The Current State of Reptile Ownership

Reptiles as pets have received some bad press again lately. For those of us that are reptile lovers, bad press is something we've come to almost expect. We deal with it. We move on. My hope is that it doesn't deter those young, budding future herpetologists from exploring their interest. The bad press, as of late, centers around the death of a Florida child attributed to a pet Burmese Python and the alleged proliferation of Burmese Pythons infiltrating the Florida Everglades. Then we have the honorable congressional representative from Guam (yes the U.S. territory of Guam) who has a bill floating around Congress to basically outlaw the breeding or possessing of any animal other than a dog or cat.

The death of a child in Florida recently, while certainly tragic, should not be blamed on the alleged murderer - a Burmese Python. The 6ft. python, which appeared to be significantly underfed, was reported to have been housed inside of a bag placed in an aquarium. Who houses a snake this way? When a snake escapes from its enclosure does it immediately head for the smallest human in the house to gobble him/her up? No, it usually heads for a nice, dark hiding spot. At least one of the child's parents was in the home when this incident happened. Wouldn't the parent have heard the child screem if the snake bit it and started to coil? The details of this incident (as they have been reported) just don't wash. Nonetheless, if we go on the assumption that things happened as reported, it's not the snake's fault that it escaped. It's the irresponsible owner's fault who didn't keep it properly fed or housed. The snake was just acting on instinct. The solution to this incident is not further eliminate individual rights by restricting snake ownership, the solution is two part; keep tabs on who owns large constrictors (a measure which the state of Florida has in place already) and to properly punish the snake's owner for involuntary man-slaughter and irresponsible pet ownership. Send a strong message to other large constrictor owners. Don't take away the right to own.

Now, the over-hyped, media portrayed take over of Burmese Pythons in the Everglades. Reportedly, there are some 100,000 Burmese Pythons taking over, eating alligators and fish in the Everglades. Those of you that know the science behind heat sensing pythons know how silly it is to think that Burmese Pythons eat fish. I would even argue that its highly unlikely that one would consume an alligator. An alligator is far more likely to consume a python. Forgive that brief digression. There has been a team of seven "hunters" in the Everglades seeking out Burmese Pythons since early July 09'. At the time of writing this article, the team had captured a grand total of six pythons! Do you think it's safe to say the estimate of 100,000 pythons in the Everglades was slightly exaggerated? Most of the pythons that exist in wild Florida likely escaped during tropical storms and hurricanes. Many were housed in outdoor enclosures. The actual incidents of people deliberately "releasing" pythons into the wild, I argue, is also highly overblown. Again, keep tabs on who keeps them, and penalize those who do not properly care for them. Don't take away the ability to posses along with joy that large constrictor keepers have from owning and propagating them.

Finally, we have the esteemed congressional representative from Guam and her bill to outlaw the breeding and keeping of all animals (basically) that are not dogs, cats or farm animals. As someone who has worked for a Congressman, I didn't even know there was a "representative" from Guam. The representative from Guam functions as do the representatives from the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They are in Congress to "have a voice" but don't have voting ability. If they don't have a vote, then why are we wasting taxpayer dollars (six figure salaries) on these "representatives?" Again, I've digressed. Sorry. Life must be pretty good on Guam if exotic pet ownership is this representative's chief concern. I happen to find it highly offensive that in a time of recession the honorable representative from Guam, who doesn't even have congressional voting power, is wasting the time of congressional staff and committees with this crack legislation.

Pet ownership, as with many aspects of life, requires thought, responsibility, planning and research. Life can't be legislated. We have to do what we can to promote responsibility. I don't think any of us has the magic answer on how to promote individual responsibility. There probably isn't one single answer. Education and regulation are part of the equation. The elimination of individual rights and subsequent elimination of aspects of joy from people's lives is certainly not the answer.

For more information on responsible pet ownership, and to view quality, captive born reptiles available for adoption, visit HerpStation.net.