Quote Originally Posted by jjmitchell View Post
I believe what needs to be eradicated is the irresponsible pet owners that get these animals... I own a pet shop.... have a burm for sell.... refused to sell it 5 times this week, will find someone capable of taking care of it and responsible enough to care for it. I cannot make every one else feel the way that I do, but we are in a way responsible for the animals we sell. We may not eradicate the wild population, but we have to eradicate the bad publicity, or we will all lose in the end
This makes me really glad to read. Personally (and I know this isn't a popular stance), but I think there needs to be a little more regulation on large constrictors. I dont think there should be a ban, but a permit should definitely be enforced in much the same way venomous permits are handled in Florida. It really bothered me that at the last reptile show I went to, I purchased a juvenile green anaconda, and wasn't asked a single question as to whether or not I know what I'm doing and what I'm getting into. A lot of shops/breeders are just happy to offload their stock regardless of who it's to. I think it's been proven time and time again that there are just too many irresponsible people who want to play the reptile game, and get these animals ignorantly. Now someone needs to step in and be the referee because this no-rules, free for all doesn't seem to be working itself out.

Regardless of how wide spread of a problem burms are/aren't in Florida, invasive non-native species are never a good thing to any ecosystem.