PUBLIC SUBMISSION | As of: February 16, 2009 Tracking No. 80510e8c Comments Due: April 30, 2008 |
Docket: FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015
Injurious Wildlife Species; Review of Information Concerning Constrictor Snakes from Python, Boa, and Eunectes genera
Comment On: FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015-0001
Injurious Wildlife Species; Review of Information Concerning Constrictor Snakes From Python, Boa, and Eunectes genera
Document: FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015-0896
Comment on FR Doc # E8-01770
Ocean Gate, NJ, 08740
Organization: JKB ReptilesUS FISH AND WILDLIFE QUESTIONS REGARDING BOAS AND PTHONS.
Response by:
John Birgel
My Background:
I am a single 33 year old man with a passion for reptiles and amphibians; I have
been keeping and breeding Boids, Pythonidae Regius (Ball Python), Reticulatus
(Reticulated Python) and python Molurus biuittatus (Burmese Python) since the
early nineties. I have a group of about 70 adult breeders ranging in value from $100-
$5,000 each. I also have another 40+ sub adult animals that I will be raising to
adult hood. I buy, sell and trade my animals every year and claim the sales and
expenses on my income tax returns. I also work a full time job and am currently
enrolled in college.
Python Regius, Reticulates, and Molurus biuittatus and Cold Temperatures:
In my experience with pythons and boas they are extremely sensitive to cold and
climatic changes. I live in New Jersey were the fall through winter temperatures
would certainly kill any one of the species of snake in my keep. I have a
dedicated, fully enclosed, well insulated room for my animals. The reptile room is
equipped year round with room heaters that keep the room from 75-85F degrees
depending on the season and each animal has underbelly heat or radiant heat set
at 90F. I spray the cages with water mist to maintain humidity. This is the kind of
maintenance that is required to keep the animals in good health, living in NJ were
it gets below freezing. Although there is a lot of work that goes into maintaining a
small collection like mine the animals make it all well worth it. If not just for the
pure enjoyment then for the way it helps me socialize with other reptile keepers.
Escape Precautions
I maintain my reptile collection in a detached building that is heated with propane,
all animals are held in escape proof containers that are locked with either pins or
dowels. I do not have my snakes micro-chipped at this time but my reptile room is
locked and surveillance by 24 hour video cameras both inside and outside the
building.
Education Efforts
I participate in educating the general public on reptile care, keeping, and safety
through direct conversation, internet forums and chat rooms and on occasion
through offering local schools reptile education stage performances.
The Python Breeding Industry
is a growing industry were more and more people join our industry every day.
Many of us hobbyist keepers spend countless hours educating new reptile owners
on proper husbandry. This popularity of reptiles is no cause for alarm or for laws
that will shut down the hobby we love some much. There are many breeders who
make a living from the industry and these new laws would most certainly destroy
long term careers. There has been a great wealth of new information that has been
generated by both professional breeders and hobbyist we stand together as the
backbone of this industry.