PUBLIC SUBMISSION | As of: February 16, 2009 Tracking No. 803aa8ef 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-2008-0015-0428
Comment on FR Doc # E8-01770
Chicago, IL, 60615
It seems to me that this measure is entirely too broad since a) most of the species of pythons
and boas that are kept as pets are not large enough to threaten wildlife other than small rodents
such as mice and rats were they released into the wild and b) furthermore would not survive the
winters of the greater part of the United States. In fact, in Chicago, were any of these snakes
released in the area, they would not survive very long outdoors. Most would meet their demise
even in the "mild" spring and fall of the year, let alone winter. Rather than banning all of these
snakes, it would seem more prudent to concentrate on those that have proven fatal to humans
and threatened wildlife (generally heavy bodied snakes over 6 or 7 feet long). Burmese pythons,
for example, are often foolishly sold by unscrupulous pet stores as "good starter snakes" when,
in fact, they should only be kept in zoos, research labs, and the like. A ball python, on the other
hand, is neither dangerous to humans or capable of threatening wildlife other than rodents.
Since they imprint on prey relatively young, and since they are fed rats and mice by pet owners,
they would only be inclined to eat their preferred prey even if they were to be released in an area
where they could survive--which rarely occurs since they are popular and easily sold. Both the
intent and scope of this proposal warrant careful review in conversation with the many
responsible snake owners and breeders lest undue limitations be placed on those snakes that
are far less dangerous to the ecosystem or to humans than many species of domesticated
dogs, who are not subject to such draconian regulations.