I have a real problem with people who bring illegal animals into Hawaii as pets. When we returned to Hawaii in 2008, we soon noticed that the wildlife had changed. I don't remember seeing so many of those finches flying around or those papaya and orchid bud eating bulbuls. I doubt there were peacocks or wallabys hopping around either. I've also heard of piranhas being brought in. It becomes a massive problem when they escape. I wrote a post a while back about people being driven to commit murder because of peacocks. She murdered the peacock.
Hawaii is supposed to be snake free but according to the Star Advertiser, there have been several boa constrictors that have been turned in recently. The most recent thing I saw was a marsupial, a sugar glider in somebody's home.
The state has a maximum penalty of $200,000 or up to three years in prison for illegal pet owners. There is also a reward from the Animal CrimeStoppers up to $1,000 for information about an illegal animal. Just call 643-7378.
We don't have winters here that would help to rid the islands of animals that will hurt the environment or kill the indigenous species. All they do is multiply.
Why in the world would anybody feel they need to have a snake for a pet? Why aren't they smart enough to realize that you shouldn't let these exotic pets loose? Why are some people so ....?
OK... end of rant. It's safe to come out now.
The state has a maximum penalty of $200,000 or up to three years in prison for illegal pet owners. There is also a reward from the Animal CrimeStoppers up to $1,000 for information about an illegal animal. Just call 643-7378.
We don't have winters here that would help to rid the islands of animals that will hurt the environment or kill the indigenous species. All they do is multiply.
Why in the world would anybody feel they need to have a snake for a pet? Why aren't they smart enough to realize that you shouldn't let these exotic pets loose? Why are some people so ....?
OK... end of rant. It's safe to come out now.
Oh, I so agree with you, Kay. Some people just don't think about anybody but themselves. I'm glad to hear that the penalty for owning these illegal pets is so high. I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteA lot of countries have had introduced species and it has caused absolute havoc for the indigenous wildlife, in some cases complete extinction. I believe that's what happened with some of your birds in Hawaii isn't it Kay?
ReplyDeleteMy ex-bf who lives in St. Louis Heights, told me that it was against the law to bring in exotic animals.. Hth could someone sneak this in past airport officials or thru Fed Ex or whatever??? Its unfair not only to the people but to the poor animal that was pulled from another environment.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately this is a widespread and historic problem Kay.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's really a shame to spoil Hawaii's splendid isolation. Pet snakes (boa constrictors?!) creep me out anywhere, but bringing them to an island is just perverse.
ReplyDeleteRant on, Kay.
I don't understand that, either, Kay. I'm still mad at whoever brought the damn stinkbug into the Eastern US!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh I AGREE ! Thats just the most insane thing,, on our news they found an 9 foot boa constricter starving in the bush in Timmins,, now this is northern Canada but some @#$$$% let it loose in the bush, I guess he or she got fed up with it. Now I am not a snake lover but they are all Gods creatures and mis treating any animal is wrong.It seems any fool can have a pet and lots do,, fools i mean!!I think in your country its worse because of the warm climate,, how scary is this,, ( my rant finsihed too ) lol
ReplyDeleteThis is scary so rant away!!! The Hawaiian eco-structure is fragile and unique and respect for it is crucial. A pox on those who don't!
ReplyDeleteI agree, your rant requires no apology.
ReplyDeleteHow about you collecting the reward for telling the authorities about the pet sugar glider you saw in someone's home?
People don't "tell" because they don't want to lose their exotic-pet-keeping friends, and because they don't want their friends to have to pay enormous fines, so even the well-intentioned are caught up in the web of silence and defeat.
Far be it from me to criticize you, Kay. You know I think you are a wonderful person, but it can be a vicious circle. People don't want to rat out their friends (pun intended) so a lot of illegal pets go unreported until they are found, as Laurie said of the boa constrictor in northern Ontario.
Education is probably the answer. Sugar gliders and pet snakes are as much the victim as they are the problem. They don't ask to move to Hawaii.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Your rant is fully justified, Kay. People just don't think beyond the first thrill of owning something different. Then, when they tire of the creature, or are frightened of it, or it costs too much, they turn it out to fend for itself. Wicked! Unfair to the local wildlife and a real threat of extinction to some of the more fragile organisms.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget the tale I heard when I was living in Hawaii about how someone brought mongooses from Asia to combat the rats brought in by the sailing ships. Seems it did not work. Now Hawaii has mongooses everywhere, or is that mongeese? Feral cats were also an issue and the Lantana growing on he hillsides. In fact, almost everything in Hawaii comes from somewhere else. I am sorry to hear about he snakes, but maybe they will solve the mongoose and rat problem. I think they eat cats too. Perhaps they will even tackle the goats someone brought in to eat the Lantana.
ReplyDeleteWe have our issues also. I fight invasives in my garden everyday.
Cheers, Dianne
Those lolos also snuck the coqui frog into the islands whose non-stop sharp mating sounds continue to drive the Big Island people batty. We don't have them yet, but brown tree snakes wiped out the bird population on Guam, and now their forests are surreal quiet.
ReplyDeleteOh how I agree. I don't approve of taking anything in nature of out it's natural setting..... be it plants or animals. There's always a problem.
ReplyDeleteManzanita@Wannabuyaduck
Please, no snakes!!! I would hate for Hawaii to become another Guam.
ReplyDeletePeople just plain don't think or they just don't care when they break the law and bring in illegal animals and other things!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Hawaii is supposed to be snake free. I may have to move there, as I have no use for the slimy creatures. Hope all the law-breakers get caught before letting their snakes go.
ReplyDeletei agree, it's irresponsible...indeed!
ReplyDeleteI would sure like to get my hands on the boobs who imported coqui frogs into Hawaii from Puerto Rico on ornamental tropical plants sold at WalMart. We're going to Puerto Rico on a cruise in Dec. and I'm thinking of taking a few of the giant mutant coquis with me to release there (They just love it here, don't we all, and have increased in size and are much louder.)
ReplyDeleteWhat I wish is that people would think twice before they buy plants from WalMart and Home Depot that have been grown outside the islands. Who knows what kind of diseases and small pests they carry? But consumers are always looking at saving a little money or the convenience of big box stores and don't think about the long term consequences.
Surprised to learn that this kind of activities are still happening after such strict laws and penalties.Some people never learn.I see a genuine concern here from your side .
ReplyDeleteWith those stiff penaties, you would think it would be a deterrent. And exotic animals aren't cheap in the first place. Talk about misplaced values.
ReplyDeleteGive 'em 20 years! Quarantine offences have the potential for the most disastrous of consequences.
ReplyDeleteSo give 'em 20 years on the rockpile.
Supplementary answer to your question "Why would anybody want a snake as a pet?"
http://born-in-a-tent.blogspot.com/2011/07/silent-lodger.html
Worthwhile rant, Kay. But idiots wil continue to be selfish idiots. Terribly sad what we do to the world.
ReplyDeleteReptiles are cold blooded (like some attorneys and most politicians) so do not require very much in the way of food (unlike our attorneys and politicians) and can go very long periods without eating since the bulk of a human's calories are consumed by our need to stay warm. A reptile just slows down or goes to sleep when it gets colder. A human starves and then dies. (similarly, a politician's time is spent trying to use the power of his office to amass personal wealth, and second, get re-elected so he can do this some more) Some reptiles can go months without eating, (some politicians can go months without thinking!) making them very easy to conceal inside boxes and ship without harm. I wish the same could be said of our politicians.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be stupid people who think nothing of breaking the rules for no good reason other than they want a snake or flying squirrel or purple gnome. Or education and free medical for their kids, free housing for themselves; even though they never paid a cent into the public coffer. Or $80,000 for a tap on the rear bumper of his car which was barely hard enough to leave a tiny, 1/8" mark on his plastic bumper cover (this is a real case presided over by several very real attorneys). All these entitlements are what come with people who are so dissociated from the real mechanisms of survival because they are so used to modern, mechanized society and the benefits of cheap, abundant energy and cheap, abundant politicians. And something called "the rule of law." But through it all, there is a devastating lack of respect for the earth or even a semblance that they need to nurture and care for the things they are so blatantly polluting with their endless plastics, oxides, free radicals, oil, benzene, ad nauseum.
In the US pretty much anyone can get elected to be a politician, which I have always been against. Such a system is very, very good at only one thing: attracting power hungry, money grubbing megalomaniacs with enormous egos to feed. Look at every state government or federal judiciary structure/staff. I rest my case. The key to restoring sanity is to take steps to qualify the candidates by requiring certain sacrifices; say, 10 years of non paid public service in welfare, social servics, etc, or similar treatment to try to weed out the glory hogs. You won't get all, but I bet you the whole gumball machine you'll get a damn sight less of what you see now. Hit 'em where it hurts. Prohibit political action committees. Prohibit campaign contributions. Make everyone start with, say, $10k in election funds and that's it. With the internet now, you don't need to take out $5 million in ads. Public forums can replace all of it. Take away their free health care after leaving their term. Make all laws apply equally to all legislators (for example, they are exempt from any sexual harassment lawsuits). You think these United States is a free place?? Don't make me laugh.
aloha,
walt