Many people get the urge to own a pet and impulsively go and
acquire one. Where they go wrong is that they fail to realize the
amount of responsibility that comes with owing a pet. When It Is
time to assume those responsibilities the owner often will become
overwhelmed and simply let the animal go free Into the wild. Some
animals survive, some of them can’t, and others Like the Burmese
python adapt In ways that we didn’t Imagine. Environmental Threat
The Burmese python can have up to 100 hatchings, grow up to
18 feet long, and weigh 200 pounds. (Smith) With no natural
predators and a wide selection of food on the menu these snakes
pose a serious threat to the ecosystem in Florida. They will feed
on small rodents like mice to larger prey like alligators and deer.
At the extremely high rate of reproduction the snake’s population
is outnumbering that of their prey, thus threatening the balance of
the ecosystem in the everglades. Cause of the Problem
These beautiful snakes were initially brought to America as
pets. Having owned a few snakes I’m aware that they are among the
most aggressive eaters out of all the pythons. They have beautiful
coats and It can be hypnotize to watch them eat. Unfortunately,
people don’t take Into accountability the massive size these snakes
can grow to and rather than properly dispose of the snakes they
simply release them into the wild. The humidity, source of water,
and food in the Everglades make it easy for he snake to adapt.
Mass breeding with other snakes and caused their population to
rapidly increase. Proposed Solution With the deaths of small
children and family pets the local government in Florida has taken
action. They first made the importing of the Burmese Python
illegal. Releasing them into the wild is illegal and owners have to
pay a yearly fee to keep them. The government also authorized a
hunting season for the python to help keep the population down.
Saint Leafs Core Values
As pet owners we need to be more responsible with the animal
we choose to take in. Responsibility Is a must when having a pet.
It Is not a Toyota can Just be let go Into the wild when we our
tired of It. Taking ownership of our decisions and actions Is how
this relates most to Saint Oleo’s Core Values. M. A. Smith:
Reptilian and Amphibian, Volvo. Ill, Serpents. In: The Fauna of
British India, Ceylon and Burma, including the whole of the
Indo-Chinese Sub-Region. Taylor and Francis, Ltd. , London 1943, p
102-109
