Ron's Ball Python Blog

Pythons and boas are under attack!

The US Fish & Wildlife has made a motion to ban the importation, ownership and transporting of Pythons and Boa Constrictors in the United States. We need every person who cares about reptiles to write and share your thoughts as to why the ban should not be allowed!

You can read the proposal in its entirety here Injurious Wildlife Species; Review of Information Concerning Constrictor Snakes from Python, Boa, and Eunectes genera and write a comment on their website explaining why you feel the ban should not be allowed on harmless Pythons and Boas. I've provided my comments below but please do not use my comment as a template for your own, present your comments in your own words.

Remember, they try to start banning Pythons & Boas first and then it moves to another species and then another species and before you know it, we're only allowed to keep stuffed animals or photos of animals and that's it. Stand up to the goverment and exercise your right to keep harmless Pythons and Boas as pets!

Thank you for standing up and speaking for the animals that cannot speak for themselves.

PLEASE POST THIS INFORMATION ON EVERY REPTILE FORUM YOU PARTICIPATE IN, YOUR BLOG, REPTILE NEWSGROUPS, REPTILE CHATROOMS, TELL YOUR FRIENDS, YOUTUBE ABOUT IT, ETC.

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To whom this may concern,

My name is Ronald Crawford, a professional breeder of ball pythons (Python regius) and owner of RCReptiles.com. I thank you for taking time from your busy day to read my comment. I'm writing you today concerning Docket ID FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015 to voice my comments and concerns about the possibility of potentially demonizing the entire constrictor family of serpents based solely on a few species within the constrictor family such as the Burmese Python. I am only familiar with ball pythons so I can only speak to the defense of this particular species. I’m hopeful that other herpetologists well versed with other species within the constrictor family will deliver compelling arguments as to why they should be excluded from your list of harmful constrictors as well.

Ball pythons are docile snakes by nature and pose absolutely no harm or threat to humans, children, babies or household pets such as cats and dogs. They are non-venomous and grow to a maximum length of only 3-4 feet and are in fact one of the most popular pet snakes because of these and other attributes. They are incapable of killing and consuming an adult human, child, baby or household pet and there are no records or reports of a ball python causing death to any of the aforementioned nor will their ever be.

The ball python trade in America contributes strongly to the US (and global) economy by providing revenue to companies including airline and shipping for transportation, advertisers (both online and offline), US Fish & Wildlife for import/export inspections and permits, tax revenue for our government, etc. et al. Ball pythons are also used by many educators to provide an up-close and personal “one-on-one” experience with young impressionable children at schools about reptiles and animals in general. Many children, who are indeed the future of our planet, are not familiar and educated about animals and pets other than cats and dogs. This experience helps to educate and give them a broader appreciation for reptiles, animals, the environment and the importance of conservation in addition to the diverse flora and fauna populations found on our planet.

I’ve merely scratched the surface on the importance of not allowing the ball python and other non-threatening snakes in the constrictor family to be included in the list of harmful constrictors because I know your time is limited and I could go on writing for days about ball pythons. I thank you again for reviewing my comments and hope that what I’ve presented has provided some additional insight and understanding as to why ball pythons should not be included in the list of harmful constrictors.

Respectfully yours,

Ron Crawford
RCReptiles.com