Reptiles as pets have been getting bad press again of late. For those of us who are reptile lovers, the bad press is something we almost expect. We take care of it. We continue. My hope is that it doesn’t deter those young and future herpetologists from exploring their interest. Bad press, of late, centers on the death of a Florida boy blamed on a pet Burmese python and the alleged proliferation of Burmese pythons infiltrating the Florida Everglades. Then we have the honorable representative of Congress from Guam (yes, the US territory of Guam) who has a bill floating through Congress to basically prohibit the breeding or possession of any animal other than a dog or cat.

The recent death of a child in Florida, while certainly tragic, should not be blamed on the alleged killer: a Burmese python. The 6 ft. The python, which appeared to be significantly malnourished, was reported to have lodged inside a bag placed in an aquarium. Who harbors a snake like this? When a snake escapes from its enclosure, does it immediately head for the smallest human in the house to gobble it up? No, he usually heads for a nice, dark hideout. At least one of the child’s parents was home when this incident occurred. Wouldn’t the father have heard the boy scream if the snake bit him and began to coil? The details of this incident (as reported) just don’t go away. However, if we assume that things happened as reported, it’s not the fault of the snake that got away. It is the fault of the irresponsible owner who did not keep him properly fed or housed. The snake was just acting on instinct. The solution to this incident is not to further eliminate individual rights by restricting snake ownership, the solution has two parts; keeping an eye on who owns large constrictors (a measure the state of Florida has already implemented) and appropriately punishing the snake owner for manslaughter and irresponsible pet ownership. Send a strong message to other large constrictor owners. Don’t take away the right to own.

Now, the exaggerated media portrayed is taking over Burmese pythons in the Everglades. There are reportedly some 100,000 Burmese pythons taking over, eating alligators and fish in the Everglades. Those of you who know the science behind heat-sensitive pythons know how silly it is to think that Burmese pythons eat fish. I would even say that it is highly unlikely that one would consume an alligator. An alligator is much more likely to consume a python. Pardon that short digression. There has been a team of seven “hunters” in the Everglades looking for Burmese pythons since early July 2009. As of this writing, the team had captured a total of six pythons! Do you think it’s safe to say that the estimate of 100,000 pythons in the Everglades was a bit of an exaggeration? Most of the pythons that exist in the wild Florida probably escaped during tropical storms and hurricanes. Many were housed in open-air enclosures. I submit that actual incidents of people deliberately “releasing” pythons into the wild are also greatly exaggerated. Again, keep an eye on who keeps them, and penalize those who don’t care for them properly. Don’t take away the ability to own along with the joy that great constrictor keepers have from owning and propagating them.

Finally, we have the esteemed Representative of Congress from Guam and her bill to ban the breeding and ownership of all (essentially) animals other than dogs, cats, or farm animals. As someone who has worked for a congressman, she didn’t even know there was a “representative” from Guam. The representative for Guam functions like the representatives for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico do. They are in Congress to “have a voice,” but they do not have the capacity to vote. If they don’t have a vote, why do we waste taxpayer money (six figure salaries) on these “reps”? Again, I have strayed. I am sorry. Life must be pretty good in Guam if this representative’s main concern is keeping exotic pets. As it turns out, I find it highly offensive that at a time of recession the honorable representative of Guam, who doesn’t even have voting power in Congress, is wasting the time of congressional staff and committees with this crack legislation.

Owning a pet, as with many aspects of life, requires thought, responsibility, planning, and research. Life cannot be legislated. We have to do what we can to promote responsibility. I don’t think any of us have the magic answer on how to promote individual responsibility. There probably isn’t just one answer. Education and regulation are part of the equation. The removal of individual rights and the subsequent removal of joyful aspects of people’s lives is certainly not the answer.

For more information on responsible pet ownership and to see the quality of captive-born reptiles available for adoption, visit HerpStation.net [http://herpstation.net/default.aspx].

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