An Ecological Risk Assessment of Nonnative Boas and Pythons as Potentially Invasive Species in the United States
Robert N. Reed*
The growing iriternational trade in live wildlife has the potential to
result in continuing estab- lishment of nonnative animal populations in
the United States. Snakes may pose particularly high risks as potentially
invasive species, as exemplified by the decimation of Guam's vertebrate
fauna by the accidentally introduced brown tree snake. Herein, ecological
and commercial predictors of the likelihood of establishment of invasive
populations were used to model risk associated with legal commercial imports
of 23 species of boas, pythons, and relatives into the United States during
the period 1989-2000. Data qn ecological variables were collected from
multiple sources, while data on commercial variables were collated from
import records maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Results
of the risk-assessment models indicate that species including boa constrictors
(Boa constrictor), ball pythons (Python regius), and
reticulated pythons (P. reticulatus) may pose particularly high
risks as potentially invasive species. Recommendations for reducing risk
of establishment of irivasive populations of snakes and/or pathogens iriclude
temporary quarantirie of imports to increase detection rates of nonnative
pathogens, increasing research attention to reptile pathogens, reducirig
the risk that nonnative snakes will reach certain areas with high numbers
of federally listed species (such as the Florida Keys), and attempting
to better educate iridividuals purchasirig reptiles.
KEY WORDS: Boidae; commercialization; ecology; Pythonidae;
snake
SREL Reprint #2884
Reed, R. 2005. An ecological risk assessment of nonnative boas and pythons as potentially invasive species in the United States. Risk Analysis 25:753-766.
