The U. S Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has added four more large species of snakes to the list of restricted snakes not allowed to be imported.

The new rules would make it illegal to import or sell these snakes across state lines.

"The overall goal is to limit the spread of these non-native invasive species. We've already seen with the Burmese how they can get established and almost single-handedly wreck an ecosystem," said agency spokesman Ken Warren.

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The agency fears those species could eventually take hold in the Everglades, where non-native giant snakes have overwhelmed the ecosystem. They are killing and swallowing native animals like deer and alligators.

Expected to become law in about a month, the measure could all but end the sale of large constrictors being considered, including boa constrictors, reticulated pythons and three anacondas - the DeSchauensee's anaconda, green anaconda and Beni anaconda.

In a similar action three years ago, the FWS had banned the import of four other kinds of big snakes. The latest action makes it illegal to import or move the snakes across state lines. The agency stopped short of including the popular boa constrictor among the banned species.

The agency didn't prohibit those who already have these snakes from keeping them, however.

Intrastate sales of these species also remain legal wherever they are already allowed. Rather than make it harder to keep snakes and punish dealers, wildlife biologist Joe Wasilewski said officials should promote responsible pet ownership.

TagsFWS Bans Import of Four Large Snake Species, big snakes, large snake species, banning of big snakes, Everglades, Ecosystem