Your help needed to enact federal/state bans on trade in pythons!
January 2010
Legislation has been introduced in Washington, D.C. that would halt the import and commercial trade in pythons. Senate Bill 373, sponsored by Florida Senator Bill Nelson and House Resolution 2811, sponsored by U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek (17th District of Florida), would add pythons to the federal list of "Injurious Wildlife," making it illegal to import pythons or ship or sell the snakes across state lines (the list of injurious species currently includes animals such as the fruit bat, mongoose and Zebra mussel).
Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia, are fast-growing snakes that reach average lengths of 14 to 18 feet and can weigh more than 200 pounds. In recent months, pythons have been captured in residential neighborhoods across Florida, and hundreds of the snakes have been removed from the Everglades and surrounding areas. It is clear that exotic snakes are a threat to Florida's ecosystem. It is also clear that the pet trade is at the root of the problem. It remains easy to purchase exotic reptiles in Florida. Many of these animals end up doomed to live in deplorable conditions, or are abandoned after they become too expensive to care for.

The issue gained more attention after a tragic incident on July 1 in Sumter County when a Burmese python kept inside a home as a pet escaped from a glass aquarium and strangled to death a 2-year-old girl.
"Burmese Pythons can grow to be up to 20 feet long and weigh over 250 lbs. Not only do they pose a risk when they escape their tanks, but as they begin to reach their adult size many owners turn them loose, posing a danger to children, pets and delicate ecosystems."
– U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek
"It's time for the federal government to step up and address this ecological crisis. We must change the law and we must do it quickly."
– U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
The editorial boards of Florida’s largest newspapers have expressed support for Senate Bill 373 and House Resolution 2811 (click here for a list).
You Can Help
Banning the import and interstate trade in pythons is a common-sense move that would benefit animal welfare, improve public safety and protect Florida's fragile environment.
• Contact U.S. Senator George LeMieux and urge him to support S.373. Contact:
Phone: (202) 224-3041
E-mail: info@lemieux.senate.gov
• Contact U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and thank him for his leadership on this important issue. Urge him to stand firm against lobbying by the pet industry to water-down S.373.
(Reptile breeders are lobbying Sen. Nelson to weaken the bill to allow the interstate commerce/transport of pythons.) Contact:
Phone: (202) 224-5274
Click here to e-mail Senator Nelson.
• Contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 2811. To find your U.S. Representative, go to www.house.gov and fill in your nine-digit zip code in the box at the top left corner.
If you are a resident of Rep. Kendrick Meek's district (17th District), please thank him for introducing this bill. Reps. Thomas Rooney (16th District), Ted Deutch (19th District), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (20th District), Alcee Hastings (23rd District) and Bill Posey (15th District) have already signed-on as cosponsors, and also deserve thanks. |