I am going to cancel my subscription to the Smithsonian and cut off all donations after reading this. This is nothing but a bunch of sensationalized ignorant fear-mongering garbage and I am absolutely insulted that this would be published by what is supposed to be a credible educational organization. I expect this from FOX or MSNBC but not from the Smithsonian. I am not going to sit here and correct all the flaws and falsities like the surviving freezing temperatures or the harboring of parasites in the above information I am just going to wash my hands of this now undignified organization.

I cant beleive this article is still on the internet. Please do research before publishing an article that is so misleading to the uniformed.

There went the credibility of the Smithsonian. This article reads like a National Enquirer article full of lots of misinformation and hyperbole. Its even laughable that the article is titled "Five Giant Snakes We Should Worry About" and then a photo of Ball Pythons was used! Quit committing lazy journalism and go interview some real experts, get some real facts and scrounge up accurate images of what you are actually writing about. Unbelievable!

I think that the main issue is that some individuals who buy large species of exotic snakes eventually have a problem when the snake gets too large for them to handle and care for. Unfortunately, these "pets" get released into the ecosystem where they can end up as a foreign invader wreaking havoc on native species.

I do believe that there is a strong possibility that some species would be able to adapt to some areas of the south (even if there are infrequent cold spells).

One example of adaptability of species relates to the tropical Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) that are normally native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. They were imported in the U.S. pet trade in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Some escaped or were released into the wild and now are quite prolific on the shores of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Long Island - even surviving the harsh New England winters. There was a lot of controversy with regards to their living in the area since large colonies were constructing stick nests on utility poles, creating an enormous ruckus for residents, etc. (For more information refer to "Monk Parakeets" on the Connecticut Audubon Society website.)

Ultimately, the sale of exotic pets should be in question. It can be dangerous to introduce a foreign species to a vulnerable habitat, and equally it is in the exotic animals best interest to be in its own home environment.

Why is this article even still posted?

Anacondas making it in Texas? That's laughable on it's face. These snakes do NOT live where temps dip below freezing for an extended period of time--and much of Texas does, in fact experience sub-freezing temps on a regular basis throughout the winter. If these animals could survive outside in Texas, why the hell am I spending as much money as I am on housing and heating them indoors? I'd just build some outside pens.

The African (also known as rock) python, Burmese Python and Boa Constrictor in particular have been trade mainstays for longer than I have been alive--going back to the 1950s in the case of the boa constrictor. Which, incidentally, is native to Mexico, which borders Texas...if the area was suitable they'd already be here.

I am canceling my subscription to the Smithsonian magazine after reading this drivel. The vast number of invasive birds, mammals and trees far exceeds any damage a few pythons could ever do. This past winter proved that tropical snakes can't survive freezing temperatures, but it hasn't stopped the negative propaganda machine from twisting the scientific facts to make it suit its agenda.

I wish someone would just admit that this proposed "ban" stems from a phobia or hate of reptiles. It is human nature to kill or ban anything we don't understand.

If you want to talk about "dangerous" animals than please start with horses and dogs. They are responsible for more injuries and deaths per year than any giant snake is in the past 50 years.

I do however believe there needs to be responsibility on the owners of large constrictors and also those who breed and sell them. Not everyone is mature enough or knowledgeable enough to properly care for these snakes when the reach adult sizes.

This is very poor journalism, and written poorly as well. I also find it interesting that whenever sizes are discussed, the media gives examples of very large animals and calls the number "average". I think we should create a cash prize for the first person to bring a live, 13 foot long boa constrictor. Most average around the 6 foot mark (though owners will call 6 feet 8 feet, and if they do happen to have an 8 foot animal they will surely claim it is 10 or 12 feet in length). The same for a Burmese Python that is eighteen feet long.

WTF!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? there is no way this is accurate ball pythons are very harmless snakes and the idea of any of these giant "threats" surviving in America is nearly impossible. our climate cannot support their needs. also the Beni anacondas are not "giant" snakes they are like green anacondas but only grow to be about as big as ball pythons (four feet occasionally larger). This article is a disgrace to the name of herpetology

Shame on the Smithsonian for publishing such junk science and perpetuating the hysteria associated with large snakes. At worst, the issue is limited to South Florida. All the evidence (as well as common sense) shows that these tropical snakes cannot survive anywhere in the US outside of southern Florida (and maybe the extreme tip of Texas.) Even Mother Nature pointed this out when she wiped out most of the pythons in south Florida with the recent 10 day cold snap in that area! Nine out of 10 pythons that were being monitored by University of Florida scientists died during that short period (short relative areas outside of south Florida) DIED! So saying that they have "behaviors that allow them to escape freezing temperatures" is bordering on an outright lie.

As far as having "prodigious appetites", that is ridiculous. Snakes are cold blooded, and as such don't eat much. A wild python probably eats only 6 to 12 times per year, and they will eat pest animals like feral cats and rats. And plenty of indigenous animals (alligators, many birds, many mammals, possibly snakes, etc.) EAT pythons/boas.

And while saying that these pythons can grow to 20' long is true, that's like saying humans can grow to 7' tall. It's possible, but very rare. And so what? Alligators can grow to 15'. So what?

"Tolerant of urbanization"? What does that mean? I doubt a 20' long python would last long in an urban area!

I was a fan of the Smithsonian, but I may have to rethink that. This article is better suited for the National Enquirer.

First of all, the whole story is riddled with errors. Boas have never reached 13'...a 10 footer is huge. They average around 7-8'.

Second, could someone PLEASE show me what real damage any of these have done in the 'Glades? The alligator is still THE top predator, and will remain so because there are far more of them than pythons.

Thirdly, as witnessed by this past winter's freeze, they cannot survive outside of Florida. This has been proven to be a fact. And the Burmese python is not Python molurus, it is Python bivittatus. The other is the Indian python. This was a sensationalist article, not befitting the publication it was published in.

It is very disheartening to read many comments on just about any subject in the news nowadays. It just seems like the less someone knows in general, the greater the opinion is. How could anyone advocate banning something, taking away a person's right to purse what they love, without first having solid knowledge on the subject? It seems to be the current state of things in our country, not just exotic pets.
The fact that such a well-respected publication as the Smithsonian could put out such a thoughtless, poorly researched article just shows me that they are no different than any other news media entity that spew misinformation daily. You can call the ball python picture mistake "unimportant", but with the very fist thing you see regarding this article being such a simple mistake, how could you take anything that is has to say as any type of fact?

The truth is that the USGS report is terribly misinformed and inaccurate and has been basically "destroyed" by many scientists and highly respected individuals in the reptile and science world. Just do a tiny amount of research that isn't connected to the United States Humane Society, and you will see how small the area is at the southern tip of Florida where the Burmese python has established itself, you will see how this past winter almost wiped out the wild population down there, and you will see the political and financial benefits that the USGS, Sen Nelson and the rest of the pro ban group are working for.

Don't be so quick to believe what you see in the media, we as Americans all owe it to ourselves not to so easliy be "Sheeple". Education is a top priority, and it can never be attained through "the media" without further research. If you accept that as a fact, your just making it way too easy for yourself to be led to a conclusion rather than you yourself getting there.

I have came across 4 big snakes here in central Arkansas,as a matter of fact I doing a speech on the subject to inform others, the first one was 33 years ago wonder how many young it has had?

Florida has become an introduced species disaster area. There are many non-native reptile and amphibian species established there as a direct result of the exotic pet trade, escapees and deliberate releases into the wild.

The issue is complicated, and banning the importation of non-native reptiles and amphibians is one option. There are plenty of captive breeding programs by hobbyists to support the domestic market, and not put demands on wild populations.

However, Burmese Pythons are already established in the Everglades, and will have a direct impact on native wildlife. These snakes are huge, with prodigious appetites, and will be nigh impossible to eradicate from the environment.