SAMPLE --- STUDENT WRITING
Research Paper
When Pets Become Predators

What is an owner to do with a pet that has become too aggressive to handle, too expensive to feed or too large to house? This is a question many uneducated exotic pet owner’s face soon after purchasing a juvenile exotic reptile. Unfortunately, for many pet owner’s, the answer is to release the pet into our neighborhoods and parks creating a multitude of problems for homeowner’s, State officials and the environment. Probably the best known pet to become a predator is the Burmese python, also known as the Indian python. Burmese pythons average approximately 13 feet in length, but can grow to over 20 feet. (Indian Python) Their weight may exceed 200 pounds. Most owners begin feeding their juvenile pythons mice, but a snake grows quickly and graduates to rabbits, chickens and eventually pigs. A full grown python requires a cage of at least 8 feet in length. Because a Burmese python has a life expectancy of over 20 years, the potential buyer must carefully evaluate the long term commitment required with this purchase.
Another well know pet to predator is the Nile monitor lizard. These lizards average 4 to 6 feet in length, but can soon grow to 7 feet. They are a carnivorous lizard that as a juvenile begins eating crickets, then graduates to gold fish and later to rats and other small animals. When full grown, monitor lizards like the Burmese python, need an enclosure of at least 8 feet, however, it is recommended that they have their own room. Because they are water lizards, an owner should also provide a monitor lizard with a small swimming pool. The Nile monitor lizard can live 10 to 15 years. Again, a potential buyer must evaluate the long term responsibilities associated with this purchase.
There are numerous types of reptiles released into neighborhoods and parks every day, but the two reptiles described above are probably most reported by the media and therefore, the most well known. Due to the frequency of their release and the threat they pose to the community and environment, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has named six reptiles as “Reptiles of Concern”. They are the Indian or Burmese python, reticulated python, African rock python, amethystine or scrub python, green anaconda and the Nile monitor lizard. Where in the State of Florida are these reptiles a problem? “Over the last year, pythons have been found in the wild from Key Largo to Glades County -- and a new study suggests the exotic predators could spread beyond South Florida.” (Morgan) There are approximately eleven southern states that the python could thrive and reproduce, but so far are only populating areas of Florida. In the Miami area, pythons have been known to consume small dogs and cats. In the Everglades, scientists report that pythons are eating native species of birds, rodents, alligators, the endangered species of Key Largo wood rats, and rare round-tailed muskrats. (United States) Because of their massive size, pythons are also capable of overtaking children and adults. The gigantic Nile monitor lizards are thriving and populating on the west coast of Florida, on the canal banks of the Cape Coral area and in the Sanibel Island National Wildlife Refuge. Their diet consists of just about anything from rodents, to bird eggs, to sea turtle eggs. An example of their danger to our environment is evident in the article “Problem Pets” by Elizabeth Carney. The author states “Wildlife officials are also concerned that Nile monitor lizards may be feeding on the eggs of the endangered burrowing owl.” (Carney 6) The lizards are nuisances to homeowner’s, climbing screened enclosures, defecating in swimming pools and sunning on pool decks. They have also been known to make small pets into meals. The lizards are very aggressive and intimidating looking creatures but so far, no deaths have been reported as the result of a Nile monitor lizard attack.
There is an additional lizard that is growing in numbers in Palm Beach County. A colony of green iguanas is becoming so large that “County commissioners will ask the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to add green iguanas to the list of ‘reptiles of concern’“. (Hafenbrack) The green iguanas grow to 5 feet in length, but are different then the other reptiles of concern because they only eat plants do not pose a threat to the environment. They are merely a nuisance to homeowner’s. Not everyone believes placing the green iguana on the “Reptile of Concern” list would reduce the number of green iguanas. In the article “Iguanas Running Amok Prompt County to Press for State Control”, Scott Hardin, the wildlife commission's exotic-species coordinator, is quoted saying “efforts to restrict the sale of iguanas would have no effect on South Florida's population. There is nothing we could do in terms of restricting the sale that is going to hold a candle to what is out there reproducing already in the wild." (Sorentrue 1A) As you can see any of the pets mentioned can become quite a nuisance or danger to our neighborhoods and the environment.
What many people want to know is how did these non-native reptiles come to live and populate our neighborhoods and parks. I was able to locate three possible theories. Some believe these exotic pets are released by their owner’s when they outgrow their aquariums. The author of “One Man’s Pet, Another’s Invasive Species” believes they are pets that may have escaped when homes were destroyed during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. (Achenbach A01) The last theory I found is in the article “The Dragon of Cape Coral”, the author believes they “were intentionally dumped, perhaps by someone hoping to start a breeding colony for subsequent recapture and sale.” (The Dragon A12) I believe there is not one correct theory, but, possibly a combination of the three theories.
The State of Florida is working diligently to reduce the number of impulse reptile purchases. Beginning January 1st, 2008, a consumer wanting to purchase an exotic reptile on the reptiles of concern list, must be at least eighteen years old, complete an application and questionnaire regarding the dietary needs, husbandry and safe housing of the animal. The potential buyer must pay a $100 fee to obtain a permit for the reptile and be willing to have a microchip implanted in their pet when its size reaches two inches in diameter. In addition, the owner must have a disaster plan for the care and housing of their exotic animal during floods and hurricanes, and must report the whereabouts of the animal each year to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. State agencies are also working to inform reptile owners of Florida Statute 379.305 making it illegal to release non-native invasive species into the wild. Releasing a reptile of concern is a Level Three Violation, punishable a provided in s. 379.4015.
To further discourage owners from releasing their exotic animals, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sponsors a Non-Native Pet Amnesty Day for pet owners to turn in all unwanted or illegal exotic animals. During the Amnesty Day, owner’s are not asked any questions and do not pay a fee to surrender their animals. Volunteers then attempt to place all surrendered animals. (Tao)
Purchasing a pet should never be an impulse decision. This is especially true of non-native exotic animals. If you are thinking about obtaining a non-native exotic animal like a Burmese python or a Nile Monitor lizard, it is important to complete extensive research regarding the specific animal. Educate yourself regarding the care, temperament, adult size and life of expectancy of any potential pets. Remember, if you release a non-native species into the wild, it is illegal, may pose a threat to humans and domesticated animals, and is a threat to our native environment.

Works Cited

Joel Achenbach Washington Post Staff Writer. "One Man's Pet, Another's Invasive Species." Washington Post. 18 Apr 2008. A01. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 21 Aug 2008. .
Carney, Elizabeth. "PROBLEM PETS." Junior Scholastic. 26 Mar 2007. 6. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 21 Aug 2008. .
Josh Hafenbrack South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Palm Beach County wants to slow the spread of green iguanas." McClatchy - Tribune Business News. 07 Jul 2008. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 20 Aug 2008. .
Curtis Morgan The Miami Herald. "Big snakes spread beyond Glades." McClatchy - Tribune Business News. 22 Feb 2008. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 20 Aug 2008. .
JENNIFER SORENTRUE, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer. "Iguanas Running Amok Prompt County To Press For State Control." Palm Beach Post. 18 Jun 2008. 1A. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 20 Aug 2008. .
Dominick Tao The Miami Herald. "Overwhelmed owners of exotic pets got amnesty." McClatchy - Tribune Business News. 24 Feb 2008. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 21 Aug 2008. .
"The Dragon of Cape Coral." Washington Post. 18 Apr 2008. A12. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 20 Aug 2008. .
Indian python. Compton's by Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2005. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 21 Aug 2008. .
"United States: Burmese days; Snakes in Florida." Economist. 02 Dec 2006. 52. eLibrary. Proquest CSA. FLORIDA CMTY CLG-JACKSONVILLE. 20 Aug 2008. .