Florida's Newest Problem: Burmese Pythons

[Dark Knight]

(AP) Florida's newest problem is roughly the circumference of a telephone pole. It has no toes. It snacks on rabbits. It's the Burmese python. And in South Florida, the problem is growing in number and in feet.

"Last year, we caught 95 pythons," said Skip Snow, a biologist with Florida Everglades National Park. That's not counting the 13-footer that exploded after trying to eat an alligator, or two others that got loose and ate a Siamese cat and a turkey.

To keep the problem from sliding further out of control, state Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Titusville, wants to add Burmese pythons to Florida's list of regulated reptiles. His bill (HB 1459) could force python buyers to complete state training, buy a license and face jail time if they let their snakes loose.

Pythons have also discovered suburbia, said Capt. Ernie Jillson, who helps run the Miami-Dade County fire department's snake squad. They catch around 20 pythons a year.

Three years ago, a 15-footer stopped traffic when he spread himself across a four-lane road. Last year, another 15-footer gave a 60-year-old woman quite the jolt when she walked outside to find the snake sunbathing on her patio. And rescue workers had to save a cat from the 10-foot python that was chasing it around the backyard pool.

Rest of the story, plus a pic: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060412/ap_on_sc/big_snakes

 

[Masissy]

(AP) Florida's newest problem is roughly the circumference of a telephone pole. It has no toes. It snacks on rabbits. It's the Burmese python. And in South Florida, the problem is growing in number and in feet.

"Last year, we caught 95 pythons," said Skip Snow, a biologist with Florida Everglades National Park. That's not counting the 13-footer that exploded after trying to eat an alligator, or two others that got loose and ate a Siamese cat and a turkey.

To keep the problem from sliding further out of control, state Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Titusville, wants to add Burmese pythons to Florida's list of regulated reptiles. His bill (HB 1459) could force python buyers to complete state training, buy a license and face jail time if they let their snakes loose.

Pythons have also discovered suburbia, said Capt. Ernie Jillson, who helps run the Miami-Dade County fire department's snake squad. They catch around 20 pythons a year.

Three years ago, a 15-footer stopped traffic when he spread himself across a four-lane road. Last year, another 15-footer gave a 60-year-old woman quite the jolt when she walked outside to find the snake sunbathing on her patio. And rescue workers had to save a cat from the 10-foot python that was chasing it around the backyard pool.

Rest of the story, plus a pic: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060412/ap_on_sc/big_snakes

I would have to move. :chicken:

 

[CyberLaw]

O.K. Florida is off the list, except if it is in the Disney Park.

With Gators knocking on doors and Pythons on the looose, no thanks, I don't want to vacation and have to be on guard of these creatures.

I found this line funny....sort of....

"How can you want something for a pet that looks at you when it's hungry?" he said. "I don't want something to look at me as food, I'd rather they (pets) come to me for food."

Words of wisdom......

Can you imagine a hungry python looking at you as food, not for food.

Neither do I even want to consider imagining what an exploding python looks like either. Would give me nightmares.........

 

[Jules]

I would have to move. :chicken:

Oh, me too!!!! :chicken:

 

[Lili]

Hee, hee...don't just imagine! Take a look Cyberlaw!

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/snakegator.asp

 

[Amraann]

http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2006/04/14/367750.html

And Igauna's too!!!

That is cute and all about the Bill... But honest?? To little to late.

The pythons are breeding in the everglades. Fish and Game actually have trained dogs to hunt them.
I am less concerned about Pythons then I am about Rattle snakes which live here naturally.

Really people read these news accounts and think we Floridians are just plaqued with wild animals that attack you.

Its mostly glamorized media. These creatures do not wait around corners to eat you.

 

[Dark Knight]

http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2006/04/14/367750.html

And Igauna's too!!!

That is cute and all about the Bill... But honest?? To little to late.

The pythons are breeding in the everglades. Fish and Game actually have trained dogs to hunt them.
I am less concerned about Pythons then I am about Rattle snakes which live here naturally.

Really people read these news accounts and think we Floridians are just plaqued with wild animals that attack you.

Its mostly glamorized media. These creatures do not wait around corners to eat you.

If you don't post for several days, we will know what happened to you. :crazy:

 

[Amraann]

hahahahhaha

 

[luckyevan93]

Sometimes it's easy to forget the animals were here first and the real problem is the human population that's boomed, encroaching on the animals' turf - or what was their turf, in the first place. Just like the black bears in TN. They killed one today - even though they are NOT 100% certain it's the one that attacked a family. Animals are being moved out of their habitats - or being killed during the habitat destruction. Those getting shuffled out of their space are having to find new food sources, etc... I just hope we can save some of the wild places before it's too late. People want to live out in the 'wild' but manage to kill off a species or two in the process.
k' - off my soapbox (of Astelin, Benedryl and all kinds of wonderful allergy meds)
(imho, of course).
L & E

 

[Beyond Belief]

I just was outside clearing an overgrown area and come in and read this! Ugh~

I am glad there wasn't any of these out there. I think I would have had a heart attack right on the spot.

 

[Nova]

Sometimes it's easy to forget the animals were here first and the real problem is the human population that's boomed, encroaching on the animals' turf - or what was their turf, in the first place. Just like the black bears in TN. They killed one today - even though they are NOT 100% certain it's the one that attacked a family. Animals are being moved out of their habitats - or being killed during the habitat destruction. Those getting shuffled out of their space are having to find new food sources, etc... I just hope we can save some of the wild places before it's too late. People want to live out in the 'wild' but manage to kill off a species or two in the process.
k' - off my soapbox (of Astelin, Benedryl and all kinds of wonderful allergy meds)
(imho, of course).
L & E

You are generally right, of course. (I live in California and the problem of dwindling habitat is very severe.) But Florida has another problem in that it seems a ripe breeding ground for species introduced from elsewhere, species which often lack natural predators.

If I remember my childhood trips to the Miami Serpentarium, the pythons arrived only after people. ("Walking catfish" were the crisis animals then.)

 

[Amraann]

Nova you are correct.

THe problem with the pythons and other exotic animals, like wild hogs, is that they are not naturally occuring species here.

The pythons have no natural enemies in Florida. Their breeding destroys the ecology.

 

[GlitchWizard]

This weekend we went camping (here in Florida.) We camped near a pond that apparently had a lair of water moccasins since we saw four that were only about 2 1/2 feet long each. I'd be way more concerned if one of those wriggled into my tent than a python.

Pythons small enough to sneak up on you are harmless.
Pythons large enough to do damage to you are huge.

Water Moccasins camoflauge and can kill you even when they are tiny and hiding in your sleeping bag.

 

[Beyond Belief]

Florida is home to six kinds of venomous snakes.
Diamondback Rattlesnake, Canebrake Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth (or Water Moccassin), Copperhead, and Coral snake.
http://www.247wildlife.com/venomousnakes.htm

 

[GlitchWizard]

38 years of playing outside, hiking, camping and kayaking and I've only seen two kinds out of that list. (Thankfully!) I did learn something though - I thought there were only two kinds... ;-)


I have a rattlesnake in my freezer awaiting the perfect April Fool's day prank. This year didn't have the right opportunity.

 

[Dark Knight]

Florida is home to six kinds of venomous snakes.
Diamondback Rattlesnake, Canebrake Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth (or Water Moccassin), Copperhead, and Coral snake.
http://www.247wildlife.com/venomousnakes.htm

Don't forget Black Widow spiders. :crazy:

 

[bakerprune64]

You are generally right, of course. (I live in California and the problem of dwindling habitat is very severe.) But Florida has another problem in that it seems a ripe breeding ground for species introduced from elsewhere, species which often lack natural predators.

If I remember my childhood trips to the Miami Serpentarium, the pythons arrived only after people. ("Walking catfish" were the crisis animals then.)

OMG! I soooo remember the trips to the Miami Serpentarium!! That guy, Bill Haass, was crazyyyyy! I remember him turing that king cobra loose in the grass and catching it to milk for the venom He had to close the place down after that kid fell into the croc. pit and Cookie killed him. There were signs posted that said "do not place children or belongings on wall" stupid parents sat the kids up there, kid fell in and the croc. killed the poor child.

Some of the problem with the booming Python population is the fact that when hurricanes destroyed homes/businesses, there was a boom in popluations of all animals that were previously domestic and had been turned loose from the destruction of their homes. JMO.

 

[NewMom2003]

Has anyone heard from Poco? Didn't she live in Florida and find snakes in her house?

 

[Amraann]

Baker's that is an excellent point!

But this is really more about breeders letting them free.
The hurricanes have only seriously impacted South Florida for the past two years. This was a problem Loooooong before that.

Newmom, Poco had black racers. although they can bite if cornered they are not venomous.

 

[bakerprune64]

Baker's that is an excellent point!

But this is really more about breeders letting them free.
The hurricanes have only seriously impacted South Florida for the past two years. This was a problem Loooooong before that.

Newmom, Poco had black racers. although they can bite if cornered they are not venomous.

Yep, I agree with that too. People get these snakes as some sort of status symbol, and are not prepared to deal with them as they grow larger and eat more. Same thing with Pirahanas in Florida, they get turned loose in various waterways, when people can no longer deal with them. There are no known predators to either of them, besides man.