Rooney slams python ban as half-measure

By at 17 January, 2012, 4:56 pm

While others heaped praise on Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s ban on Burmese pythons and other invasive snakes, South Florida Congressman Tom Rooney called it a half-measure that “will not do nearly enough to protect the Everglades and the surrounding ecosystems.” Salazar’s rules, unveiled on Tuesday, will halt the importation and interstate transport of four constrictor snakes. But Rooney notes that the U.S. Geological Service found that nine species threaten Florida’s environment. Rooney, a Republican from Tequesta, touted his proposed bill that would ban all nine. “There are nine species of invasive predators that pose a severe threat to our

native wildlife,” he said, “and all nine need to be eradicated.” The administration policy will ban the Burmese python, yellow anaconda, and northern and southern African pythons. These four species make up just 30 percent of the trade in giant snakes, Rooney said. Boa constrictors and reticulated pythons are traded in the greatest numbers, he said. Rooney’s bill would ban these two as well as the green anaconda, Beni or Bolivian python and DeSchauensee’s anaconda. Even python policy can turn into a debate.

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Rooney slams python ban as half-measure

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