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S. Florida Rainbow Snake Declared Extinct, Reward Offered to Prove it is Not
reptilechannel.com ^ | 30 Nov 2011 | unattributed

Posted on 11/30/2011 1:47:24 PM PST by smokingfrog

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) declared in October that the South Florida rainbow snake (Farancia erytrogramma seminola) is extinct, but the Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Snake Conservation think otherwise, and have put up a $500 reward to the first person who can document that the snake is not extinct.

Cameron Young, executive director of the Center for Snake Conservation said in a press release that declaring the snake extinct without adequate research is scientifically irresponsible. Young hopes that in offering a reward for valid documentation that the snake is not extinct, the proof will spur conservation efforts to ensure that the reptile survives into the future, and hopefully be returned onto the Endangered Species List.

The center says that USFWS declared the reptile extinct without conducting any focused surveys on the animal in its native habitat in spite of anecdotal evidence that the snake is eating eels in the Fisheating Creek area. By declaring the snake extinct, the species is no longer afforded protections under the Endangered Species Act.

The South Florida rainbow snake is an elusive species that is rarely seen in its native habitat, which is the Fisheating Creek area in Glades County, Florida. It is known from just three specimens, the last which was collected in 1952. Little is known about the snake, though it is believed to be entirely aquatic and active only at night and feeds exclusively on the American eel. There were unconfirmed sightings of the snake in the late 1980s, but no sightings since.

(Excerpt) Read more at reptilechannel.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: endangered; extinct; snakes
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Full Title: Feds Declare S. Florida Rainbow Snake Extinct, Reward Offered to First Person With Proof Snake is Not

Reward Offered for Sighting of South Florida Rainbow Snake


1 posted on 11/30/2011 1:47:31 PM PST by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog

One less thing to worry about.


2 posted on 11/30/2011 1:51:15 PM PST by donhunt (Certified and proud "Son of a Bitch".)
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To: smokingfrog

I’ll just bet Bawney Fwank can find one.


3 posted on 11/30/2011 1:51:15 PM PST by Ben Mugged (The truth is incontrovertible)
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To: smokingfrog

You better hope they don’t find any or the entire state of Florida will be declared a habitat.


4 posted on 11/30/2011 1:51:34 PM PST by Snickering Hound
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To: Snickering Hound
You better hope they don’t find any or the entire state of Florida will be declared a habitat.

More likely they'd arrest the winner who brought it in for disturbing an endanger species. And Heaven forbid the winner tells them he/she found it at home.
5 posted on 11/30/2011 1:53:47 PM PST by DTxAg
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To: smokingfrog

My wife hates the things, even if it was the last mating pair on earth she would grab a shovel and chop them into little pieces while screaming.


6 posted on 11/30/2011 1:55:55 PM PST by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: smokingfrog

Striking color. That would make a nice belt. If you see one, let me know.


7 posted on 11/30/2011 1:56:31 PM PST by sphinx
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To: smokingfrog

Just a ploy by the DFG to find, arrest, and confiscate all property from the “violators”.


8 posted on 11/30/2011 1:59:11 PM PST by This Just In
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To: smokingfrog
How much TAXPAYER money is wasted on Agencies that are useless? ("Center for Snake Conservation", for one).

I personally don't give a crap about snakes becoming extinct, when the Country is going to Hell in a hand-basket.

9 posted on 11/30/2011 2:00:46 PM PST by traditional1 ("Don't gotsta worry 'bout no mo'gage, don't gotsta worry 'bout no gas; Obama gonna take care o' me!)
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To: sphinx

Its a pickled specimen. A live one is breathtaking. Not called a Rainbow Snake for nothing.

I belive they feed mainly on aquatic salamenders like Amphiuma, missnamed “Congo” Eels - very ugly and very nasty amphibians with a wicked bite.

Farancia is a semi-aquatic fossial species, very secretive, so it very well might still be around South Florida - hopefully.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farancia


10 posted on 11/30/2011 2:05:49 PM PST by ZULU (Anybody but Romney or Huntsman)
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To: traditional1

“I personally don’t give a crap about snakes becoming extinct, when the Country is going to Hell in a hand-basket.”

Fine. But the two pursuits are not mutually exclusive.

I like animals and I regret it when any species becomes extinct. Its a loss that can’t be replaced and every species is a potential source of many items of use to humans - both practical and esthetic.


11 posted on 11/30/2011 2:08:28 PM PST by ZULU (Anybody but Romney or Huntsman)
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To: smokingfrog

I got a nice belt and hatband that looks JUST LIKE THAT!

Ok, just kidding.


12 posted on 11/30/2011 2:08:41 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: smokingfrog

Whadda ya expect with a gay snake?!?!?


13 posted on 11/30/2011 2:09:40 PM PST by G Larry ("I dream of a day when a man is judged by the content of his Character.")
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To: smokingfrog

Do you have to bring the whole snake in, or just the head?


14 posted on 11/30/2011 2:10:30 PM PST by MARTIAL MONK (I'm waiting for the POP!)
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To: smokingfrog

99% of all species that have ever inhabited the planet are extinct.

So we really all are the 1 percenters.


15 posted on 11/30/2011 2:10:39 PM PST by dfwgator (I stand with Herman Cain.)
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To: smokingfrog
feeds exclusively on the American eel

[insert John Edwards joke here]

Actually most of nature's picky eaters end up going extinct anyway.

16 posted on 11/30/2011 2:11:53 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: smokingfrog

yeah right, like anyone will bite on a 500 dollar reward for that. No one will admit to seeing one if it is on their own property. Too much to lose.


17 posted on 11/30/2011 2:12:15 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: traditional1

The Center for Biological Diversity is a non-profit, but it is the same group that caused all the Spotted Owl controversy a few years ago.


18 posted on 11/30/2011 2:14:26 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog
Cameron Young, executive director of the Center for Snake Conservation said...

They have a Center for Snake Conservation? Time to defund the agency.

19 posted on 11/30/2011 2:16:37 PM PST by ken in texas
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To: mamelukesabre

Simply tell them you saw one slithering around in your rude and obnoxious neighbor’s yard.


20 posted on 11/30/2011 2:18:55 PM PST by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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