WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Commercial breeding of tegus and green iguanas will not be immediately banned but phased out until June 30, 2024.
Read More »Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Tightens Restrictions On Non-Native Reptiles
New Florida Rules Would Tighten Restrictions On Invasive Reptiles
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is proposing a slew of tighter regulations on invasive reptiles. But reptile breeders, exhibitors and shop owners are saying they will threaten the nature of their business, including public education about these species.
Read More »‘Season Of Opportunity’: In Election Year, Florida Governor Urges Lawmakers To Act On Abortion, Immigration, Teacher Pay
Entering his second year in office, the Republican governor endorsed the same conservative themes he has discussed for weeks ahead of the legislative session, which started Tuesday.
Read More »Gourmet Rodent Breeds Global Exotic Pet Business In Newberry
The Gourmet Rodent is home to 75,000 animals ranging from ball pythons and corn snakes to arachnids, frozen mice and scorpions. The city of Newberry made zoning changes to accommodate the exotic pet business, which owner Mike Layman says is the largest in the world.
Read More »The Python Elimination Program: Saving The Everglades One Snake At A Time
The number of pythons caught and killed since the South Florida Water Management District launched the program speaks for themselves, killing over 800 pythons in one year.
Read More »South Florida Water Management Department Hires 25 Burmese Python Hunters
Chosen from 1000 candidates, snake hunters will help eliminate the Burmese python invading the Florida everglades.
Read More »Lake Butler Resident Publishes Three Books In A Month
Lake Butler resident Steven Spitzer published his first three books in September. Inspired by a series of events in his life and the lives of his friends, his books contain twisted and dark humor.
Read More »Four Snake Species Added To Restricted List
A new law will make it illegal to import and sell four species of snakes across state lines. These snakes include one type of python and three types of anacondas, which if introduced could pose a threat to local ecosystems.
Read More »Workshop Sparks Debate on Dangers of Burmese Pythons
Florida wildlife officials have boosted their efforts against Burmese pythons by inviting the public to join the fight, but some researchers and breeders disagree on the severity of the python problem.
Read More »Gainesville Researcher’s Python Trap Could Be Used In The Everglades
A wildlife biologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Research Center in Gainesville is conducting testing using a special trap he designed to capture pythons in Florida. The five pythons being used in the study were found wild in the Everglades.
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