Florida: Imports of Four Snake Species Are Banned

From the January 18 New York Times:

Florida: Imports of Four Snake Species Are Banned

By REUTERS

The United States announced a ban on imports of four snake species on Tuesday after years of unsuccessful efforts to eradicate the giant snakes from Everglades National Park in Florida and from other ecologically sensitive areas. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the rule would take effect within about 60 days and would also make it illegal to transport the snakes across state lines. The ban applies to the Burmese python, a notorious invasive species from Southeast Asia; the yellow anaconda; and northern and southern African pythons. Biologists say that most of the pythons in the Everglades are thought to have been released by their owners once they realized that the pets could grow from just a foot to 12 feet.

“The action we’re taking today is a milestone in the protection of the Everglades,” Mr. Salazar said at a news conference in a corner of the Everglades just outside Miami. Wildlife officials held aloft a recently captured 13-foot python at the event.

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