The fear and emotion following the strangling death of a two year old child in Florida by a Burmese python has brought up again the controversy of having large snakes as pets. The debate gets heated but too often emotion not facts comes into play.
Comments such as “I don’t know why anyone would want a large snake” are more the “I don’t want one so no one should have one” type of influence that could be equally applied to other dangers – sports cars, swimming pools, motorcycles. All kill many more people than pythons. There are others who point to habitat destruction, particularly in Florida while ignoring human beings have destroyed more habitat than snakes ever could. Additionally loose dogs and cats also can kill wildlife and – yes – can revert to feral if abandoned.
Some people like big dogs and others like little ones – should Chihuahuas be banned because Jane likes Great Danes? There are, of course, differences. Most people are familiar with dogs.
People point to statistics – which makes sense to look at. According to the Humane Society of the United States stricter regulations are needed and legislation is the way to do it. They point to “at least 11 people have been killed by pet pythons in the United States since 1980″ and that they carry salmonella. With the death in Florida make that 12. Any loss of life is tragic but we’re going to punish thousands of pets who never harm anyone? Consider seriously the statistic – 12 people in 29 YEARS! Yet Beth Preiss, director of an HSUS campaign to end all exotic pets, quotes on the HSUS site “To protect public health and safety, animal welfare and the environment, large constrictor snakes should not be pets.
This is a big enough threat to ban for 12 deaths in 29 years?! Reality check here – in 2002 (alone – ONE year) 159 children (alone not counting adults) drowned, 621 were in car accidents and 486 teenagers died of poisoning. Motor vehicles accounted for 5522 deaths of 15-19 year olds in that same one year period. Stop the presses – if 12 in 29 YEARS is worth banning this is crisis mode! We must stop everyone from using cars, or being near water and remove anything that is toxic. This has a MUCH higher death toll than pythons do and if statistics of public safety is a reason for immediate bans! Remember this is “to protect public health and safety…” not in homes but PUBLIC. Not a single python has killed or threatened public safety.
The fact is most of the python deaths are due to human error. Statistically this includes a 1999. 1980 and 1982 (yes ONE each year) death from accidental escapes on children as was the recent one. One in 2002 was after his pet Burmese was wrapped around his neck and suddenly constricted – human error as safe snake handling is NEVER allow constrictors around your neck. Several are listed simply as killed by their pet – with 13 foot reticulated python a 14 foot reticulated python and a 16 foot Burmese among those specified. Safe snake handling dictates having one person per five feet of snake whenever handling them – which would have prevented 100% of these deaths.
None of these tragedies have been done by snakes outside the home – those turned loose or that escape from owners. While there are some who say “kill ’em all” they’re also often opposed to eating them. There’s also much fear and wrong information regarding these animals. With an estimated 100,000-150,000 reported as released, the pythons in the wild have not killed or harmed people. Indeed not one person has been attacked by a feral python. Snakes by nature are cold blooded – they will not survive in most parts of the US in the wild. Florida’s everglades are an ideal habitat for them however with water, cover, food and temperature.
For example, statistically deer result in more human deaths and habitat destruction (especially crop fields) in one year than snakes do in 29 – but to talk of hunting deer meets with activists saying “don’t KILL them” and protests of hunting. However the accusation leveled at snakes brings “kill them all! And prosecute people!” Rattlesnakes bite over 8000 people per year with 10-15 deaths annually according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, yet people object to eating them. Statistically then even at 10 per year low end in 29 years that accounts for 290 people – much much higher than 12!
The solution for those even 150,000 snakes if made into dinner would feed many people. The Exotic Meat Market online has boneless python meat for a regular price of $70 per pound – for a 200 pound large snake that’s a considerable payday! The skins are used also, and python meat is said to be very tender with cautions against overcooking. For those with a large snake that is unwanted even a 100 pound snake at half of that is a $350 sale price.
People argue that pythons made pets are brought into homes – which is true but of the thousands of the thousands kept as pets a miniscule number are a problem. Banning millions of dogs because of the few that bite or kill people every year doesn’t make sense either.
The fact is by statistics exotic animals including snakes are not a problem until something goes wrong. Zuzana Kukol of the Responsible Exotic Animal Owners points to the issue of “hot” snakes and while 12 people are killed by wild venomous snakes .7 statistically pet venomous snakes result in problems. One person per year is killed by captive big cats, none by primates (although they can cause horrific injuries) and .13 by captive bears. Statistics show 1600 people annually die from falling down stairs – should those be banned as a risk? The odds are higher to win the Mega Millions lottery than to be killed by a captive reptile.
Each death is tragic and when someone dies the family misses them no matter what the cause. However the hysteria concerning large snakes is fueled by animal rights groups with their own agenda, including HSUS. Not one death is from a pet snake unsupervised off the owner’s property.
Properly confined, housed and cared for snakes are not a human health risk. Banning based on hysteria punishes the responsible owners who make up the majority and if the ban is on statistics then statistically there are many more deadly things in line. Even just in the animal kingdom horses kill more people than pythons.
HSUS and PeTA, two of the most vocal anti-reptile organizations, kill or recommend killing more pitbulls and have no problem justifying the deaths of thousands. PeTA public accounts is over 2000 dogs and cats per year killed – over 95% some years. HSUS cites Solmonella but according to CDC statistics most reptile based Salmonella involved infants and indirect contamination mostly from pet turtles or lizard type reptiles. Prevention is hand washing, changing clothes after handling reptiles, not allowing them to roam the kitchen or home and clean surfaces they come in contact with. This is a home risk but hardly a public threat in light of much more common food and other issues a much higher statistic.
Certainly a python, whether a ball python or a large Burmese or reticulated one, should be undertaken with full knowledge of the size at adulthood. Banning the responsible owners from having one is not the answer. Proper snake care including handling and housing is important.
