e360 digest

17 Jan 2012: U.S. Bans Import of Snakes
That Are Invading the Everglades

U.S. officials have announced a national ban on the import of four large exotic snake species, including the Burmese python, which wildlife officials say are devouring endangered species across the Florida Everglades. Five years after Florida officials called for stricter sanctions on the invasive snakes, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar declared that it will be illegal to import or sell across state lines the Burmese python, two species of African rock pythons, and the yellow anaconda, calling them “the most clear and present danger” to the region’s wildlife. Experts say thousands of Burmese pythons are now living in the Everglades — where they eat everything from rabbits to alligators — and that the snakes' range could expand farther, including across the Florida border. While some critics, including reptile breeders and collectors, have opposed the regulations, Salazar said the decision will “strike a balance” between economic and environmental concerns. Five other species of exotic snakes, including the boa constrictor, were left off the list pending further consideration.

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