VPI Publications
This Publications section of VPI.com is where we place articles relevant to the care and husbandry of snakes, a place where our readers can find solid and current information and answers to questions and problems that are encountered in the day-to-day maintenance of snakes.
We also will post a series of article on the care and maintenance of a variety of species of snakes. We will try to place some articles here that regard snakes about which
We welcome our readers to submit articles that they have written, as well. Please send articles to the Dave the editor and webmaster at vpi@beecreek.net.
Basic Herpetoculture Series
Care Sheets
Recent VPI Publications
- Two Methods of Modeling Climate for the Burmese Python (1.34 MB PDF)
June 22, 2012, David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
- A Review of Dorcas et al. (2012). Severe Mammal Declines in ENP and Pythons (266.03 KB PDF)
April 16, 2012, David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
- Pythons in Salt Water (252.86 KB PDF)
January 24, 2012, David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
- A New Maximum Length Record for Burmese Pythons (628.3 KB PDF)
January 24, 2012, David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
- A Review of: Invasive Pythons in the United States by Dorcas and Willson (2011) (383.1 KB PDF)
November 30, 2011, David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
- A Review of Willson et al., 2011 (397.05 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
A close examination of the "plausible" scenarios proposed by GCRAP.
- cartoon #1 (321.25 KB PDF)
Dave Barker
the idea for Florida python research...
- A Review of the unsuccessful attempt to maintain Burmese pythons in South Carolina by Dorcas et al. (2010) (283.55 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
A review of the publication of Dorcas, Willson, and Gibbons, published in Biological Invasions (2010). The unsuccessful attempt to maintain Burmese pythons provides a clear rebuttal of the research and conclusions of earlier papers by Rodda et al. (2008) and Reed and Rodda (2009).
- Can Burmese Pythons Learn to Hibernate? (21.04 KB PDF)
Mikey Dorkman
Yet another failed experiment with Burmese pythons...
- Herpetoculture in the 21st Century (229.93 KB PDF)
Dave and Tracy Barker
The keynote speech at the 2010 IHS Meeting in Tucson, presented by Dave Barker
- A Critique of the Analysis Used to Predict the Climate Space of the Burmese Python (881.52 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
The map and data set used in the climate match and establishment risk analyses for Burmese pythons are examined. There are significant problems with the map and the data. A map for Python molurus is provided.
- S373 Pro-Con (29.21 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
A critical evaluation of the effects of S373, the Senate bill that proposes to place the nine species of pythons, anacondas, and boa constrictor on the Injurious Wildlife List.
- The Distribution of Burmese Pythons in China (969.63 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
An article and map showing the natural distribution of pythons in China
- A response to Dr. Susan Haseltine... (27.08 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
A response to Dr. Susan Haseltine's defense of the USGS report on pythons, anacondas, and boa constrictor.
- A Flawed USGS Report on Giant Constrictors (231.23 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
A critical review of the science in the USGS report on the great constrictors and boas, after the freeze.
- A Review: Giant Constrictors: Reed, R. and G. Rodda. 2010. (290.66 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
Posted in advance with permission from the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society.
- The Precautionary Principle and Pythons (34.52 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
The Occasional Papers of Vida Preciosa International, no. 2. (2010) An explanation of why S373 is not appropriate or justified.
- The Reptile Nation and the Importance of USARK (23.95 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
Text from the article printed in December 2009 issue of Reptiles.
- Review: Reducing the Risks of the Wildlife Trade (231.31 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
A review of an articlepublished in Science 324:94-95 by Smith, Behrens, Schoegel, Marano, Burgiel, and Daszak (2009).
- On Burmese Pythons in the Everglades (revised) (1021.81 KB PDF)
David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker
Questions posed and answered about Burmese pythons in south Florida
- DGB Testimony to HR-669 Subcommittee (43.74 KB PDF)
April 23, 2009, David G. Barker
Entered into the record of the meeting 4/23/09
- TJB Written Testimony regarding HR-669 (1.19 MB PDF)
April 23, 2009, Tracy M. Barker
Regarding the Anti-Animal proposal, HR-669
- Will they come in out of the cold? Observations of large constrictors in cool and cold conditions (495.32 KB PDF)
June 26, 2008, Dave Barker
Published in the Bulletin of the Chicago Herp Society
- The Maintenance and Reproduction of the Dwarf Python of Angola and Namibia (2.62 MB PDF)
January 01, 1995, Dave and Tracy Barker
Scanned from the original, published in The Vivarium 7(1)
- Tracy Barker's Response to the USF&W Notice of Inquiry (25.53 KB PDF)
Tracy Barker
Tracy's response
- Dave Barker's response to the USF&W Notice of Inquiry (83.84 KB PDF)
Dave Barker
Dave's response
- Review: An Ecological Risk Assessment of Nonnative Boas and Pythons as Potentially Invasive Species in the US (295.91 KB PDF)
review
- An Open Letter to Dr Snow Regarding the Origins of the Pythons in Everglades National Park (75.56 KB PDF)
On the origin of Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park
- The Distribution of the Burmese Python, Python molurus bivittatus (1.55 MB PDF)
March 26, 2008
A map, explanation, and biblography on the distribution of the Burmese python
- Comments on a Flawed Herpetological Paper and an Improper and Damaging News Release from a Government Agency (257.46 KB PDF)
Comments on the analysis of Rodda, Jarnevich and Reed that indicates the climate of the southern third of the United States is suitable for Burmese pythons, and the USGS news release.
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Basic Herpetoculture Series
Care Sheets
Recent VPI Publications
- Two Methods of Modeling Climate for the Burmese Python (1.34 MB PDF)
June 22, 2012
- A Review of Dorcas et al. (2012). Severe Mammal Declines in ENP and Pythons (266.03 KB PDF)
April 16, 2012
- Pythons in Salt Water (252.86 KB PDF)
January 24, 2012