I just got an email today.
<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>Hi, my name's Mike, I work for one of the Cable companies here in Georgia. Last September, another worker found an Albino Burmese Python under the house he was working at. After talking to the customer we found out that the man had released the snake because he was "too much to handle," and the snake had been loose for around three months. </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
Better this snake go into rescue than loose in the ecosystem. But it is just another example of people getting cute little baby burms having no idea what they are in for. It looks like I will be travelling about 4 hours to either rescue this guy or treat it for an RI (no suprise there) and treat it for parasites and try to give the current rescuer some guidance if he is going to undertake this snake. I don't see this type of thing nearly as often with other species. makes me want to throttle the next person I run into who says they are breeding burms and run over the next pet shop owner who recommends one. Luckily, I still have about 250 sq feet of unused herp room so i have the room for it if need be. But there are not that many people willing to rescue adult burms and space in these fine homes is running out. People need to learn what they are getting into. We need to squasht he rumor that a snake will only grow to the size of its cage. And for the love of God, these snakes are NOT for the average person or average herper! I see enough irresponsible herpers in hots and if I knew this guys name that turned it loose i would register a complaint on him for eco-terrorism! Not even counting the normal dmage to the environment a burm can do, it could bring in a disease intot he area that could wipe out avery snake for miles. You never know. Why do people feel the need to get such huge snakes? Is it a status symbol? I heard one guy talking about he got a retic because his buddies had pits and he wanted the "bigger, badder pet"!!!!! I treat burms, retics and rocks like i treat venomous. Discourage people to get them. Tell all the bad things first. Tell them everything that can go wrong, how dangerous it is, and how much it is going to cost. Then if they are serious and want one for "the right reasons" (term used loosely with no real definition), then they will get one and they will be a little more prepared.
OK, i'm done ranting. i am just sick of seeing burms in constant need of rescue.
[addsig]
