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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?

Comments

I would lose my job and you don't care?


What's this all really about? It's about money. It's about money that the USGS will receive if this passes. It's about the USGS producing a report that will help them secure that money, and then having it 'peer reviewed' by insiders who also stand to gain by putting pythons on the injurious wildlife list.
I'm an environmentalist, I am a primarily a Democrat, and I am a snake breeder. I would love to work with Dwarf Burms, Super Dwarf Retics, and small island locality boa constrictors--all of these animals would be out of the question for my business if this proposal passes. They stay small and harmless, but they're still the same species as the giants.

This is not a situation where the Republicans are trying to do something harmful to the environment or block environmental protection acts (again). This is a situation where some rogue politicians have gotten into bed with animal rights extremists, and concocted a plan to systematically dismantle the reptile industry in the US. The giant pythons are just an easy place to start. If you don't believe it, go to the HSUS website, and check out what they have to say about pet reptiles for yourself. This is not a paranoid fantasy, it's really happening.

Adding these animals to the Lacey Act will do NOTHING to help solve the problem of these animals being loose in the Everglades. Absolutely nothing. Not now, not EVER. Instead, it vastly increases the risk of an owner who has to move out of State simply releasing their animal, rather than choosing to take it with them illegally, or have it euthanized. This is because pet owners love their animals. The fact that it's not a cat or dog makes no difference--snake owners LOVE their animals like family members. Go to any reptile forum, and see for yourself.

These snakes are present in private collections and are bred in every State in the US apart from Hawaii. What purpose is served in preventing their transport between States? The ONLY purpose behind this is to harm the TRADE in reptiles--they are actively seeking to reduce and eliminate this as a BUSINESS. Look at the wording.

The Everglades is clogged with toxic mercury, choked with pesticide runoff, overrun by vigorous and invasive non-native plants, and besieged by non-native animals. The most prominent animal offenders are HOUSECATS, and norway rats. Burmese pythons ate 2 Key Largo Woodrats. How many woodrats do you think were killed by feral cats?
This isn't about protecting the Everglades, it is about politics. Lots of people fear snakes, so they felt they could railroad the Reptile Nation, because they might have the support to pass it. It won't do any good for the Everglades, but they figure they can hoodwink people into letting it happen, and walk away with the cash, at OUR expense. If they had proposed feral cat hunts, they would be pretty darned unpopular, wouldn't they? But that WOULD have done some good for the Everglades.

These sensationalistic shows they're putting out on TV--don't believe it. LOOK INTO THIS FOR YOURSELF. These shows aren't giving you a balanced picture, or an accurate one. They're just designed to inspire more fear, and promote this agenda. It's absurd to think these animals can live outside of Southern Florida. A simple cold snap killed over 60% of them in just one season. All but one radio-tracked Burm DIED. They CANNOT withstand the cold. They simply are not equipped with the instincts or the physiology to do so.


It isn't just importing. The ban would be for interstate sales also.(couldn't sell from one state to another) Get your facts straight if you are going to discuss this.

Anonymous, the ban on interstate transportation was mentioned in the grey-highlighted text as well as in our original story, which was linked to in the very first paragraph. -- Ed.


This measure would be to stop interstate sales of these certain snakes and to stop imports. It won't help the environment in any way. I am sure you don't care about the cash flow, however tell that to the 1000's of people who will have to file bankruptcy if this goes through.


"Come on, 1.6-1.8 billion US is not "small business". It's BIG business"

That number is for over 10000 businesses not one.


The way I read it, the listing would only be of four python species, four anaconda species, and all boa constrictors. My understanding is that there are many species of pythons (and anacondas) that wouldn't be made illegal for import or interstate transport under the new ruling.

What would stop breeders and sellers from dealing with the remaining species that are legal? We have a large, well known reptile seller near where I live, and they are very diverse in their offerings. I would think they could maintain their supply of the restricted species via California breeders, and would likely deal more in the species that don't have the restrictions.


Ok the snakes can not take the cold weather this fact has been proven. So even if your scared of what you dont know about educate your self before you speak.


There are many specialist breeders out there who have chosen to focus on only 1, or only a few species. The biggest investment is in VERY high dollar 'morphs'--color mutations of animals, such as albinos. Single animals can be worth over $10,000...but only if you can sell them to someone who also feels they are a good investment. If these animals cannot be transported across State lines, they will lose their value almost entirely. That's NOT chump change. A breeder of these animals can't just switch over to some other species, because they've LOST all the money they invested. Most of monetary issue involved is with Boa Constrictors. Boa morphs are HUGE business. There are many breeders who specialize in boas exclusively, because of the very high dollar individual animals they can breed. Burmese pythons come in second--Burms are popular giant snakes, and Burm morphs can also be worth quite a bit of money.
But it truly is the Boas that have made this idea so INCREDIBLY economically devastating. The addition of boa constrictors was truly an ill-thought-out notion. Boas do not get as large as any of the python species listed, or anacondas.

Who RIGHT NOW is willing to pay 10 grand for a boa morph, when they know that in a few months, that animal could be worth perhaps $100? The person who paid for that animal will have COMPLETELY lost their investment--and most likely their business, their livelihood, perhaps their home, and their entire economic future in one fell swoop. Can YOU eat a loss of 10 grand right now without flinching? Now consider the person who owns 10 animals like this, and is making a living from selling their offspring each year. What will they be left with?
There is NOTHING these people will be able to do. They can barely sell their animals right now, due to this proposal.

Now, given that doing this will NOT benefit the Everglades or any wild habitat in ANY fashion, how exactly is this a good idea?


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