Kiss your hobby goodbye!!!! USFW Proposed ban!!!!

[grizz2534]

THAT'S HORSE CRAP!! Stupid crybaby bleeding heart liberals!!

[J.Bissell]

I spend most of my posting time over at freedom reptiles, but decided to come over here and comment on this:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0223111456.htm

This is one of the articles about the USGS survey deal... I wrote the editorial staff and the site this response:

I am writing in regards to the article 'Python Snakes, An Invasive Species In Florida, Could Spread To One Third Of US'. This article is borderline fear mongering, and some fact checking is an order. Almost all of the species in question require quite warm weather year around, just one or two freezing nights WILL kill them. The given area may support these snakes most of the year, but they won't make it through winter in nearly all of the given zones. Even with the climate warming there will still be sufficiently cold periods to kill almost all snakes in question. If you are going to write an article about this issue, please give a balanced view. Do a little research.

Also, I believe pollution, urbanization and development, and hunting from native species are more dangerous to those endangered species than several hundred newly introduced snakes. Don't shift blame from the real causes of endangerment, to a scapegoat that is an easy target because people have, often times, baseless fears about.

Yet another point. The map cited was made by the USGS, a geological survey. This doesn't seem a credible source to make sweeping statements about the suitability of the environment for exotic species. Maybe a couple herpetology experts, or reptile keepers would be good sources for climate suitability?

All that being said, I realize much of this is quotation from other sources and not your direct opinion. Even so you can present the other side of the story instead of just taking just one side and running with it.

There is a large community of reptile keepers that are upset about the biased views that have been presented on this subject. It would go a long way toward mending your standing with this community if you would present a new article offering both sides of the story. I would even be willing to write an article on the subject for you

I would love to hear from you all about your position on this matter.

Thank you,
Joshua R. Bissell

We'll see if they do anything... Are there any other media sources I can contact and offer them some info? These are the things we need to confront, all issues are tried in the media. People react when they see '250 lb killer coming to you neighborhood', so we need to make our voices heard in the media, not just by the powers that be. Also, are there any updates on what's happening with this whole issue?

[Kerig3]

Supposedly either this weekend or next there will be a 'summit' in Chicago of the more well-known snake breeders, and I hope that one of the attendees of this summit will address this question for me and others like me:

As a snake owner or small collector, what should we be doing?

I have read and heard what breeders or people with large collections can do (all the data collecting), but as a little guy I'm confused as to what I can do for the cause to fight the USFWS proposal. So if you happen to be attending this upcoming summit, can this please be addressed and reported back to us? People like me don't have much influence, but what we lack in influence we make up for in our numbers!

Thank you!

-Kerig

[Kerig3]

I spend most of my posting time over at freedom reptiles, but decided to come over here and comment on this:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0223111456.htm

Joshua,
Thank you for writing that letter to Science Daily!
Sadly though if you do a quick Google Search you'll see that this 'garbage science' study by the USGS (with our tax money, mind you) was picked up by the media and left-wing Global Warning groups and they have had a field day with it!


Giant Python Could Be 'Health Hazard for Small People' in USA

Burmese Pythons Might Invade One Third of US

Giant Constrictor Snakes Invade Florida

Hope you like pythons: Climate conditions in southern U.S. perfect for invasive constrictors' spread

Python Snakes - An Invasive Species In Florida

Snakes on the plains: Pythons slither across U.S.

Pythons are warming up to America

Snakes alive! Burmese pythons could be headed our way

Pythons Will Colonize U.S.

Oh, and my favorite...

Global Warming Will Cause Giant Snakes to Take Over America
(nice photo...)

And that's just a few...

So it looks like the damage may already be done...and we never even had a chance to defend ourselfs...all thanks to the USGS!

[nevohraalnavnoj]

Many of those articles use extrapolations on current global warming trends..."by 2042, the southern half of the united states will have warmed XYZ degrees, allowing pythons to migrate even further north"

Yeah, except for the fact that according to the temperatures in their data much of the US will be underwater due to the melted polar ice caps! Last I checked, pythons didn't have gills.

JonV

[West Coast Jungle]

Supposedly either this weekend or next there will be a 'summit' in Chicago of the more well-known snake breeders, and I hope that one of the attendees of this summit will address this question for me and others like me:

As a snake owner or small collector, what should we be doing?

I have read and heard what breeders or people with large collections can do (all the data collecting), but as a little guy I'm confused as to what I can do for the cause to fight the USFWS proposal. So if you happen to be attending this upcoming summit, can this please be addressed and reported back to us? People like me don't have much influence, but what we lack in influence we make up for in our numbers!

Thank you!

-Kerig

I reccomend suporting PIJAC. They fight alot of the rediculous pet laws that come up.

[gmcclurelssu]

in addition to writing letters in response to the proposal, we need to make sure we are writing our senators and state representatives. if they get enough letters, they will fight with us. they just need a LOT of letters from concerned citizens. i fully plan on writing my letters to my senators and the USFW in a few days. with the numbers of outdoors people we have in michigan, the senators almost have to pay attention.

remember liberals, its your asses in the hot seat now, don't screw up!

[Kerig3]

I reccomend suporting PIJAC. They fight alot of the rediculous pet laws that come up.

Although PIJAC doesn't support the pet hobbyist, and their data gathering forms are geared towards the breeder, manufacturer and other such businesses. You can read about what PIJAC plans to do here, and their data gathering survey is here.

As for the upcoming summit, I'm hoping that what the hobbyist can do to help is addressed.

As for writing to your reps in congress, that may be premature since the USFWS is only in its data gathering stage, and this isn't yet a ban proposal, so they'll simply refer us to follow the steps of the outlined by the USFWS, which doesn't address the hobbyist. In fact PIJAC's website states:
NOTE: Even though it published in the Proposed Rules section of the Federal Register, this is NOT a rulemaking proposal - it is only a fact finding initiative.

And it's been made very clear that just voicing our opinions isn't going to make a difference.

If you want to really know where this topic stands, please read the Panel Discussion chat that was conducted on Feb. 29th with a USFWS rep., PIJAC rep., and many top python and boa breeders. The full transcript is here.

[Kerig3]

Last I checked, pythons didn't have gills.

Nor do snake breeders and hobbyists...unless Kevin Costner collects snakes...

[jimsonfury]

is this too threatening?

I do apologize, because I believe I've done almost everything ya'll stated I shouldn't (prior to reading the rest of the Thread) at least if it is I'd post it so others can see an example of not what to do, just was a little fired up.

I strongly disagree with the proposed snake ban. It is nonsense to wipe out the trade, obliterating an entire genre of business in this "free" country, god forbid, damaging the economy yet even further, taking away the dreams of millions of entrepreneurs, makes me sick to my stomach. I understand that certain snakes need to be regulated better, however snakes like my Ball Python will never be a threat to anyone in anyway!

I say enough with criminalizing the public!

Whatever officials who are leading this proposition should be well informed herpetologist, otherwise I will have a hard time taking it seriously and will undoubtedly keep my liberties and my pets.



James