yikes! We have known for some years that Burmese pythons have been breeding in the Florida Everglades (believed after Hurrucane Andrew in the early 90s, plus people releasing their "pets" when they get too large or expensive to keep!)
but this is scary! especially considering how many tourists go to the Everglades and the growing populations that surround them and the Native American's who still call them home!

** be warned ** graphic


.

OMG.... that means one of these can eat a PERSON?

Must have been a fawn or young yearling?

There was a program on Nat Geo or Science ..recently I just caught the ending of...about SUPER huge mutant animals
resulting from the release of exotics in places like Florida.

This article seems to point in that direction.

apparently, acc to the article
.


I was thinking about our trip to Everglades Park when the kids were younger and going out on the boardwalks that one can hike on for miles. Imagine encountering one of these super sized pythons out in the Glades on a boardwalk above an alligator infested swamp
.

.

.

Oh, noooooo.... I sense some nightmares coming...

When I was in Florida several years ago... South of you...in Delray and Boca, there was a museum there I visited, that had an exhibit by a wildlife photographer who did mostly the white egrets, and other birds, etc. There were so many pictures of these beautiful birds eating the exotic fish and frogs that people let out into the
canals. I recall one especially of an egret eating a huge plecostimous (sp) which is an algae eater in hobby tropical aquariums (at one time we had this fish long ago). This one the bird caught was 12-18 in long or more!
It was an eye opening exhibit.

I have kept and raised pythons for several decades. I imagine you have quite a different perspective then me being stuck right in the middle of that! For what it's worth I think any of those "wild" pythons would avoid human interaction. I read that article somewhere else did it say that snake was off the beaten track or close to people?
I also think that there is a lot of misinformation out there which the media doesn't care because you have phobias+sensationalism=higher ratings.
Anyway, thats my two cents! It bothers me because I am a responsible pet keeper facing the loss of income/my hobby when my pets are banned!

they are beginning to find them in populated areas now too, tho that is more rare...mainly in the Everglades.

And no, I do not think this is "sensationalism" ..... as it is a very real problem here in Florida.

I did not see anything in the article or discussion suggesting that responsible owners/breeders should be banned from keeping them
.

This story is about them infiltrating the Everglades ecosystem, because of the escape of many when Hurricane Andrew caused such devastation and also because *irresponsible* owners are releasing them into the wild instead of surrendering them to authorities/zoos etc when they become too big to keep

A child was killed by a "pet" python here recently because her parents did not have the snake correctly housed and were not feeding it properly. They were found guilty in her death and given lengthy prison sentences. Irresponsible owners at fault again.

I live in fla. too. I know all too well that people have let their pets go, and that has caused a huge and terrible problem. Yes they could eat people! We have to do more to outlaw exotic pets, since so many can't be responsible. what it is doing to our wildlife populations is a crime. People should not be allowed to purchase them at all, and the providers of these animals should be prosecuted. My neighbor is an animal rescue person. The number of birds, reptiles and other exotics caught is testimony to the problem. she has numerous turtles, birds and snakes. she is overwhelmed at the problem. People should know better, and have the mind to know they are doing the wrong thing. How do you cure human ignorance? ginnie