Feds ban imports of 4 snake species

Federal officials declared four invasive snake species “injurious” Friday, banning their import or transport across state lines.

The listing, which is scheduled to take effect in April, affects the reticulated python, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, the green anaconda and the Beni anaconda, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced.

{mosads}The snake species, two of which are known to live in the United States mostly as pets, have been harmful mainly to ecosystems in Florida, the agency said.

“Large constrictor snakes are costing the American public millions of dollars in damage and placing at risk 41 federally and state-listed threatened or endangered species in Florida alone,” FWS Director Dan Ashe said Friday when he announced the rule at a national wildlife refuge in Florida.

“Today’s action will help prevent humans from contributing to the spread of these snakes,” he said.

The snakes join four other large constrictor species that were banned in 2012. The boa constrictor was considered for listing, but it was rejected Friday.

The FWS said that people who currently own the snakes will not be affected by the rule, as long as their state laws allow them and they do not bring them across state lines.

The three anaconda species are native to South America, and the python species is native to southeast Asia.