After researching both sides of the argument, I agree with the snake ban. Due to the danger the snakes cause, and the damage being done to the ecosystem, I believe it is in the best interest of the Florida residents and ecosystem to continue the snake ban. The following is the essay I wrote arguing for the Florida Snake ban:
For
Florida Snake Ban
The state of Florida is experiencing
a serious problem in the form of snake infestation. Yes, you heard me correctly, snakes, and lots
of them. The Florida Everglades has
become overpopulated with large constrictor snakes that are eating everything
in sight, and monopolizing the ecosystem.
Not only are they scary to look at, but they are virtually destroying an
ecosystem. In fact These snakes are
responsible for a 99.7% decline in everglades mammals, and over 300 attacks on
humans (Puckett). There are currently
tens of thousands of snakes living in the Florida Everglades. Clearly seeing this as a serious problem, the
state of Florida has decided to implement a ban on the import of four exotic
snake species including the Burmese python (the Everglades main culprit), the
northern and southern African python, and the yellow anaconda. All are exotic constrictor snakes that range
in size of twelve to twenty two feet.
Exotic snake owners and breeders are outraged, claiming it is not fair
to implement a ban for them when it was a few neglectful owners that are to
blame for the snake problem. It is a
wise idea to ban the importing of these snakes because it will prevent any
increase in population of these snakes, it will protect humans from these
dangerous animals, and it will help rebuild the Everglades ecosystem.
Banning the import of these snakes
should help reduce the population in the everglades, and that is very
important. As mentioned before, there
are tens of thousands of these deadly reptiles currently living in the
Everglades. However, there are supposed
to be zero here naturally. Researchers
and wildlife commission officials state that the pythons arrived in the
Everglades from many neglectful snake owners that released the snakes into the
wild, thinking it would be a humane way to dispose of them since they became
too big to handle. A Fox News journalist
states, “Teenagers and young adults think these snakes are cool when they are
two feet long, but when they become 12 feet long, people get scared and throw
them into the wild” (Chiaramonte). Now
that these snakes are in the wild, with others to breed with, their numbers can
continue to grow. The snake ban will
prevent this “neglectful owner” problem from happening again because it makes
it impossible for inexperienced snake owners to purchase these monsters as
pets. In addition to the prevention of
further snake introduction to the wild, it also puts a hold on where the
population stands. With no more snakes
entering the state, it allows the wildlife commission to try and eradicate the
problem without the risk of other snakes entering into the equation. Addressing the issue of angry exotic snake
experts, the state of Florida is allowing current snake owners to keep their
pets, and even breed them as long as they do not transport the snakes over
state lines. This means that the
experienced snake owners can continue to enjoy their passion without posing a
risk to other states by carrying the animals across state lines.
Not only will the snake ban prevent
pythons from further population, but it also protects humans, whom the snakes
pose a very serious threat to. According
to Florida Humane Society Reports, in the year 2012 alone, there were over 300
constrictor snake attacks resulting in serious injury or death (“Attack”). Also, this ban protects innocent people from
others’ snakes. For example in 2012 a
100 pound snake escaped from captivity and strangled and killed a 2 month old
girl in the middle of the night. This is
simply unacceptable, and the snake ban will prevent these incidents from
happening in the future. In addition to
snake attacks, these snakes are making their way north, posing a serious threat
to all residents of Florida. In fact,
removal reports indicate that 3 Pythons have had to be removed from the city of
Kendal, which is a staggering 19 miles from the Everglades. This means that the snakes will stop at
nothing to expand their population in the state, causing serious concern for
all Florida residents. These snakes
presence in Florida also deters people from choosing it as a vacation
spot. With this ban, it will allow
wildlife officials to get the python situation under control, hopefully
attracting more vacationers, thus boosting south Florida’s economy.
As mentioned before, the snakes of
south Florida are taking a toll on the ecosystem of the Everglades. With snake numbers at an all-time high, and
with no end in sight, the pythons will continue to destroy the ecosystem,
unless something is done. The Florida
snake ban will prevent other snakes from entering, in turn preventing more
snakes from eating the other (now endangered) animals, and overpopulating the
ecosystem. In addition to the physical
effects the snakes have on Florida, they are also causing economic
troubles. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service has spent more than six million dollars in an effort to remove these
snakes and control the population (Oberhofer 22).
In conclusion, it is safe to say
that these snakes are ruining south Florida, and there is only one way to stop
this from getting worse: the Florida snake ban.
Without a snake ban, we would see the problems get worse, here about
more tragic attack stories, and watch as the pythons start to take over the
state. Although the ban angers a few, it
is best to regulate and control snake imports to benefit the large majority of
the population.
Works Cited
Florida Nature Conserve. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commision, 30
Dec. 2012. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.
Fox News. Fox, 24 May 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.
Oberhofer, Lori. "The Economic Cost of Large Constrictor
Snakes." FWS (2012): 22. Print.
Puckett, Catherine. "Severe Decline in Everglades Mammals
Linked to Pythons." USGS. U.S.
Geological Survey, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
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