A tourism-dependent state such as Florida and the US south in general has enough to worry about in tough times but here’s a new wiggle: giant snakes such as boa constrictors and pythons could discourage future visitors.
So says a new report by the US Geological Survey.
“Fear of snakes is not entirely rational and one well-publicized attack on a human could jeopardize considerable tourism business,” the report said.
The report did not put a monetary amount at risk, but did say the largest economic impact of snakes could be attributed to tourism.
Pythons, thought to have been released after pet owners tired of them, have become established in the Everglades and southern Florida. In July, a nine-foot pet python strangled a central Florida toddler in her bed after it escaped.
The report noted that all giant constrictors would be unpopular with some potential tourists, though the impact is likely to be greater in places that are heavily dependent on tourism, such as Florida, southern California, or Hawaii.
Other economic impacts from the snakes could come from their invasion of urban areas; their tendency to eat live poultry and carry diseases; and damage to wildlife popular with bird-watchers and other tourists.
Pythons may be controllable in the vicinity of bird rookeries, and wildlife officials may be able to protect isolated places like the Lower Florida Keys from giant constrictors, but the costs could be high, according to the report.
Earlier this year, US Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., introduced legislation to allow python hunts in the Everglades, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. introduced legislation to ban the imports of snakes.
By David Wilkening
