WEST PALM BEACH (WFLA News) -- Florida doesn't want another situation like the Burmese python, in which non-native animals kept as pets escape their owners and become an invasive nuisance.
State fish and wildlife officials keep a list of prohibited species and starting today (May 2nd), it's adding 13 new members. That means no one will be able to acquire those animals to sell or to keep as pets. Sarah Funck with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission oversees non-native species. She says the only exceptions are for educational purposes and exhibitions, including zoos.. and those entities have to comply with certain requirements, such as having a hurricane plan.
It's believed that pythons established themselves in the Everglades after Hurricane Andrew freed many pet snakes from their owners in 1992.
If you own one of these 13 species, Funck says you're allowed to apply for a free permit before July 31st, to keep the animal for the rest of its life. But you can't own any more after it passes on.
Commercial species have a grace period of about 90 days to clear out their inventories.
If you decide not to apply for a permit, FWC urges you not to turn any prohibited animals loose. There is a pet amnesty if you surrender them to FWC, even if you own them illegally.
Here's the list:
Mammals: meerkat/mongoose, raccoon dog, dhole, brushtail possum,flying fox
Birds: red-whiskered bul-bul, dioch, Java sparrow, pink starling
Reptiles: brown tree snake, yellow anaconda,Beni anaconda, DeSchauensee's anaconda
raccoon dog
Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission