Originally Posted by
Beth
http:///forum/post/3016154
Any exotic pet can be invasive, due to human error, or outright disregard for the environment. The Everglades is full of Burmese pythons (a 20' snake) because pet owners decided they could no longer keep their cute little 1' snake that grew into a 15' snake (and was still growing) and threw them out into the wilderness. In the Florida Keys iguanas are totally out of control because pet owners could no longer keep the cut little 1/2' lizard when it became 3', ugly and nasty tempered. So out into the wild it went.
Aquarium owners dump dead fish, and even sick fish in the toilet all the time. That can result in the proliferation of parasites and diseases coming from these species. How many instances of devastating harvesting of aquarium species have occurred?
The Mediterranean is plagued by red tide algae, thought to be a result of an Aquarium in France dumping algae, resulting in algae laced runoff going into the sea.
Any of these things can be invasive. In my view, ferrel cats and dogs could also be considered invasive. Ferrel animals carry a host of diseases, including feline Aids, leukemia, even rabies. Good hearted people feel that they are being kindhearted by feeding ferrel cats and dogs. What they are doing is contributing to these animals' proliferation and the spread of very serious diseases that effect domesticated animals. And, it is not unheard of that such diseases make the jump to humans. AIDS is believed to have come from animals, monkeys, in Africa.
There should be regulation, and excluded species. People keeping especially troublesome species, such as the Burmese (which can easily kill someone) should be licensed and accountable. People dumping their "pets" into the wild should fined heavily. Animals obtained from retailers or even the humane society can be micro-chipped, to track these pets; then owners could be required to periodically report on the status of the animal through their vet. And, yes, taking pets to the vet may should be compulsory. Basically, if you can't take care of an animal, then don't get them to begin with.
All of that said, excluding all exotics is ridiculous and highly punitive to those of us who are responsible animal keepers (not to mention voters as well).
The pythons arent due to just bone head animal keepers. Ever heard of a hurricane? These people board up windows and leave and hope for the best. They take inventory. When they get back the store is gone. There can be 20 - 50 snakes from 1 store. How many pet stores are in florida?
Same can be said for a fish store that is near water. A couple fish make it out to sea. You have an issue.
Don't just blame people throwing their pets out the window. Yes that may have a cause on this but its not the entire cause.
