Girl, 2, strangled by pet python, police say

[aicirt]

an update

lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=530759

What killed many of Florida’s
problem snakes? Winter
Miami Herald, by Curtis Morgan

Original Article

mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/23/90947/what-killed-many-of-floridas-problem.html

Posted By:krispy kritter, 3/24/2010 4:28:06 PM
Winter walloped the Burmese python, but not enough to wipe out the most infamous invader of the Everglades, scientists and wildlife managers told a congressional panel assessing efforts to control the exotic snakes. The Tuesday hearing put some of the first hard numbers on the staggering death toll from a historic cold snap — nine of 10 pythons equipped with radio tracers in Everglades National Park died, according to one yet-to-be published study. It also cranked up the heat on a simmering battle over a controversial federal proposal to ban the interstate sale and import of large constrictors.

Hmmmmm…

How did the alligators make out with the cold and all?

Who could possibly come up with reasons FOR interstate sale and importation of constrictors…large or small or for the import of ANY dangerous animal into the US? Haven’t they learned their lesson with these pythons? I understand cobras have also been discovered. For the sake of public safety, out law the import.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

The number of articles seems to be increasing tremendously.

Apparently, there are 100,000 or more pythons and other huge constricting snakes out and about in the Everglades. They eat everything.

Ever so slowly, the problem is starting to gain attention.

I don’t understand why we don’t allow unrestricted hunting of the pythons and similar biggie snakes.

Are pythons a protected species?

Is snakeskin forbidden to be used as leather?

Are we not allowed to use snake meat for animal feed?

Why not a $50 bounty for each python head that gets brought in.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

mcclatchydc.com/2010/02/22/87443/python-season-starts-next-month.html

Well, the government way to deal with pythons is to charge people to hunt them and only during a short period of time.

Why any restrictions? Why are the pythons being protected?

More DMV clerks involved here. The same people who will be running our healthcare system.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

mcclatchydc.com/2009/05/21/68603/surge-of-giant-snakes-in-everglades.html

Another government approach. They want to talk about voting on maybe banning the pythons.

Question: what if the snakes can’t read? Will the government then pass a snake literacy training program?

Question: what if the snakes ignore the ban?

[Who ARE these alleged legislators? Are they $%^&*) stupid? Are THESE the same guys who gave us the government healthcare program?]

 

[Monte_RCMS]

A thousand apologies for responding to myself.

Here is an article from a couple of years ago about the Guam brown tree snake.

sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080808090313.htm

The government is merely studying the problem.

Have they considered a bounty on the snake? Every teenager would be out there hunting down the snakes for the bounty. AND not a catch and release program. You bash the heads of the snakes.

 

[SwizzleStick]

The number of articles seems to be increasing tremendously.

Apparently, there are 100,000 or more pythons and other huge constricting snakes out and about in the Everglades. They eat everything.

Ever so slowly, the problem is starting to gain attention.

I don’t understand why we don’t allow unrestricted hunting of the pythons and similar biggie snakes.

Are pythons a protected species?

Is snakeskin forbidden to be used as leather?

Are we not allowed to use snake meat for animal feed?

Why not a $50 bounty for each python head that gets brought in.

Maybe they are just going to hope that the cold weather took care of a large part of the python and biggie snake population and solved their problem for them?

 

[SwizzleStick]

…More DMV clerks involved here. The same people who will be running our healthcare system.

Yikes, what a scary thought. If I lived in Florida, I might consider relocating.

 

[SwizzleStick]

mcclatchydc.com/2009/05/21/68603/surge-of-giant-snakes-in-everglades.html

Another government approach. They want to talk about voting on maybe banning the pythons.

Question: what if the snakes can’t read? Will the government then pass a snake literacy training program?

Question: what if the snakes ignore the ban?

[Who ARE these alleged legislators? Are they $%^&*) stupid? Are THESE the same guys who gave us the government healthcare program?]

 

[SwizzleStick]

A thousand apologies for responding to myself. …

That’s okay. Sometimes that is the only way to get intelligient responses. At other times, it is the only way to get the answers you want to hear.

 

[aicirt]

Maybe they are just going to hope that the cold weather took care of a large part of the python and biggie snake population and solved their problem for them?

LOL…now there’s a typical government plan. What’s the odds of such an enduring cold spell happening again in FL? Better for them to be thinking about unseasonably hot temps in God’s Waiting Room removing us seniors with epidemic heat strokes and saving the bankrupt Medicare Program.

 

[SwizzleStick]

LOL…now there’s a typical government plan. …

It is, isn’t it? While I do think that taking a wait and see approach to some things is a good plan, I don’t think that is true in this case.

…What’s the odds of such an enduring cold spell happening again in FL? Better for them to be thinking about unseasonably hot temps in God’s Waiting Room removing us seniors with epidemic heat strokes and saving the bankrupt Medicare Program.

Things that make you say :

The word “thinking” being used in regard to “government.”



Just kidding, of course. With this administration, I’d being more apt to use the word “plotting” in regard to “government.”

 

[Monte_RCMS]

What we need is an “incentive” program, aka, bounties.

$50 per python head.

Problem gone.

The government program of studying the program to death, does not seem to be working.

 

[Cathy_M_1]

Originally Posted by exoflare
What would be the point of banning them, though? The problem isn’t that the government hasn’t taken action; the problem is there are people out there stupid enough to try and keep one of these things as a pet. Anyone that dumb is a hazard to society no matter what.

As an owner of a somewhat large-ish snake, I found this quite insulting. You wouldn’t call someone who owns a Rottweiler, Doberman, German Shepherd, Husky etc. instead of a Pomeranian or Chihuahua stupid, would you? Is someone who works with horses stupid? My cousin was almost killed by her own horse when it kicked her. One kick can easily kill an adult human. Yet she loves horses and continues to work with them and keep them as pets, despite the accident. I guess she must be a real moron and hazard to society, huh? All of the above animals kill people more often than snakes do. Attacks by large snakes are very rare, even in areas where they are native and live around humans.

I also own a Husky mix that could easily kill a child or adult. Guess I must be twice as stupid/hazardous.

It is tragic the child died, but a hungry dog could have done the same thing. The snake was kept in an unsuitable and unlocked enclosure, and was underfed (it weighed only half of what a snake that size should weigh). Snakes are not territorial animals that incorporate us into their social structures like dogs, nor do they kill for amusement like cats and dogs are known to, so the only reason they bite is out of defense or hunger. Had the owner been keeping the animal properly, and fed it, this unfortunate accident would have never happened. All animals should be kept securely away from children when not being supervised by an adult. There’s no reason to punish responsible snake keeper though, just like responsible Rottweiler, German Shepherd, etc. owners shouldn’t be punished when someone else’s dog kills someone.

I do agree that invasive species should be dealt with and have no problem with python hunts. I also believe large constrictors and venomous snakes should have to be microchipped (which is already the law in Florida that the owner did not follow) and the owner fined if they are found roaming loose, and the same should apply to dogs and cats (cats have decimated native wildlife populations more than any other pet animal). We should enforce the laws we do have and make people responsible for their animals. If the current laws aren’t even enforced, what’s the point of making new ones?

Also, the Bible does not say snakes are evil. Unless you also want to think dogs are evil as well since in some passages it refers to unsavory people as dogs. The only creature on Earth capable of being evil is man.

members.truevine.net/poemphos@truevine.net/stsministries/snakesevil.htm

There are many believers of the God of the Bible who keep snakes. I understand some people just do not care for snakes, but please do not call us stupid just because some of our pets have scales instead of fur. Not everyone who owns a snake is covered in tattoos and listens to death metal. My pets have harmed no one, and I am not a “danger to society” anymore than your average dog or gun owner is.

 

[jmcrae]

Large animals of any kind, but particularly carnivores, don’t belong indoors.

Horses are useful for farm work; dogs are useful for hunting and for farm work, so it makes sense to domesticate them if you live on a farm, but what are you keeping a snake for, other than the “ain’t I just so cooool” thing?

If you want to keep down the mice, get yourself a cat; your baby can fight off a cat more easily than a snake, and you’d hear the yelling in time to rescue her.

 

[Calliso]

Large animals of any kind, but particularly carnivores, don’t belong indoors.

Horses are useful for farm work; dogs are useful for hunting and for farm work, so it makes sense to domesticate them if you live on a farm, but what are you keeping a snake for, other than the “ain’t I just so cooool” thing?

If you want to keep down the mice, get yourself a cat; your baby can fight off a cat more easily than a snake, and you’d hear the yelling in time to rescue her.

Actually I would be more worried about a cat with a child then a snake. I mean the cat is more likely to attack and the cat is more likely to be in a situation in the first place where they can attack a child. As for why someone would keep a snake…maybe they like snakes? I think its more then unfair of you to just assume these people are just trying to look cool. Maybe a few are but I am willing to bet most just happen to like snakes and or other reptiles.

 

[SwizzleStick]

A related article about a guy who attempted to keep animals as pets that should not be kept as pets. These things belong in zoos and such, not private homes.

"Pet Rattlesnake Bites Man

MYFOXNY.COM - A 31-year-old Long Island man was rushed to the hospital after being bitten by a pet rattlesnake.

It happened Thursday in a home on Oak Street in Floral Park.

The man is at Jacobi Medical Center in fair condition. He was being treated for a bite on his left hand.

Animal Control agents removed the albino diamondback rattlesnake, an indian cobra, eyelash viper, and bamboo viper from the home. They are all described as highly venomous, deadly and illegal to keep.

The SPCA also took a 3-foot-long crocodile monitor, described as a dangerous reptile, from the home.

Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said, “It is dangerous to the public and dangerous to other family members. This incident is a perfect example of what can happen with these animals.”

The cobra and the rattlesnake were between 4-5 feet in length.

The reptiles are all being taken to a sanctuary and will not be destroyed."

Source with video link: myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/long_island/pet-rattlesnake-bites-man-20100325-lgf

 

[Cathy_M_1]

One could ask why does someone need a pet dog. No one needs any pets. If you need companionship, you can make some human friends or get an animal such as a cat or parakeet which is much less likely to kill someone. If you need protection, get a can of pepper spray/handgun or a burglar alarm for your house (which works much better. Many dogs will let a burglar ransack your house). Many dog breeds are fully capable of seriously mauling or killing someone. Dog attacks send an estimated 100,000 people to the hospital per year, and kill 20-30 per year in the U.S. The python attack on the little girl was like the 12th attack in 30 years or so.

If we kept dogs as working animals only, such as police, service or farm dogs, or banned all dogs over 20 pounds as being kept as pets, there would be fewer human fatalities and injuries. Most dogs are kept as pets for human enjoyment/entertainment, not as working animals that they originally were created to be. Many dogs cannot even perform what they were original bred for since they’ve become warped from breeding for looks instead of working ability.

I have my snake for the same reason I have my dog (and my gold fish) - I enjoy caring for them and I think they are beautiful creatures. Do I think it looks cool? Yes. Though I think all animals look cool in their own way. I personally think my dog looks cooler than my snake.

To say I got my snake to look “cool,” is like saying owners of dogs over 20 pounds only got their dogs to “look cool” because they could have gotten a toy poodle or cat instead. If I cared about “looking cool” to others, I’d spend my money on a fancy car, fancy clothing and stop going to church (since going to church is so “uncool” these days).

Not that I think dogs should be banned either. I just think its silly to want to ban snakes for safety reasons and not dogs when dogs harm and kill more people.

 

[jmcrae]

One could ask why does someone need a pet dog.

Dogs can be trained for a wide variety of useful tasks. Of course, this means that they need someone who is competent in dog-training, to train them.

You are right that untrained dogs are even more dangerous than snakes - but that doesn’t make it okay to keep snakes, any more than it makes it okay to keep an untrained dog - both are bad ideas, especially when it comes to the question of child safety.

 

[SwizzleStick]

…You are right that untrained dogs are even more dangerous than snakes - but that doesn’t make it okay to keep snakes, any more than it makes it okay to keep an untrained dog - both are bad ideas, especially when it comes to the question of child safety.

I’d say that is true but it also depends on the snake. I’d say that any venomous snake is more dangererous and large constrictor snakes are also dangerous. A snake’s function is to hunt, eat, sleep, poop, breed, defend themselves. A venomous snake cannot be trained and I’d even guess that it is true that any snake cannot be trained. They just do what they do. I don’t think the same can be said of most dogs.

 

[jmcrae]

I’d say that is true but it also depends on the snake. I’d say that any venomous snake is more dangererous and large constrictor snakes are also dangerous. A snake’s function is to hunt, eat, sleep, poop, breed, defend themselves. A venomous snake cannot be trained and I’d even guess that it is true that any snake cannot be trained. They just do what they do. I don’t think the same can be said of most dogs.

I agree with that. Of course, I am personally of the opinion that a household with young children in it doesn’t need any pets - little kids are challenge enough, if you are looking for messes to clean up, and broken furniture and appliances to fix. Plus, kids grow up into human beings, and if they are well brought up, they will more than make up for the messes they made when they were little, by being of help to you in your old age. No pet can do that.