Senators Might Ban Snakes on a Plane

The Senate is considering a bill that will ban nine species of snakes, including certain pythons, boa constrictors, and anacondas, from import and interstate commerce. (Sorry to disappoint anyone hoping it was the movie being banned.) Senators cite the problem of snakes escaping in the Florida Everglades, where they join other invasive species like aquarium fish, exotic birds, and feral hogs wreaking havoc on the habitat. Burmese pythons alone have an estimated population of 150,000 in the Everglades, and are considered one of the most damaging exotics in the National Park, reproducing quickly and taking down large, vulnerable species bobcats.

Environmental damage isn't the only concern. Earlier this year, a 2-year-old girl was killed by a python, the fourth death by a pet python since 2006. That might not seem like much compared to the 20 dog bite fatalities reported in 2009, but when you consider that there are an estimated 600,000 pet snakes (of any breed) and nearly 75 million pet dogs, it's a number that shouldn't be ignored. Snakes, like other reptiles, are often marketed as easy pets, leading people to believe you just stick them in an aquarium, get a heat lamp and the right food, and they don't need much else. But it's hard to keep them healthy and secure, especially for novices, and the cute little constrictors and pythons can quickly outgrow their enclosures and their owner's ability to handle them. That's why so many of them are abandoned, in places like the Everglades, to join their cousins who escaped during transport.

Even if it passes, the bill doesn't affect affect possession or sale of snakes within a state. Unfortunately, the door is still open for pet shops and breeders to do local business, but the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund are optimistic that this bill is a step toward heading off the next fad in exotic pets before it becomes a bigger problem.

Photo credit: wildxplorer