Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee seem never to be at a loss for words when it comes to Democratic initiatives. This week the GOP members are shaking their heads over Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's efforts to get a grip on invasive snakes invading national parks in Florida.
Going so far as to produce an image reminiscent of those 1950s and 1960s horror film posters, the Republicans headed into a subcommittee hearing on Secretary Salazar's proposal with a suggestion that one and all Sit Back. Relax. Enjoy the Fright
Back in January the Interior secretary announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would propose to list the Burmese python and eight other large constrictor snakes that threaten the Everglades and other sensitive ecosystems as “injurious wildlife” under the Lacey Act. The secretary made the announcement at the Port of New York, which his staff says serves as the largest point of entry in the nation for imports of wildlife and wildlife products. Last year, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspectors at John F. Kennedy International Airport handled more than 27, 000 separate wildlife shipments valued at more than $1 billion, or 16 percent of all U.S. wildlife imports, according to a USFWS release.
This week the Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee assailed that move, saying it would hurt small business owners. They added that America's sportsmen should be used to help fight the snakes spreading out across Everglades National Park, but noted that "hunters are currently only allowed to hunt snakes with their hands or a machete, making the sport incredibly inefficient and unpopular."
Here's what else the GOP had to say:
“Injurious” designation under the Lacey Act would make it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, buy or posses any of the nine constrictor snakes listed by the DOI. An outright ban on these nine constrictor snakes would result in significant economic damage to the pet industry, and those who support the sale and transportation of snakes and snake supplies. The Administration’s proposed policies are targeted at lawful pet owners and their private property and do NOTHING to address the stated concern over snakes currently existing in the wild in South Florida.
Get the Facts
* There are approximately 3,800 pet retail stores across the country that average $3.5-5.25 million in annual snake sales.
* The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated the initial economic loss of snake supply revenue to be $3.6 to $10.7 million—that figure is believed to be greatly understated.
* In total, losses due to an “injurious” listing for Boa constrictors alone are expected to hit private pet dealers, pet supply stores and companies such Delta, FedEx, and UPS for a combined $1.6-$1.8 billion (Source: U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers.)
* The scope of this “injurious” listing is unprecedented and would cause severe economic pain for thousands of Americans by destroying livelihoods and possibly exacerbating the problem of constrictor snakes in South Florida as snake owners and breeders could then release their newly illegal snakes into the wild.
* Secretary Salazar based his decision on a 302-page report by the U.S. Geological Survey, which has been called into question by various scientists in a letter to the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee. The scientists called the report a “gross overestimate of potential habitat for these snake species” and noted the Everglades were the “the only known breeding population” for pythons as FWS notes “large constrictors are likely to be limited to the warmest areas of the US.”
* Proponents of the Lacey Act designation argue that these snakes were released into the wild by their pet owners. However, Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida in 1992, completely destroyed a warehouse of exotic reptiles that potentially contained hundreds of Burmese pythons. This is thought to be a contributing factor to the prevalence of constrictor snakes in the Everglades.
* Sportsmen are good stewards of our public lands and their expertise and knowledge of the land should be used to help diminish the increasing snake population. Unfortunately, hunters are currently only allowed to hunt snakes with their hands or a machete, making the sport incredibly inefficient and unpopular.
And who said politics was boring?
Comments
Well only fools would start a business in this kind of trade. People forever use money and the excuse of making a living to continue in a business or not to come to meet new standards which they will never ever meet unless pushed by the law. This is just plain B.S. find another business you do not have the freedom to destroy the Native species in this country.
I find your statement about an evolving eco system to be self serving at best but your just plain greedy like most people now days you have over commercialized the pet trade and it is has spiraled out of control.
FIND ANOTHER LINE OF WORK
Funny how the snake breeders want to quote their "science".. bull. The vast majority of snake shows and dealers want to sell you the newest color morph, offering nothing for conservation breeding or any science to save endangered species. So if they actually cared about wildlife and habitats, it would be new. All they want is some cool looking pet, and overbreed in hopes of the almightly dollar. I have talked to wildlife oficers in the Eveglads and the snake problem IS real along with the invasive plant life. So will we be repsonsible fora while, no will cry about our freedoms being taken away. This country and our environment is going to the dumps cause of dumb short sighted people.
So on that last bit you say snakes are no different than you and me ok sounds right to me
listen I am no breeder I'm not a pet owner i am a father.My CHILD is a 8 month old burmese alby python named Porhtose. He is barely 3 ft long and as beautiful as a sunrise over Moab Utah his favorite hobby is to drape over my shoulders and watch fraggle rock with me. He has never even hissssd at his brother High Gear or any of the kittens that live with me. Unlike some negligible parents with their own human children as he does get bigger I look forward to watching my CHILD grow up.As far as being "injurious" goes i have seen 85 pit bulls and 67 rotts (dogs) have to be put down for attacking children in neighborhoods, in my home city alone, in the last six months. WHY ARE THESE THINGS NOT BEING CONSIDERED? Why are they picking on my 8 month old child? They are nothing more than school yard bullies!!!!!
thats what he said
There is little I can say or do to change anyones opinion of this situation, however, I want to start off by saying that my Scaled Americans are the world to me. My whole life I have never been without a Burmese or a Reticulated Python, they have become my children and my best friends. I trust my "snakes" more than any human I know. I care for them and love them and in return they do the same for me. It is inherently a human trait to turn on those who have loved us and taken care of us, other animals do not posses this, as they are smart enough to know better. I sleep with my snakes, I take them for walks, I let them swim and take showers, they are my world. Not only would a ban like this ruin my world, it would destroy the worlds of many large breeders who have also dedicated their lives to raising captive bred reptiles. It is already illegal to import most species of boids, therefor, that is really not the issue at this point. Do not tell me to find a different job, this is what makes me happy, this is what I know and what I love, and I know for a fact that I am not alone when I say this.
They're planning on banning interstate trade and transportation concerning huge pythons and boas? Just because Florida can't managetheir ecosystem? That's ridiculous. I have a corn snake and ball python, and am just a little woried. If they ban the interstate sell and transport of these babies, where will it stop? Will I be able to take my snakes with me when I move, or will they get to banning interstate transport of cornsnakes because some got out and started eating baby mice and started curling up in nests of endangered species? Besides, any one who knows anything about breeding snakes is aware if this bill passed, the snake breeders would be bankrupt. 7,000.00 or so is a lot of money invested to just lose on a lawmaker's whim.
I have lived in Collier County, Florida for over 20 years and have heard the stories of giant snakes in our wetlands. Speaking for most South Floridians, I believe that the importation of giant snakes from exotic places should be completely illegal. People get pythons and anacondas as pets, thinking they will stay the same size as they were when they bought them, WRONG. The snakes end up being too huge to handle and in turn, their “owners” release them into the Everglades. This causes horrible consequences for our native Florida wildlife and discourages tourism to our South Florida National Parks. So, thanks all you Python owners out there :(
P.S. To Haley Shaver, you shouldnt even have a ball python as a pet, its not like it acts like a pet, all they do is eat and slither, reptiles are not even capable of any form of emotion, so how it is a pet I am not entirely sure. What are you going to do when the snake gets to big for you to handle, or you finally realize that a snake is not a pet. Are you going to release it into the Everglades too?