Daily Reptile News

FWC wraps up 2-day meeting near Tallahassee

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) tackled numerous important issues during its meeting Wednesday and Thursday at the Florida Public Safety Institute, northwest of Tallahassee.

The Commission approved draft rules that would move the current list of reptiles in the reptiles of concern category and reclassify them as conditional species. The proposed rules would ban personal possession of these reptiles. Final rule-approval will be considered in June.

Commissioners also approved several final rules for captive wildlife. One rule amendment requires Class I and II wildlife facilities to make their Critical Incident and Disaster Plans available for inspection by local emergency managers. Commissioners also decided that people shipping captive wildlife must use more detailed, informative shipping labels.  At the meeting in September, Commissioners will revisit issues regarding requirements for captive wildlife facilities meeting local building and zoning codes.

Final rule amendments were approved in state manatee-protection zones in Sarasota County, which increase the size of the speed-zone area. Commissioners also advanced draft rules for the FWC’s approval process for local boating ordinances and uniform marker requirements. They approved technical corrections to the guidelines for two Boating and Waterways grant programs.

The Commission approved draft rules related to the taking of wildlife on airport property in emergency situations to ensure the safety of aircraft and human life.

On Thursday, April 29, the Commission approved a rule amendment that will make the recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state waters consistent with this year’s open season in Gulf federal waters.  This open harvest season will occur from June 1 through July 23 this year.

Commissioners also approved new rules that will include all species of bonefish found in Florida in the FWC’s bonefish management rules, extend current Florida bonefish regulations into adjacent federal waters, and require that bonefish be landed in a whole condition.  These rules take effect July 1.

In addition, the Commission approved new rules that will maintain the current number of commercial ballyhoo lampara net endorsements, allow all ballyhoo endorsement holders to sell their endorsement to other commercial fishers from July 1 – March 31 each year, limit any one entity from holding more than two ballyhoo endorsements at any one time, prohibit leasing of the endorsement, and allow only one endorsement per saltwater products license and one saltwater products license to be associated with a single endorsement.  These rules take effect July 1.

The FWC also approved a rule that will allow oyster harvesters to stow hand tongs on their vessels from sunset to sunrise so they can transit to oyster bars before dawn and begin harvesting oysters at sunrise.  This rule will take effect in early June.

In other marine fisheries action, the Commission reviewed and discussed several federal fisheries management issues.

Restaurant replaces meal dropped by snake surprise

GONZALES, LA (WAFB) – The woman who dropped her fried chicken and bolted out of her car because of a snake is going to be able to get that meal back.

Raisin’ Canes said it will send Marquita Lawrence a gift card for a free box of chicken strips.

Lawrence said she was stopped at a red light enjoying her lunch when a ball python popped out from beneath the passenger seat of her newly-purchased used car.

She threw down the box of chicken and ran away from the car.

Animal control officers removed the snake and returned it to its owner.

Deadline to Comment on Constrictor Snake Ban Approaches

The deadline to submit a comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to list nine species of large constrictor snakes as “injurious wildlife” is fast approaching. The deadline to comment is May 11.

The proposed rule change, which was published in the Federal Register last month, seeks to list the following snakes as “injurious wildlife” under the Lacey Act, thus prohibiting the importation and interstate trade of the species: the Indian and Burmese python, northern African python, southern African python, reticulated python, green anaconda, yellow anaconda, Beni or Bolivian anaconda, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, and Boa constrictor.

Many of these snakes are popular pets and are associated with a large domestic and international trade. Over the past 30 years, about one million of these nine species have been imported into the United States, and current domestic production of some species likely exceeds import levels, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) has launched a blog to assist the public in understanding the proposed rule change and in making constructive comments. PIJAC and other trade associations, such as the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK), have voiced concerns about the possibility of a ban pushing the trade underground and potentially causing those already in possession of the snakes to euthanize the animals or release them into the wild.

“The Lacey Act listing has never stopped the introduction of any invasive species and has never eradicated any invasive species, so the stated intent of what they’re trying to do is not what would actually happen,” said USARK president Andrew Wyatt. Wyatt also said the science used to the justify the proposal is “overexaggerated” and that the Fish and Wildlife Service has done a poor job of assessing the economic impact that such a ban would have on businesses.

Ban supporters, such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), say action is needed to prevent the country’s fragile ecosystems from being destroyed by the snakes. In an open letter dated April 6, HSUS president and CEO Wayne Pacelle called on the organization’s supporters to submit comments in favor of the proposed rule change.

“These snakes are dangerous to people and they can wreak havoc on our ecosystems,” Pacelle wrote. “Add to this the suffering of the animals in the pet trade, and it is clear that action is needed.”

The proposed rule may be viewed here.

Comments may be submitted electronically at Regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015 or via U.S. mail or hand-delivery to Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.

2 Alligators Found During NE Philly Raid

PHILADELPHIA – Animal Control officers removed two live alligators from a warehouse on State Road in Northeast Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Skyfox was over the scene as animal control officers removed the reptiles.

Philadelphia police say that they stumbled upon the animals when they were conducting an ongoing narcotics investigation. The two alligators are currently at the Animal Care and Control team facility.

Fox 29’s Julie Kim headed over to the Bucks County Zoo and spoke to Executive Director Joe Fortunato, a/k/a Jungle Joe to Good Day Philadelphia viewers.

In the past two years, Joe estimates they have been called approximately 3-dozen times to take in crocadilians, and, he adds, calls are coming in more frequently.

Most municipalities, like Philadelphia do have laws against housing some exotic reptiles without a proper permit. But, as Jungle Joe points out, “a lot of people have them, you would be surprised.”

If you are interested in getting a pet other than the standard dog, cat or hamster, Julie suggests doing your homework. Laws differ from county to county – so start with a call to your local animal control officer.

Man arrested for capturing gator and trying to sell bathtub-contained reptile

A Bluffton man was charged Tuesday after he tried to sell an alligator for $30 he had caught near his Bluffton home — and kept in his bathtub.

Authorities received a tip that the 47-year-old man was offering to sell a 1-year-old, 3-foot-long American alligator he had caught near his Plantation Point apartment, according to Sgt. Michael Paul Thomas of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

DNR officers and sheriff’s deputies arrived in time to observe the sale, Thomas said.

“He caught it near his home the day before and was keeping it in the bathtub of his residence,” Thomas said.

The man was charged with unlawful possession and sale of an alligator and with possessing an alligator out of season, both misdemeanors with fines up to $2,500 each, Thomas said.

DNR officials have made similar arrests in Beaufort County, but Thomas said the biggest problem for the local gators is people feeding the reptiles that were once endangered, but now thriving in the Southeast.

“We would like to remind people not to feed or disturb gators,” he said. “The best thing is to just leave them alone.”

Residents should expect to seemore gators out and about in the next few weeks as their mating season peaks, Thomas said.

The Bluffton man was released from the Beaufort County Detention Center on his own recognizance after spending the night in jail, according to the jail’s log.

The gatorwas released back into the wild Tuesday afternoon, Thomas said.

SPCA: 2 Pitbulls Found Dead in Mastic Were Neglected

Two dead pit bulls were found in a trash bin outside a Mastic reptile shop Tuesday evening.

Suffolk County SPCA said the two young dogs, which were discovered outside the Animal Hut, appeared to have died from severe neglect.

Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk SPCA, is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this act of cruelty.

Anyone with information is asked to call 631-382-7722.  All calls will be kept confidential.

Snake on the Loose in Newberry? Fact or Fiction?

Newberry, SC (WLTX) — A number of residents in Newberry are terrified about a snake they claim to have seen. Some say it’s as long as 30 feet.

There’s also a picture going around that people are claiming is a picture of the snake. Tuesday, we went to check it out.

“That’s a picture my friend just sent me. It says it was found in a dirt road in Newberry,” said one girl as she showed us her cell phone picture.

It’s got just about everyone talking snakes.

“My friend, she got an email about the snake she seen on Vincent Street,” said one man.

“I think it’s some snakes from down toward Florida,” said another.

Most haven’t seen it, but they’ve most certainly heard.

“I know it’s true. My sister ain’t gonna tell no lie like that,” said one resident whose sister says she’s seen the large snake.

“It was the most humongous thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It almost scared me to death,” said James Maffett.

Maffett says he witnessed the snake with his own eyes while driving home a couple weeks ago.

“There was a big log halfway across the road. As I approached, I got within four feet and knew it was a snake,” said Maffett.

Maffett says the snake looked at him and slithered its way into a nearby field. He thinks it was more than 20 feet long.

“I have a grandson that’s two years old. He could eat him in an instant,” said Maffett.

We wanted to see if snake catcher John Whitehead could help us determine if the stories were true. He’s been working catching animals for 40 years all over the midlands.

“I get calls from people that say I got one in my yard that’s three feet long, and I go there and it’s six inches long,” said Whitehead.

Despite all the exaggerations, Whitehead is willing to bite at the Newberry tale. “The possibilities of it is great,” he said.

He says pet owners likely could have let go a Burmese Python. According to National Geographic the snake can get longer than 23 feet, and weigh 200 pounds.

As far as the picture everyone is passing around? It’s bogus. We looked it up on Google, and the snake in the infamous picture comes from Australia.

“I’m hoping they catch him today,” said Maffett.

For Maffett and his neighbors it’s all too real. Concerned residents have called the DNR, who told them to call animal control.

Animal Control passed them along to Whitehead, the snake catcher. However, at this point no one is willing to pay the cost to catch the snake.

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