You have a point there. Never really considered the fact that they might escape haha. I get the whole ecosystem thing but there are other things that cali laws don't look at that have a higher effect on the environment than a potential axoltyl outbreak. But then again I'm not an ecologist so what do I know lolYou also are under the assumption that being purposefully being released is the only way it could get out... escapes do happen (especially for something as large and strong as a python). The huge lionfish problem in the Atlantic ocean is thought to have been caused by lionfish being accidentally introduced into the wild during a hurricane, and some being also released on purpose. When people make laws against the possession of exotic animals in states with sensitive ecosystems, they have to work under the assumption that there are people who are either not educated enough to know that they shouldn't release exotic animals or that it may accidentally get released (be it a storm or the animal being an escape artist), so they work under the assumption that it can and will be released at one point. They then work under that assumption to determine whether the escaped animal or other organism could potentially be harmful (carps,caulerpa, lionfish, etc.). California is probably the most extremely cautious states when it comes to this, the only state with similarly strict laws being Hawaii and Florida (to a degree), and its not hard to guess why (fragile ecosystem). Nobody wants another economic disaster like the african giant land snail, lionfish or invasive carp. Not saying that the ban on axolotl in California makes any sense though.