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House Republicans Say Interior Secretary's Proposed Snake Ban Bad for Business

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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?

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PRESS RELEASE November 24, 2009, 5 AM EST

Scientists Characterize Justification for Congressional Python Ban as “Unscientific”

November 24, 2009, Wilmington, NC- In a letter to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary an independent group of scientists today characterized a United States Geological Survey (USGS) report being touted as the justification for a ban on import and trade in pythons as “unscientific”.
The independent group of scientists and herpetologists, including professors from the University of Florida, Arizona State, and Texas A&M among others penned members of Congress in response to comments made by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) during a November 6th hearing on H.R. 2811, a bill that could determine the fate of much of the reptile trade in the United States. During that hearing USFWS Deputy Director Dan Ashe characterized the USGS report as “peer-reviewed science”, a claim that struck a nerve within the scientific community.

“It is a misrepresentation to call the USGS document ‘scientific’” stated the scientists. “As written, this [USGS] document is not suitable as the basis for legislative or regulatory policies, as its content is not based on best science practices, it has not undergone external peer-review, and it diverts attention away from the primary concern. We encourage the USFWS and USGS to submit this document to an independent body for proper and legitimate peer review. Additionally, we encourage the Committee to review this document, not as an authoritative scientific publication, but rather as a report currently drafted to support a predetermined policy”.

H.R. 2811, Introduced by U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL), who recently announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, could add all pythons, and even boas, to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act; a designation reserved for only the most dangerous alien invaders to our natural ecosystem. Such a move would prevent all import, export, and interstate transport of pythons in the U.S. The scientific justification for such a move hinges on a recently published report of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) entitled ‘Risk Assessment of Nine Large Constricting Snakes’, which attempts to paints a picture of large constrictor snakes as an immediate threat to eco-systems over much of the U.S.

Source: United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK)

Contact: Andrew Wyatt [email protected]

Letter To Congress:

24 November 2009

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary
The Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Bobby Scott and Ranking Member Louie Gohmert:

We write in regard to the recent Congressional hearing on HR 2811. As scientists who have worked with reptiles including those cited in HR2811, we express our reservations regarding the document recently released by USGS as an “Open-Report”, titled Giant Constrictors: Biological and Management Profiles and an Establishment Risk Assessment for Nine Large Species of Pythons, Anacondas, and the Boa Constrictor.

Simply put, this report is not a bona-fide “scientific” paper that has gone through external peer review. Part of this report is fact-driven, described by the authors as “traditional library scholarship.” By the authors’ admissions, there are surprisingly little data available regarding the natural history of these species. In their attempt to compile as much information as possible, the authors draw from a wide variety of references, ranging from articles published in peer-reviewed professional journals to far less authoritative hobbyist sources, including popular magazines, the internet, pet industry publications, and even various media sources. While such an approach is inclusive, it tends to include information that is unsubstantiated and, in some cases, contradicts sound existing data.

As scientists whose careers are focused around publishing in peer-reviewed journals and providing expert reviews of papers submitted to these journals, we feel it is a misrepresentation to call the USGS document “scientific”. In fact, much of this report is based on an unproven risk assessment model that produces results that contradict the findings presented in a recently published scientific paper that used a more complex and superior model (see: Pyron R.A., F.T. Burbrink, and T.J. Guiher. 2008. Claims of Potential Expansion throughout the U.S. by Invasive Python Species Are Contradicted by Ecological Niche Models, PLoS One 3: e2931. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002931). Unfortunately, the authors of the USGS document limit their reference to this scientific work to an unsubstantiated criticism. To the contrary, this alternate model is validated by its relatively accurate prediction of the natural distribution of the species in question (something the USGS model does not even attempt). Furthermore, despite its conclusion of a limited potential distribution of Burmese pythons in the United States, the model presented by Pyron et al. accurately predicts the presence of Burmese pythons in the Everglades.

The USGS model likely provides a gross overestimate of potential habitat for these snake species. People throughout the United States keep pythons as pets, yet the only known breeding populations in the United States are in the Everglades. Such a wide distribution of potential sources of invasion, but only a localized invasive event, suggests that factors beyond those used in the USGS model are critical to limiting the suitability of habitat for pythons. The authors even state that climate is only one factor of several that affect the distribution of an animal, yet they develop a model that only uses overly simplistic climatic data (e.g., the climatic data did not take seasonality into consideration).

We are further concerned by the pervasive bias throughout this report. There is an obvious effort to emphasize the size, fecundity and dangers posed by each species; no chance is missed to speculate on negative scenarios. The report appears designed to promote the tenuous concept that invasive giant snakes are a national threat. However, throughout the report there is a preponderance of grammatical qualifiers that serve to weaken many, if not most, statements that are made.

We fully recognize the serious concerns associated with the presence of persistent python populations in southern Florida. As top predators, these animals can and will have a dramatic impact on the community of wildlife that lives in the Everglades. Inaccurately extending this threat to a much large geographic area is not only inappropriate, but likely takes needed focus away from the real problem in the Everglades.

In conclusion, as written, this document is not suitable as the basis for legislative or regulatory policies, as its content is not based on best science practices, it has not gone through external peer-review, and it diverts attention away from the primary concern. We encourage the USFWS and USGS to submit this document to an independent body for proper and legitimate peer review. Additionally, we encourage the Committee to review this document, not as an authoritative scientific publication, but rather as a report currently drafted to support a predetermined policy.

Signed:

Elliott Jacobson, MS, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACZM
Professor of Zoological Medicine
University of Florida

Dale DeNardo, DVM, PhD
Associate Professor School of Life Sciences
Arizona State University

Paul M. Gibbons, DVM, MS, Dipl. ABVP (Avian)
President-Elect, Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians
Interim Regent, Reptiles & Amphibians, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
Director, Exotic Species Specialty Service
Animal Emergency Center and Specialty Services

Chris Griffin, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Avian)
President, Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians
Owner and Medical Director
Griffin Avian and Exotic Veterinary Hospital

Brady Barr, PhD
Resident Herpetologist
National Geographic Society
Endangered Species Coalition of the Council of State Governments
Crocodilian Specialist Group

Warren Booth, PhD
Invasive Species Biologist
Research Associate
North Carolina State University
Director of Science
United States Association of Reptile Keepers

Ray E. Ashton, Jr.
President
Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute

Robert Herrington, PhD
Professor of Biology
Georgia Southwestern State University

Douglas L. Hotle
Curator of Herpetology/Conservation/Research
Natural Toxins Research Center
Texas A&M University

Francis L. Rose (Retired) , B.S., M.S. (Zoology), PhD (Zoology)
Professor Emeritus
Texas State University

Edward J. Wozniak DVM, PhD
Regional Veterinarian
Zoonosis Control Division
Texas Department of State Health Services

CC: Secretary Kenneth Salazar, US Dept of the Interior; Director Marcia McNutt, US Geological Survey; Director Sam Hamilton, US Fish & Wildlife Service


While I understand some people are concerned about the health of park lands. The amount of pythons has been grossly over estimated. As stated in the article these non native reptiles could be easily wiped out by sportsmen. a catch all you want type license would do it, for that matter they could profit from it by selling licenses.. Yet the fish and game dept of Florida issued as few as 15 permits per year. I don't see reason to kick those who comply with the laws with proposed legislation that would cripple their family incomes, as well as a massive amount of retailers who make or sell products for keeping these type animals properly.


bat: "These snakes aren't going to respect borders and fences"

-that's a true statement, but what they DO respect is CLIMATE. the temperatures experienced during the recent cold snap that killed SO MANY of them in the 'glades are COMMON-PLACE just a few hundred miles north of the 'glades. these animals simply CANNOT survive outside of south florida. that one event ALONE debunks the USGS reports.

random walker: "This is about protecting Our Everglades National Park"

-FYI... this proposal does NOT penalize releasing pythons into the wild (in fact, this is ALREADY illegal). this proposal ALSO does NOT propose any process for REMOVING the pythons already established in the 'glades. so let's think through that statement with a little more LOGIC, please.

anonymous: "Those people who sell snakes can raise them instead of importing them, and they can still make their money"

-the VAST VAST VAST majority of snakes sold in the US ARE captive bred. unfortunately, the bans would prohibit interstate transport, which would DEVASTATE the industry. we would only be allowed to buy/sell within our own state. prices would plummet, and vast (VERY expensive) collections would be rendered worthless overnight, causing many people to dump their now-worthless animals because they can no longer afford to keep them (they fund their collections by SELLING snakes, so if they can no longer sell their animals, they can no longer afford to KEEP them).

square grouper: "I live in So. Fla. and have seen the devastation first hand"

-oh really? what "devastation" have you "seen" that is caused by the pythons? there's no evidence yet that these are "devastating" at all. there is SOME evidence that they COULD become a problem, but as of yet nobody can PROVE that they are indeed HARMFULL. the vast majority of established exotics find their own place in the ecosystem and life goes on. when people say the burms have no natural predators, this is only PARTIALLY true. the "natural" predators that prey on the burms in their native environment do not exist in the 'glades. HOWEVER, american alligators and crocodiles can EASILY take all but the absolute largest of burms (on a separate note, did you know that the size ranges commonly given for burms include the extremes found in captivity? which, btw, CANNOT be found in the wild... wild burms are smaller and leaner than captive burms). numerous birds and other animals native to the 'glades EASILY prey on young burms. so again i ask you to TELL us about the "devastation" you have "seen" in the 'glades caused by burms. there very well could be "devastation," but it is NOT caused by burms.


Many of "those people who sell snakes" support a ban on IMPORTS, because then their captive bred snakes wouldn't have to compete with dirt-cheap wild-caught animals. It is distressing for small scale breeders to invest thousands of dollars raising and caring for healthy, selectively bred snakes and breeding them, and then having to lower their prices drastically just so they can compete with the sickly wild-caught animals sold wholesale for $5 each. No constrictors should be removed by the thousands from their natural habitat. That is why so many Americans have dedicated their lives to the captive propagation of healthy, docile, beautiful snakes. Captive breeding reduces the strain on wild populations, and a ban on importing wild animals would help "those people who sell snakes" who really truly care about the health and safety of the animals they breed. Wild animals introduce disease to captive populations, and they are generally more aggressive than captive bred snakes.

The problem with all this new proposed legislation, is that it would destroy captive breeding projects. The legislation would make it illegal for a baby boa BORN in Indiana, to be sold and shipped to someone in Illinois. Interstate commerce would be banned, prices would plummet, and many breeders wouldn't make enough profit to even keep their animals. The result will be more snakes abandoned at shelters and pet stores. I would NEVER release a non-native animal into the wild, but what if I am forced to get rid of my animals and I have to sell them really cheap on craigslist? How do I know that the person who buys won't abandon it, or give it to someone else that will abandon it? At some point, as legislation makes it more and more difficult to keep snakes, they will fall in the hands of progressively inept owners, and THAT is how these animals end up suffering. Keep healthy captive bred snakes in the hands of people who can properly care for them. Penalize people severely for animal cruelty, require licenses for giant constrictors in Florida (already implemented), and promote proper and responsible husbandry.


If I live in Indiana and want to sell an albino captive bred boa to someone in Illinois, WHAT does that have to do with Florida? I'm an environmentalist, but I also love snakes. Captive breeding is GOOD for the environment because it reduces strain on wild populations. The feral constrictors in the Everglades are a regional issue. No burmese python is going to survive the winter in Indiana, so why do thousands of Americans all over the country have to lose their jobs because of Florida's climate? Keep the restrictions limited to areas that are actually affected by feral constrictors.

Oh and this isn't just about a "business's cash flow". Snakes are not just merchandise. They are living, breathing creatures that can't just be "liquidated". Do you really think I would care more about the money if the government suddenly said that I have to have all of my babies euthanized? Could you euthanize your dog or cat just because THEY are a bigger feral threat to the everglades than the pythons? Of course not. This is a regional issue and should be dealt with at the state level. Ban all constrictor imports into Florida? Fine. Just leave everyone else to enjoy their pets.


they are not only trying to stop you from importing them into the country but keep you from crossing state lines with them. alot of business cross state line so it would hurt people even trying to raise their own to sell as well


house cats have and will continue to cause more devistation in the US than any snake ever could but yet people still leave food outside for stray cats and let they cats roam free outside why dont they make more laws on the real thing fucking up the enviorment.

the 1.6 billion dollars isnt the toal from one place selling reptiles its from every little person selling reptiles across the country from the kid that bred a ball python in his room and sold it for $15 to the bigger breeders that sell a couple hundred month to the petstores

people need to do real research and learn what is really going on b4 making stupid comments about getting rid of reptiles just cuz you dont like them doesnt mean others dont. if we got rid of everything that atleast one person didnt like we wouldnt be left with nothing so instead of trying to get rid of stuff lets find a way to live with it all


This bill also stops the interstate transport of even captive bred animals. Please read and be well informed before making comments like this. That is the problem with this whole bill, there are a bunch of ignorant people with fear driven agendas involved.


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