Sorry if I got some of my facts wrong. I will quit trying to help out.

Thank you for pointing out things that I was wrong in, I will go remove the post.

Thank you again.

Nixie

[nixiefee]

To elaborate on my last post....it wouldn't let me edit.

First off, I was trying to help. I have not looked at all 200 reptile forums, and did not realize that snakes could get "blown in" by a hurricane. I apologize for that misstatement. That being said, I do believe that some of the first snakes that were there, were released by owners that could no longer take care of them.

Secondly, the "idea" of the snakes not seeking out warmth is actually in a report that is posted on this very site, by someone who researched extensivly (sorry cannot think of the name of the person, but it is in one of the threads on here.)

Third, I DO believe that unless someone has been properly educated on the care and handling of these snakes, they should NOT be allowed to own one. This would prevent the MISHANDLING, and wrongful care of these beautiful creatures. If that means an education course and licensing, then so be it. If that means a "ban" on anyone without a license owning one, then so be it. I support hunting, and I support the taking back of native lands from species that are not supposed to be there. What I do NOT support is them taking the rights away from RESPONSIBLE people to own these wonderful animals. I am of the opinion that a RESPONSIBLE person would have NO problems with doing an education course and getting a license to own these snakes. You have to have a license to legally operate a car, a license to legally hunt, it would be the same concept.

Fourth, this was listed on a site that has some (If not most of them) people who do not think like us, the reptile lovers. They will not think to study and research the actual habits of these animals. With all the media sensationalism out there, I felt it would be good to have a small voice for the reptiles themselves. If people would research and educate themselves on these snakes, they may possibly be able to see what harm SR373 would have on everyone.

Again, I apologize for getting a fact wrong. I thought I was helping, but if it is not a help in any way, I will make sure not to post it on any other forums.

Thank you

Nixie

[WingedWolfPsion]

What happened was that large wholesale warehouses were thrown into the swamp by the hurricane. In the process of these huge buildings being torn apart, large numbers of their inhabitants were released into the swamp as well.
The releases were not deliberate, and the owners of the warehouses were not permitted to return to the area until it was too late to have a hope of finding anything. Miami had more important things to worry about than trying to round up escaped imported wildlife--such as clearing roads and unsafe structures, and getting people back into their homes. It's impossible to say whether a little bit of attention to those warehouses would have prevented all of this, or if the animals dispersed fairly quickly.

The reason this is important is because the 'release by irresponsible owners' theory is part of what's being used to shut down the reptile trade. The evidence that it isn't true, at least not for the Burmese, means that our hobby is less of a threat to the environment than is being stated. We need to keep hammering this point home.

You're correct that the "9" with the exception of Argentine boas have shown that they will not avoid killing cold temperatures. It was VPI who experimented with indoor/outdoor cages and discovered this. Many other herpers have observed that tropical pythons will not avoid extreme cold, and will select an icy hiding place if it looks like it's more secure than a warm one. They will continue to go out into the cold of night. They may still seek warmth, but often only mild warmth, and only for some periods of time, rather than continually.

The danger of the 9 has been exaggerated. You don't need to take a class to buy a horse--why should you need to take a class to buy a Burm? Horses are far more dangerous than Burmese pythons.
Please, put this into perspective.