Florida wild life

[Pajarita]

And they are very entertaining that way! I remember doing the same thing in a Panama Hotel - after having to catch one and put it out on the balcony (I would not have minded him staying in the room but I was afraid he was going to get killed by the maid the following morning).

[liz]

In the Philippines we would bring the big ones in and put the little ones out. The little ones like to be in door hinges and there were too many deaths to keep them in.

Aunt B really enjoys watching her lizards.

[romesbyw]

There is an invasive snake roundup going on here. So far 50 have been found. The largest is a 15 foot long boa.

[liz]

Yes. There are so many that the roundup is every year.

There should be a state payment by weight year round.

[Pajarita]

But, what do they do with them? They don't kill them, do they?

[liz]

Some are rehabbed to northern homes. Some go to the zoo. The rest are killed. They are invasive and eating what indigenous snakes would eat. There is no really good solution.

[liz]

A mother and daughter were driving one night when they spotted a nest of Logger Head turtle babies crossing the highway going to the bright lights of the city. They stopped traffic and scooped up 45 of them but could not get the rest due to traffic back up.

They were relocated on a full moon in a suitable location

[Pajarita]

Awwww, what a wonderful story, Liz - thank you for sharing it with us!

But, there is a solution to the invasive snake and all other pet overpopulation problem: regulate breeding and license every owner.

[liz]

It is regulated. My son breeds morphed small ball pythons and he is licensed and regulated.
The story goes that during a hurricane a large breeder's house was destroyed and the snakes escaped.
They are prolific breeders and find Florida a great place to live.
They have to be culled to protected the indigenous wild life and their food.

It is like the cane toads in Australia.

[Pajarita]

No, Liz, it's not regulated, Liz. Owners don't need a license and, although breeders do in certain states, there are no annual inspections, no requirement for documentation, no standards of care or breeding quota. The licensing is nothing but a way for the despicable Fish and Wildlife to get money (and we all know what they do with it, don't we?), they don't really check on anything so I am sure there are many more unlicensed breeders than licensed ones.