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MIAMI — Four types of giant snakes that have been plaguing the Everglades are now banned from being imported into the United States or transported across state lines, federal officials announced Tuesday.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar publicized the new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule during a visit to the Everglades. It applies to the Burmese python, yellow anaconda and the northern and southern African pythons, the four types of massive constrictor snakes that have become increasingly present in the swampland.
The snakes can grow to be 26 feet long and more than 200 pounds and threaten indigenous species. They've been found to kill and swallow animals as large as deer and alligators, and Salazar said they threaten all the work being done to restore the Everglades to its natural ecosystem.
"It does us no good to put in these billion dollars of investment in the Everglades only to have these giant invasive constrictor snakes come in here and undo the good that we are doing," he said.
The rule will be published in the Federal Register in the coming days. It will take effect 60 days later and applies to not only live snakes, but viable eggs, hybrids and gametes, which are the male reproductive cells.
"These giant constrictor snakes do not belong in the Everglades and they do not belong in people's backyards," said Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat who has been outspoken on the issue and who appeared with Salazar on Tuesday.
Pythons have become a growing problem in Florida's revered swampland. Many are believed to have been pets that were dumped once they grew too big; others may have escaped from pet shops during 1992's Hurricane Andrew and have been reproducing ever since.
Thousands are believed to be living in the Everglades.
The new rule omits five species of snakes that initially were expected to be banned, leading some to criticize it as watered down.
"This rule was swallowed up in the federal government for 22 months and put through a political meat grinder, leaving us with a severely diminished final action," said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States.
Among those spared from the rule were boa constrictors.
Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said additional species would continue to be reviewed for possible action, but that the four types of snakes that are now banned pose the greatest threat.
Besides the effect the new ban has on curbing an invasive species and protecting native wildlife, it could also protect people who are threatened by the snakes. Salazar, Nelson and Ashe posed with a 13-foot-long, 90-pound Burmese python that was found in a Palmetto Bay resident's pool last month.
In 2009, a pet Burmese python escaped from its terrarium and strangled a 2-year-old girl in her central Florida home.
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Comments » 35
wonderful writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Jarvis writes:
Regulation of foreign animals is long overdue. For that matter, so is regulation of nut-jobs that have their own personal zoos full of neglected tigers, bears, etc.
I am a fan of anyone who wants to have a pet, but there are enough types of local snakes and reptiles in Florida and the USA.
Bringing in foreign species of reptiles for sale here is ridiculous. If you visit almost any pet store, you can find snakes from all over the world, and many of them can live very easily in a tropical climate like Florida.
It is a well known fact that most first-time reptile owners get bored with their pets after a few months and then dump them off at the local parks.
We don't need to pollute and destroy the Everglades with more problems than it already has.
DamYankee writes:
If only they could do this with the illegals.
anotherPOV writes:
What a useless article.
slickwillie writes:
they should allow free access to anyone who wants to hunt them.
Nplschick writes:
Well said.
IMSufrin writes:
second that
johnwaynegacy writes:
Man is the Pythons only preditor.....
SunStar writes:
why the delay to make a decision? it's too late already..they're eating up all the Everglades species! It's just no brainer...hunt & euthanize them all. Slap hefty fines & jail time for people who dump pets in the wild. Discourage pet ownership of dangerous creatures by mandatory permits that come with high yearly registration fees & liability insurance (like cars)...well, add pit bulls to the list too!
Shaawe writes:
Maybe we should legalize the capture/erradication of these snakes and have an open season "Python Roundup." Why not? The rattlesnake hunters kill hundreds of them each year in Sweetwater Tx. and is sponsored by the local Jaycees. It's quite a circus and they even sell the hides and cook and eat the meat. New Florida attraction and remedy to the python problem?
Stella_Blue (Inactive) writes:
Sooo....this is an announcement of an announcement?
woods311 writes:
Another government employe trying to guarantee his slice, of federal, borrowed funny money.
If they are such a problem. why didn't he find any?
Hundreds of people enjoy the glades, why can't everyone kill them?
I notice in picture 12 that Biologist Shawn Heflick, has a reading comprehension problem.
Does private property mean anything?
They got a lot of mileage out of that one deer, one python, story.
KennyR writes:
Bill Nelson is involved, wonder how much $$ this is going to cost us?
Simple fix, open hunting up to anyone with a basic license - no limits. Instead we'll have to wait and see what over complicated resolution these lawyers have dreamed up.
KennyR writes:
There is no reason for the wait, just another Democrat breaking out the Ban Stick.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/16...
wentfishn writes:
Put them on the Vagina menue on 5th. "Python ala Vodka".
CaptScotty writes:
Open a hunting season, charge for a permit, and then pay a small bounty. Do the same thing with all those Iguanas.
Tkdmom2000 writes:
It's official pythons are invasive.
wonderful writes:
If so, it will be extremely vague and may or may not happen in whatever time frame is stated.
Now, it is thought that the new protocol with burma will prohibit the hunting of these snakes?
GITMO!
GITMO!
Leathercraftswoman (Inactive) writes:
Give out permits and allow them to be hunted, tanned, and sold. Leather crafts people such as myself would happily buy them. An excellent way for people to earn extra money.
justgetoverit writes:
History channel could do a show on it.... "Snake Hunters of the Glades"
Shaawe writes:
Most definately. Those iguanas are also out there killing off all the native wildlife too. I think the other day I saw one swllowing an adult deer whole! Get real!
Shaawe writes:
"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar publicized the new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule during a visit to the Everglades. It applies to the Burmese python, yellow anaconda and the northern and southern African pythons, the four types of massive constrictor snakes that have become increasingly present in the swampland." I find it interesting that the yellow anaconda is on the banned list but the much larger, more agressive green anaconda is not. Still they have no solution as to getting rid of the ones already here.
SkeeterBeater writes:
I,ve been Walking the Glades for Years.
How many Folks are gonna climb down to a Flag Pond ringed with Cottonmouths and Gators to search for them ?... NONE.
Besides Everglades Nat. Park is off limits to anything even close to Public Use . Better chance of Carpet bombing the Park . Hunters will never set foot in E. N. Park again
Brer_Rabbit writes:
It is written in Luke 10:19 that the Lord hath said, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you."
HAP writes:
Stupid people that we pay their salaries should have done this long ago. They always wait until the damage is done. Fire them all.
volochine writes:
Cold snaps like this help. I'm not convinced this is a major problem. Bigger problem down here is people with screen names like William Bonney and JohnWayne Gacy making comments that make no sense, or sound inebriated.
Do not believe reality shows like the "Python Hunters". These are semi-scripted to produce entertainment.
bcnaples writes:
typical Federal knee-jerk after-the-fact reaction. While I agree with the new rules on the surface, the Feds have done nothing to address the problem in the Everglades. The Park Rangers are overwhelmed. Would like to hear the Feds announce a hefty bounty for non-native invasive species and put some money where the mouth is!
Fix the problem at hand - don't make new rules after the snake is out of the bag!
OP writes:
My thoughts exactly.
OP writes:
Like it! Come become a new business model too; hire on with a guide and get your python trophy.
bumblebeee writes:
Oh thank god. People who go out of their way and support the exotic pet trade should all be fined. It is possibly one of THE most inconsiderate non-violent acts.
It not only destroys land, but destroys naturally occurring flora and fauna as well.
Its disgusting. Go adopt a garter snake, or a rattlesnake. Leave the weird foreign crap in weird foreign places.
futboldad writes:
ABOUT TIME!....common sense should've kept these animals as illegal to own. Now hunting season year round.
vinnybumbotz writes:
When you elect me as your sheriff I will strictly enforce the snake ban. I will form a snake task force to rid the county of this blight. Their duties will consist of rounding up the pythons and once killing them processing the remains into a fine light machine and watch lubricant. How about it...sound like a good plan? Thats right, a vote for Vinny is a vote for snake oil.
dmarko326 writes:
How about the invasive "illegal alien"?
They come here swallowing up jobs and resources. Yet, no one in the Fed is jumping up and down trying to enact legislation against it.
joeartgilv writes:
Lets replace the the snakes with bigots in the swamps.
joeartgilv writes:
Well...sit down and wait for that to happen pal,absolutely its all the opposite now,no more deportations for cookers and gardeners accord the DHS.
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