Well, I'm heading over to "Repticon" at the Fairgrounds in Tampa this weekend. I'm looking forward to continuing a debate with some Fish & Wildlife types and a few herpers also.

The debate is very basic actually. Here in Florida we are being overun with a number of invasive spiecies. From wild hogs to the giant Anacondas, they all thrive here and destroy not only our native wildlife but millions of dollars in crops every year.

One side of the coin wants to commit years to a scientific solution to the problem. It the duration of the study, the problem still continues to grow. STOP the BS and get to solving the problem. There are many herpers out there, myself included, that are willing to begin hunting the problem immediately then we can dispose of a large number of them and while we're at it, make a few bucks.

This is where the bewilderment comes in. It makes no matter what the spicies is, they don't seem to want us to make any money off removing these poor unfortunate creatures. Granted, I don't like the idea of killing a target snake (or anything else for that matter) and leaving it there to rot but something has to be done fast, very fast.

An underground market has been developing for sometime now in the herp trade here in Florida that has been showcased on a couple of reality shows. Large snakes are being found with thier heads cut off and the bodies just left to rot in the Florida sun. The heads are collected, placed in jars of preserving formula and sold for between $20/$40 each, depending on the size of the head. Others are also taking the skin, tanning it and selling it for as much as $20 per running foot.

PLEASE, open up these spieces so they can be removed. Put a permit on them so that you don't get just everyone with a gun out killing everything that slithers across thier path and lets get all of these undesireables under control.

I know I'll probably take some heat for this post but something has to be done and it has to be done now. I hope all have a great weekend!!!!

Deepsix