On the front page of the Washington Post...

[MeMe]

Just great....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...1.html?sub=new

[frankykeno]

Lovely, just bloody lovely.

[Beardedragon]

So the snakes were not his? Why cant people under stand that your neighbors dog is much more likely to hurt you then their snake will.

[ADEE]

As bad as it sounds because Im a fellow Herper, I do think its a good idea to ban some poisonous reptiles from resident homes unless an expensive/difficult to acquire permit is placed.

I think it would be a bit outrageous to ban non-poisonous reptiles but carrying a permit on such animals (such as large snakes/monitors/exc) is also a good idea. Even though its difficult to enforce, placing rules on some of these species might control the population of people who are not being responsible for their animals or at least would make it a bit more difficult to obtain such animals. How is it any different then the rules that are already placed in FL, permits are required on MANY reptiles down here and frankly (hate me over it or not) I think its a good idea. The idea of stumbling across a loose/misplaced/dumped anaconda, rattler, exc while hiking in parks is terrifying, especially in a place where those snakes can thrive.

[Blu Mongoose]

As bad as it sounds because Im a fellow Herper, I do think its a good idea to ban some poisonous reptiles from resident homes unless an expensive/difficult to acquire permit is placed.

I think it would be a bit outrageous to ban non-poisonous reptiles but carrying a permit on such animals (such as large snakes/monitors/exc) is also a good idea. Even though its difficult to enforce, placing rules on some of these species might control the population of people who are not being responsible for their animals or at least would make it a bit more difficult to obtain such animals. How is it any different then the rules that are already placed in FL, permits are required on MANY reptiles down here and frankly (hate me over it or not) I think its a good idea. The idea of stumbling across a loose/misplaced/dumped anaconda, rattler, exc while hiking in parks is terrifying, especially in a place where those snakes can thrive.

I agree on permits for dangerous reptiles as stated above. Only because I see green anacondas and retics being sold in petstores to any one that can prove they are eighteen. Thats scary. But I don't want to see any more bans.

[janeothejungle]

I have to say that the guy didn't exactly do the herp community any favors. I mean, c'mon. There happen to be some exotic snakes in the immediate vicinity of his house and they AREN"T his?? give me a break. I tend to think it is this kind of secrecy and evasiveness that keeps the non-herp world from having any sympathy. If the guy lived next to me and there were snakes escaping left and right, I'd likely report him as a danger too. I think it just comes down to taking responsibility for your actions and I'm not really convinced this guy has.

That said, there are 2 sides to every story.

~Kat

[dsirkle]

That a venomous snake apparently escaped and he did not caution his neighbors about it and placed his self interest above the safety of his community is not responsible at all or good for the hobby.

[Argentra]

Indeed there are two sides to every story... and I agree that Venomous snakes should be banned from private collections and permits should be required for the HUGE species, but the devil-may-care attitude of that guy really didn't help the general cause, now did it. SIGH.

It's people like that, and the idiots who release their big snakes when they grow too big, that are putting the bad light on snake keeping and making the jumpy, unenlightened public and politicians go to those lengths...

[wilomn]

What about this.

Suppose some disgruntled neighbor, or someone who Peter works with, decided to take matters into their own hands and turned some snakes loose with the intention that they be found.

You have to look at all the possibilities, not the ones you see as most obvious.

Do we know Peter to be a liar? Has he had problems in the past with keeping snakes in their cages? Has anyone ever complained about him?

Facts are interesting things. Once you have them previously obvious conclusions are not always so obviously conclusive.

[Blue Apple Herps]

What about this.

Suppose some disgruntled neighbor, or someone who Peter works with, decided to take matters into their own hands and turned some snakes loose with the intention that they be found.

You have to look at all the possibilities, not the ones you see as most obvious.

Do we know Peter to be a liar? Has he had problems in the past with keeping snakes in their cages? Has anyone ever complained about him?

Facts are interesting things. Once you have them previously obvious conclusions are not always so obviously conclusive.

I agree. We all know how easy it is for stories to be spun to make snake keepers look bad, regardless of what really transpired.