Florida Python Ban

Florida is trying to ban "reptiles of concern." (News source.)

Python Politics Continues

An interesting business-side look at the effects of the python ban from the WSJ.

The cold snap in FL has killed off a number of pythons, apparently.

Another Article on Python Ban

From Tennessee.

Venomous News

The Maryland woman who claimed she was bitten by a loose cobra has been charged by DNR with possession of two venomous snakes. (News source.)

Utah is considering allowing residents to keep rattlesnakes. (News source.)

Australian snakebites are on the rise (News source.); a hiker in Tasmania was bitten by an unidentified snake. (News source.)

NC Rattler Bite

A Gaston County, NC, man was bitten by a rattlesnake in a friend's collection. (News source.)

MD Cobra Bite

A very strange case where a Maryland woman claims she picked up a "stick" in a parking lot that turned out to be a cobra. Philly Zoo sent antivenom. The woman is being questioned, as the story sounds a little fishy, and venomous species are illegal in the state. (News source, here, and here.)

Cane Toad Update

Cane toad fighters in Australia are upset now that the government is reconsidering the legality of using carbon dioxide to kill the invasive amphibians. They are concerned that it may be cruel, in which case the fighters would have to go back to whacking them with golf clubs. (News source.)

One Australian is looking at the toads as an opportunity to sell toad poison and meat to the Chinese. (News source.)

Another Good Letter to Editor

On the proposed python/boa ban.

Snake Poacher

Arizona G&F prosecuted a snake/turtle poacher in 2009. (News source.)

Salmonella Lawsuit

A mother has filed a lawsuit against Serpent Safari for an alleged case of salmonella in her young son in 2007. (News source.)

Frog Poisoning by Shamans

Two Chilean shamans are being sought by police after they used extracted poison from a dart frog in a traditional healing ceremony that went wrong. (News source.)

Reptile Zoo Fined

An Ontario serpentarium operator was charged with possession of four native species (some considered endangered in Ontario) and fined $8,000 (CAN). (News source.)

Python Ban Opinion Letter

An excellent opinion released by Dr. William Kirby, here.

More Python Ban Material

PIJAC and others are trying keep the Senate from banning all pythons, latest news here.

Professional herpetologists have weighed in to call the justification for such a ban unscientific.

Missouri Turtle Dealer Sentenced

A Missouri turtle farmer was sentenced for shipping native and endangered species without permit to Japan. (News source.)

Spider Smuggler?

A Welsh man was arrested for attempting to smuggle over 900 tarantulas and other spiders out of Brazil. He says he got them in Paraguay, and just passing through Brazil, but the Brazilians don't care -- no papers, no spiders. (News source.)

HR 2711

This bill is intended to ban pythons in the US (or at least Burmese, reticulated, and African rocks). You can read more here, and here (on the 11/6 hearing). Rep. Kendrick Meek doesn't have a direct email address, but you can email his chief of staff.

On a personal note, while I understand the need to protect the south Florida habitat, the nationwide ban is ridiculous and nothing more than fear-mongering. (Not to mention a star publicity vehicle -- apparently, Meek is planning a Senate run. Any wonder he's pushing the "snakes are evil" agenda to garner votes?) If someone truly wanted to help conserve the Everglades and still protect herpetoculture, here's what I'd suggest:

1) Remove Miami as a wildlife port. Only 10 or so ports are allowed to have commercial wildlife imports, Miami is one of them. This is why so many small herps have become invasive in southern Florida: a) there is great tropical habitat, and b) there are more opportunities to escape. You're not going to have that same problem in, for example, Baltimore.

2) Ban the larger pythons in the south Florida counties. No need for a statewide ban, just enough counties to make it unlikely for anyone to just dump their snake in the Glades.

3) Enlist actual field herpers to help collect pythons from the wild. The 37 or so that the professional trappers caught during the "official" hunt were rather meager. Hobbyists are far more likely to be successful.

Python News

A 16-foot Burmese python was found in the Everglades. It will be radiotagged and released back in the wild by researchers. (News source.)

Florida legislators are considering a ban on internet sales of pythons. (News source.)

Fluffy, the reticulated python displayed at the Columbus Zoo, is a contender for the Guinness World Records. (News source.)

Northern Pine Controversy

Developers are trying to get NJ to take the northern pine snake off the threatened list. (News source.)

Ohio Town Ruled by Fear

Wilmington, Ohio, is taking a turn towards fear-based legislation, to restrict such "dangerous" exotics as boids over 3 feet in length, monitors, and tegus. (News source.)

Custody Turtles

A Georgia man was acquitted of charges last year, but still hasn't gotten back all of his turtles. Many died in custody, while others have been returned in poor condition. (News source.)

Turtles & the Law

A Massachusetts developer has run into restrictions from box turtle conservation requirements. (News source.)

The US Army wants to relocate 1100 endangered California desert tortoises. (News source.)

The USFWS is reviewing the desert tortoise for possible ESA inclusion. (News source.)

A Canadian turtle keeper was sentenced to nine months in jail for keeping threatened species, mostly Blanding's turtles. (News source.)

Sea turtles and their eggs will be banned for possession, consumption, etc., in the Bahamas soon. (News source.)

Vietnamese officials seized 10 tons of tortoise and pangolin shells smuggled in from Indonesia. (News source.)

Poachers continue to threaten the Madagascar spider tortoise. (News source.)

Fine for NC Dealer

Most of the 100 snakes seized from a North Carolina reptile dealer were returned to be moved to a different location. The dealer was fined $300 for keeping venomous snakes, against county regs. An alligator and four eastern diamondbacks were not returned, due to state laws. (News source.)

Python Banning Bill is Back

The HSUS and other anti-reptile factions are pushing for the bill to ban pythons again. More details here, and here.

Invasive News

Cuban tree frog expansion in Florida may be nearing its limits as they reach colder climates. (News source.)

The governor of Florida has approved python-hunting in the Everglades. (News source.)

NC Snake Law Passed

Stricter regulations are now in place in North Carolina for keepers of large constrictors and venomous reptiles. (News source.)

Snake Bites

A Green Bay, Wisconsin, teen was bitten by a captive rattlesnake. It and several other illegally kept venomous snakes were confiscated. (News source.)

A Louisiana firefighter was bitten by a cottonmouth. (News source.)

Court Ruling: Can't Sue for Utah Snake Case Deaths

The rubber boas that died due to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources negligence are a lost cause: the owner can't sue. (News here, and here.)

Turtle Legal Issues

Florida has introduced their new rules on taking freshwater turtles. (News source.)

A Maldives resort could be in trouble for their unlicensed "conservation" project with sea turtle eggs. (News source.)

A nearly $3 million "ecopassage" under a busy Florida highway is mostly to save turtles (and protect motorists), but is controversial in Congress. (News source.)

Polish customs officials arrested a Ukrainian man for smuggling tortoises. (News source.)

A Filipino man was arrested in Malaysia for smuggling/selling turtle eggs. (News source.)

Legal Matters in Edgewood, Florida

A reptile ban in Edgewood, Florida, was skipped, after local herpetoculturists showed some fight. Venomous owners will have to register with the city. (News source.)

Turtle Bust (Baltimore)

Two street vendors were arrested for selling undersized turtles in Baltimore. (News source.)

Turtle Goes Home

A Washington family is getting back their western pond turtle on permanent loan from CA wildlife officials. (News source.)

Herp Crimes

A "double-headed snake" was confiscated from poachers in India. (News source.)

Australian authorities confiscated a pair of leopard geckos. (News source.)

Turtle News

Indonesians on the island of Runduma are protecting the local sea turtles now, instead of using their eggs. (News source.)

The rare western pond turtle found in Washington state recently turns out to be an escaped family pet, but the owners probably won't get it back. (News source.)

Emergency fishing regs put into effect banning longlines in the Gulf of Mexico may become permanent. Longlines injure sea turtles and other non-target species. (News source.)

Dead turtles turning up in Menasha, WI, are worrying conservationists. (News source.)

A Florida man was charged with poaching sea turtle eggs. (News source.)

Turtle News

Tennessee conservationists want to protect their native turtles from the Asian food trade. (News source.)

A western pond turtle has been found in western Washington state, where it was thought extirpated. (News source.)

NC Legislation

During the "crossover deadline," North Carolina passed updated legislation for herp keepers:

"Under S307, Regulate Ownership & Use of Certain Reptiles, herpetology fans would have to make sure their snakes — particularly those that are poisonous or constrict their prey — are kept under control.
"The measure updates laws regarding the handling of venomous snakes and other reptiles, clarifying penalties for exposing others to dangerous creatures or transporting them in a negligent fashion." (News source.)

Herp Legal Matters

Three men in India were arrested for smuggling 55 tortoises. (News source.)

Texas herpers are trying to get road-hunting legislation passed. (News source.)

An Iowa town has slightly amended their "no constrictors" sales ban. (News source.)

Two pet snakes were confiscated from a home in Hawaii. (News source.)

Herp Legality

Florida wildlife officers arrested a man who had a sea turtle in his cooler. (News source.)

The UK is considering easing the captive wild animal regulations a bit. (News source.)

Wildlife officers in India held a man for possessing sand boas illegally. (News source.)

Illegal Corn Snakes

A pair of corn snakes has been confiscated from an Australian hobbyist, and he faces large fines. (News source.)

Gator News

Chinese researchers say the wild population of Chinese alligators in the Yangtze river may increase to 300 in the next 5-10 years. (News source.)

A South Carolina man was charged with possession of a baby alligator, illegal in that state. (News source.)

Say No: H. R. 669

Poorly drafted legislation purports to squelch the threat of invasive species, but does little more than create massive bureaucratic headaches, ignore primary invasive threats (plants, feral domestic animals) for sensationalized "exotics," and lay waste to the herpetoculture, aquaria, and aviculture trades without rational justification.

Details from PIJAC, and Kingsnake, and NoHR669.

Border Patrol Agent Busted

A US Border Patrol Agent plead guilty smuggling to smuggling leopard tortoises. (News source.)

Gator "Attack"

A Florida man fought off (with an oar) a gator that tried to jump into his boat. Wildlife officials then charged the man for some fishing/boating violations. (News source.)

Stupid Reptile Laws are Still the Law...

Officials in Milwaukee confiscated a city resident's apparently well-kept collection of boids, monitors, turtles, and a "crocodile." (Not sure if that's an actual croc, or is a gator or caiman.) (News source, and here.)

Turtle Pick Indictment

A California woman was indicted for illegally imported guitar picks made from hawksbill sea turtle shells. (News source.)

Turtle Conservation

Arkansas Game and Fish has turned down petitions to end turtle harvesting in that state. (News source.)

Iowa conservationists are concerned with an increase in turtle harvesting in that state. (News source.)

The Dominican Republic has cracked down on souvenirs made from endangered sea turtle shell. (News source.)

Iguana Trapper Wanted (Cheap)

Manalapan, Florida, is trying to find a cheaper way to get rid of the invasive iguanas in their town, and still hold to state guidelines. (News source.)

Turtles Confiscated

50 baby Asian softshell turtles were illegally imported into the US by a pet shop, and seized by USFWS. (News source.)

Multi-State Herp Bust

Canada and NY are pushing the p.r. on a recent illegal reptile trade bust; other state's efforts (like Pennsylvania) will probably follow soon. Aspects include smuggling massasaugas across the Canadian border, selling eastern box turtles online, and selling wild-collected snapping turtles from New York to a turtle farm in Louisiana where they were shipped to Asia mixed in with legally farmed turtles. But, of course, the publicity will focus on the "unnatural" aspects of keeping reptiles in general, the "lucrative" and implied widespread business of poaching native species, etc., rather than the very small number of people involved when considering the reptile hobby as a whole.

Details here, here, and here.

Canadian B. C. Law Hurts Boa Breeders

The B. C. Reptile Club is planning to fight the recent provincial ban of certain exotic pets, including boas and pythons. (News source.)

Herp Crimes

Three Florida teenagers were charged with poaching alligators. (News source.)

Gassing dens for rattlesnakes is now outlawed in Alabama. (News source.)

A gang of Indian venom smugglers was caught with king cobra venom. (News source.)

Proposed Florida Turtle Ban

Some info on the proposed ban in Florida regarding commercial harvest of turtles, here.

Couple Pleas Out

The "python attacked their kid" couple in Nevada plead out. (News source.)

North Carolina Regs

NC may be tightening regulations for keeping crocodilians and certain large constrictors. (News source.)

California Ban Coming?

California is considering a ban on importation of live frogs and turtles for sale at live animal markets. Ostensibly, this would be to curb the poor conditions in food-oriented markets. But, I'm wondering if this will affect importation for sale at reptile shows, as well? (News source.)

Alabama Retailer Charged

An Alabama man was charged with selling false water cobra to an undercover officer. (News source.)

PIJAC Python Ban Alert

Here's the PDF with PIJAC's alert notice on the attempt to ban pythons as injurious species.

Rattler Bite Lawsuit

A man bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake at a Florida Wal-Mart garden center last summer is suing the company for negligence. (News source.)

More on NV Python Attack Arrest

Apparently, the couple was just babysitting the snake. (News source.)

The couple is now on house arrest. (News source.)

Another pic of the snake stretched out by deputies, here.

Parents Arrested

The parents of a young boy attacked by their pet 18-foot python have been arrested for child endangerment. (News source.)

Turtle Issues

South Carolina is looking into legislation to protect the native turtle population from being shipped by the thousands overseas. (News source.)

A Pacific sea turtle database is being brought online. (News source.)

3000 tortoises were confiscated by Indian officials, when they were discovered being smuggled out of Uttar Pradesh. (News source.)

Customs officers at Atlanta's airport seized illegal (CITES) turtle meat and eggs from a passenger. Species not mentioned, but perhaps sea turtle? (News source.)

Snake Bites

A black mamba killed an infant in South Africa. (News source.)

A man in Indiana was bitten by his pet rhinoceros viper. He was also be charged with possessing an illegal pet without permit. (News source.)

Croc Death Stirs Outrage

Aboriginal leaders in Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria want to know why a trapped crocodile was killed by police. (News source.)

Herp Legality News

Hard to believe that there are still ignorant herp laws out there, but a 3-foot ball python was recently confiscated from a Sioux City, Iowa, home. (News source.)

On a more positive note, a Delaware county is proposing to allow (small) snakes to be bred by residents. (News source.)

In Malaysia, 2300 monitor lizards were confiscated from poachers. (News source.)

Sea Turtle Controversy

Nesting sea turtles are at the center of a debate between Queensland Park & Wildlife and campers at Inskip Point. (News source.)

Snake Hunter

An orphan in Zimbabwe became entrepreneurial, catching snakes and smuggling them over the border into Mozambique where he could find ready buyers. (News source.)

Herp Legality Issues

Squabbling and lawsuits here between a couple of snake breeders in Iowa.

Snakes seized from a PA petshop will probably be sold.

Turtle Arrest

An Indiana man arrested for selling native turtles claims it was a misunderstanding. (News source.)

Grow-a-Frog Problems

Montana is asking the 65 state customers of a mail-order Xenopus company to euthanize or return the frogs, as they are illegal there. (News source.)

Florida Rules Updated

Amnesty rules have been relaxed a bit, allowing people to turn in non-native reptiles that require a permit at specified events. Also, adopters with permits can now accept reptiles from those without permits. (News source.)

Turtle Fights Back, and Other News

A chef in Hong Kong was bitten on the toe by a softshell turtle as it tried to escape. The chef was hospitalized, and the turtle was returned to a cage for later cooking. (News source.)

Profile here on a Florida turtle hunter facing possible restrictions on the trade there. (News source.)

Two Iowa men were charged with poaching turtles. (News source.)

Herp Legal News

13 geckos were stolen from a North Carolina man's house. Two have been returned, and four people have been arrested. (News source.)

A former Connecticut man is suing police over a $35 fine given (through alleged illegal entry to his home), where they apparently found a 6-7 foot crocodilian or lizard in a tub. The reptile is unidentified (and disappeared after they initially saw it). Probably was just a big monitor. (News source.)

Turtle Seizure

87 painted turtles were confiscated when they were shipped into the European Union without proper paperwork, where they require a permit. (News source.)

Herp Legality

Officials (in India, I think) seized poached monitor lizards. (News source.)

Indian officials also seized 200 poached tortoises. (News source.)

Malaysian officials seized 10,000 poached turtle eggs. (Well, not poached like that...) (News source.)

A Utah man faces DWR in court over a number of rubber boas that were seized and died in DWR hands. (News source.)

Turtle Ruling

An article here on the new Florida limitations on fishing for soft-shelled turtles.

Turtle News

Mississippi researchers are studying the diamondback terrapin. (News source.)

The AVMA has an interesting article on the 4-inch turtle law debate. (News source.)

Fox Snake Status in Missouri

Missouri has removed the fox snake from the endangered species list, but keeps them on the prohibited take list. Kirtland's snake and the dusty hognose have been added to the prohibited take list. (News source.)

Idaho Boa Legal Issues

A couple who took in a boa that was found roaming loose was charged with selling it by the police department, who claim it was never formally adopted. The couple had had to pay vet bills, etc., and couldn't continue taking care of the snake. The police are surprised that the snake's owner isn't coming forward, as the boa is so "valuable." Apparently, nobody has told the police that red-tail boas are not worth nearly as much as they think it does, and are too often taken in by reptile rescues. (News source.)

More on Croc Crimes

A civil suit seems likely against the parents of the 7-year old boy who broke into an Australian reptile farm and raised havoc. (News source.)

Two Florida men apparently stole 4 alligators and a New Guinea crocodile from an alligator farm. (News source.)

Crocodile Crimes

A 7-year old boy broke into an Australian reptile farm and fed numerous reptiles to a saltwater crocodile. He was caught on tape, but can't be charged due to his age. (News source.) [His parents, though, should be sued for the damages...]

An American crocodile was found butchered on the University of Miami campus. (News source.)

Snakes in the News

Indiana conservation officers confiscated a cobra from a woman who rescued it when she applied for a permit for it. (News source.) [So, I suppose the take-home message is, if you rescue a venomous snake in Indiana, don't bother trying to get a permit. Seriously, wildlife officers should have better sense. Given that it's a non-issue, sounds like they were just shooting for cheap publicity.]

And, two Pakistani women were bitten by a venomous snake while working in the fields. (News source.)

Growafrog Fined by Nevada

Nevada fined the company GrowaFrog for shipping African clawed frogs into the state. (News source.) [Frankly, it should be the purchaser's responsibility to determine the legality of this sort of transaction.]

Herp Regs

Florida thinks about cracking down on turtle harvesting. (News source.)

California has to consider whether the California tiger salamander should be considered endangered. (News source.)

Turtle News

Indian star tortoises continue to be a prime target for smugglers. (News source.)

Politicians and scientists are arguing over the best plan for the eastern spiny soft-shell turtle in Lake Champlain. (News source.)

Nevada Clawed Frog Bust

119 illegal clawed frogs were seized in Nevada. (News source.)

Problems with Prosecution

Prosecuting cases of gopher tortoise killings by developers in Florida can be frustrating. Details here.

Baltimore Bust

A Baltimore, MD, man was charged with illegal possession of some native species (eastern hognose, timber rattlesnake) and attempting to sell copperheads. (News source.)

Don't Feed the Gators

Some Florida airboat captains have been arrested for feeding alligators to impress the tourists. (News source.)

Kentucky Snake Bust

Kentucky Reptile Zoo is over 100 venomous snakes richer, after KY wildlife officers seized them and arrested 10 snake dealers, and donated the snakes to the facility. Venomous snakes are illegal in KY. (News source.)

Frog News

Dead frogs were the clue to busting a cigarette smuggler in Malaysia... (News source.)

And, an article on female frog's picking out their mates call here.

Turtle News

Blanding's turtles were released into the wild in Nova Scotia. (News source.)

Strictly Reptiles is in trouble again, this time for selling undersized turtles. (News source.)

Poached tortoises were confiscated in Malaysia. (News source.)

Rescuer or Trader?

An Indian man was arrested with a good number of snakes that he says he rescued (with some supplied to university for research), but officials say are illegally being supplied to the black market. (News source.)

Iguanas vs Boca

Boca Raton is trying to get FL F&W to add iguanas to the restricted "reptiles of concern" list. (News source.)

Gator Fiasco

Three Volusia Co., FL, deputies responded to a gator call, decided to jump the 8-foot gator, and one got bit badly. So, another deputy shot it. The deputies have been reprimanded. (News source.)

Utah DWR Kills Snakes

Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources took such poor care of 65 rubber boas confiscated for alleged unlawful possession (actually based on a minor paperwork detail that is meant for livestock, trumped up when they found their original charges were baseless), that all but 3 died. The snakes' owner is suing, but hard to say if he'll get anywhere. (News source.)

TN Arrest

A Tennessee pet shop owner was arrested for holding several venomous snakes with intent to sell them (illegal in that state). (News source.)

Gator Politics in NC

A fight is brewing in North Carolina, between the police force in Leland and state wildlife officials, over the shooting of an 11-foot gator that was blocking a road. The police claim they had no alternative, that wildlife officers didn't bother to arrive before the next morning. A NC WRC officer says they weren't called until after the gator was dead, and the shooting was illegal... (News source.)

Venomous Snake Ban

Looks like Arlington, VA, has instituted a venomous snake ban. (News source.)

Oklahoma Ban

Oklahoma has put in place a 3-year moratorium on commercial turtle harvesting in order to study the effect on their native turtles. (News source.)

VA: Possible Ban

Arlington, VA, is mulling a ban on venomous and "dangerous" snakes. (News source.)