Burmese python bust

[KingObeat]

Man Pleads Guilty To Burmese Python Sale

One 14 foot Burmese Python and 28 Juvenile Pythons Were Captured as Part of this Investigation

(Long Island, NY) A joint investigation by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental (DEC) Conservation Officers and Investigators and Special Agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has resulted in a Bay Shore man pleading guilty to attempting to sell Burmese Pythons.

According to DEC investigators a buy and bust operation had many twists and turns as DEC officers and investigators and USFWS special agents spent days trying to gain the trust of an individual who had advertised on Craig’s List the sale of Burmese Pythons.

After finally winning the suspect’s trust officers and investigators set up a meeting at a parking lot in Oakdale on July 13. At this lot a DEC officer served as a buyer where he negotiated to buy 23 juvenile pythons for $2,400.

Soon after this sale was completed law enforcement officers swept in and found that the suspect, Arthur Davidson of 1149 Hyman Avenue, Bay Shore, also possessed one 14-foot long 100 pound breeder female Burmese Python and an additional five juvenile pythons in a bag in his car.

“The work done by DEC officers, investigators and USFWS special agents in this case took a dangerous invasive species off the streets and out of the environment,” New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Peter A. Scully said. “All too often individuals who traffic in these types of animals find that they can no longer care for them and release them into the wild. Once there they become dangerous predators that have the potential to kill humans. This operation prevented this from happening.”

On September 5, Mr. Davidson plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge of selling wild animals as pet and was fined $5,000 by Judge Gaetan B. Lozito at the First District Court in Suffolk. Prosecution of the case was handled by New York State Assistant Attorney General Hugh McLean.

Burmese Pythons are one of the six largest species of snakes in the world. Native to Southeast Asia they were imported into the United States for the pet trade. In their native environment they are hunted for their skins and meat, leading to a huge drop in their numbers in the wild.

Their fast growth rate made them popular as pets. This also, however, led to their introduction into Florida’s Everglades where they have begun to displace native species. In the wild, they can grow as long as 22 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds.

Burmese Pythons have been banned for interstate transport by the USFWS due to the ease this species has in adapting itself to warm weather environments. In New York, a DEC permit is required to possess these animals.

The investigators found that three male officers could not straighten out the 14-foot snake 100 pound snake that was taken from Mr. Davidson, unless she let them.

The snakes have since been donated to educational and research institutions for their use. Both facilities have permits from DEC to possess these animals.

To report any environmental crime, please contact DEC’s toll free 24-hour TIPP hotline at: 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332). DEC keeps the identity of all TIPP callers confidential.
http://www.newsli.com/2012/09/11/man...e-python-sale/

[Rat160]

So let me get this straight. People cant keep their animals so they release them. Now the government limits their options to try to sell or give away the animals. Seems counter productive to me. Just the corrupt ignorant government needing to have their hands in everyones cookie jar.

I am honestly starting to hate this country.. Im thinking about moving to Canada..

[gsarchie]

Yeah, right, these are a dangerous invasive species in New York. Give me a break! Is it illegal to sell them at all in NY? Also, if you assume that these captive bred animals are wild then so are all dogs and cats. What a joke. All to often individuals who "traffic" these animals release them into the wild? Show me one single time where someone was caught releasing a burmese python into the wild anywhere in this country and was fined for it. What's that? It's never happened? I didn't think so.

[Xotik]

Yeah, right, these are a dangerous invasive species in New York. Give me a break! Is it illegal to sell them at all in NY?

It might be, it's illigal to own one in Vermont- been that way for a good long while. I wouldn't be surprised if NY followed suit. I also know you can't have ANY kind of python within NYC limits - but this story is from Long Island, so I don't think it has anything to do with that.

[1nstinct]

Living on LI, I know for a fact, it is illegal to own burms in NY. Along with retics, anaconda, water/black throat/white throat/ Nile monitors and any venomous reptiles. It's bad press but the guy Should have never owned them. If my memory is good the law was passed in jan 2001. And to get a permit is a pain.

[1nstinct]

sorry i wrote it wrong,it should have said to say jan 2005.
here is the law http://www.scalesandtails.com/ban_exotic.html. I will be 100% honest it is a good and bad law, it is good because it keeps the "new" owners away from having these huge snakes and monitors, being raised in the wrong conditions. It is a bad law because it hurts the people who educate themselves on these animals before purchasing. I personally i want to own a water or black throat when i get my own house and have a 10x8x6 cage for one of them but i know that will never happen unless i move from NY.

[4Ballz]

So let me get this straight. People cant keep their animals so they release them. Now the government limits their options to try to sell or give away the animals. Seems counter productive to me. Just the corrupt ignorant government needing to have their hands in everyones cookie jar.

I am honestly starting to hate this country.. Im thinking about moving to Canada..

you're welcomed here anytime. There is still by-laws, but you should be fine. Even Murderers get away with a slap on the wrist here.

[BFE Pets]

It is now legal to sell breed or transport across any state line for burms thanks to the lacey act. It is a federal law. It's bs for NY state to think these animals are a hazard to there Eco system. They wouldn't survive thru late fall let alone a winter. Ohio is even worse thanks to sb310 which also includes retics and any python over 12 feet.

[WingedWolfPsion]

It is now legal to sell breed or transport across any state line for burms thanks to the lacey act.

What? I think you meant illegal, but the statement is still wrong. It is only illegal under Federal Law to transport Burms across State lines without a permit (and you won't get a permit). Breeding and selling are perfectly legal...as long as they are legal in the State you live in, which was not the case in this story, obviously.

[gonzoone]

Well I thought craigslist would remove any add selling animals? And the guy must have been a bonehead posting an illegal animal for sale on there. Be about like somebody posting marijuana for sale. Do you think he was surprised when he got busted? No I don't agree with the lacey act and think it's silly to outlaw big constrictors but the law is the law and as citizens we do have to follow them. They should have just enacted a mandatory education class before purchasing.