Kill The Python

[greentrout]

Faced with an unrelenting spread of invasive Burmese pythons that have mostly wiped out marsh rabbits, bobcats and other small mammals, Everglades National Park is doing something for the first time in its 70-year history: opening park borders to paid hunters.

 

>> http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article212188594.html

[Bassin' Brad]

Bounty hunters! Where do I sign up?? 

 

It's good they are taking action against an invasive species that's causing such trouble. 

[Gundog]

Unfortunately the idiots that release them into the Everglades aren't being caught and charged. Just like the lionfish, snakehead and hundredths of other invasive species being released by morons. 

[J Francho]

This is one I actually think they might have some success with controlling.

[Tennessee Boy]

Good deal.  We need more of this kind of thing.

[Darren.]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

This is one I actually think they might have some success with controlling.

That's a big maybe. Deep in the Everglades, these may survive

quite nicely.

 

My brother and I would love to do some snake hunting, though

we don't kill 'em. We've oft talked about joining the hunts in

FL.

[J Francho]

The reason for my optimism is that they're big, dumb, predictable, and slow.  Get enough participation, and I bet they make a major dent.

[soflabasser]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

The reason for my optimism is that they're big, dumb, predictable, and slow.  Get enough participation, and I bet they make a major dent.

That is what many people thought about lionfish when they where first discovered in Florida and those people where wrong. Lionfish exist in healthy numbers in many of the places I dive and fish, even with people like me spearing them and other people activity hunting them. Good thing lionfish are delicous!

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

That's a big maybe. Deep in the Everglades, these may survive

quite nicely.

 

My brother and I would love to do some snake hunting, though

we don't kill 'em. We've oft talked about joining the hunts in

FL.

I agree with you that the Everglades is a perfect environment for these snakes to thrive in. I caught a Burmese python a couple months ago in one of my fishing spots and I am always looking around to see if I see another one. They are very good at camoflaging on the floor and are not as easy to find as many would think.Hopefully these hunters can help lower the population enough to the point where these snakes become very rare. Doubt they will be completely eliminated from South Florida.

[Gundog]

 I hope they make a dent but being a realist I can't honesty believe they will ever eradicate those snakes. It would take a "Scorched Earth" policy to eliminate them. The Everglades are just too big with far too many places for them to hide. Keep in mind that these snakes originated in the Jungles of South America. A habitat much like the Everglades. That's why I say good luck to the hunters but they are fighting an uphill battle. By the way, I think it was funny that protests from environmental groups made the state agency scale back hunting in 2015. These are the same people who say California should remove bass to save salmon. 

[Darren.]

All thanks to a hurricane Andrew (well, not entirely true, but

the Sun-Sentinel reported iguanas, baboons, boa constrictors

were on the loose then, tho not pythons specifically).

 

The Pythons were likely from many causes including hurricanes,

owners who could no longer care for large snake, knuckleheads

thinking it would be ok to release them in the everglades, etc.

 

HEY, the baboons might explain the Skunk Ape thingy in FL! 

Conspiracy theorists...discuss.

 

[Dwight Hottle]

16 hours ago, Darren. said:

All thanks to a hurricane Andrew (well, not entirely true, but

the Sun-Sentinel reported iguanas, baboons, boa constrictors

were on the loose then, tho not pythons specifically).

 

The Pythons were likely from many causes including hurricanes,

owners who could no longer care for large snake, knuckleheads

thinking it would be ok to release them in the everglades, etc.

 

HEY, the baboons might explain the Skunk Ape thingy in FL! 

Conspiracy theorists...discuss.

 

I remember reading about reptile farms in south Florida suffering hurricane damage causing the release of snakes into the everglades. 

 

By Livia Albeck-Ripka

• Sept. 8, 2017
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When Hurricane Andrew battered South Florida in 1992, conservationists say, a slithering, voracious species escaped a breeding facility and made its way toward Everglades National Park. There, the Burmese python, originally from Southeast Asia, would feast on raccoons, eggs and deer, multiplying into the tens of thousands, until it had ravaged the ecosystem.

Now, with Hurricane Irma fast approaching Florida, wildlife organizations are concerned that other nonnative species could be unleashed in the state. There are more than 1,200 species of reptiles and amphibians kept in captivity in Florida, according to the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. Many of them, like the veiled chameleon, Mexican spinytail iguana and Javan file snake, are nonnative.

“You’ve got a lot of exotic pet breeders down in South Florida,” said Bruce Stein, associate vice president for conservation science at the National Wildlife Federation. “The question is: What’s next?”

There is no definitive proof that Hurricane Andrew was responsible for the invasion of the Burmese python, which was first spotted in the Everglades in the 1980s. Exotic pets are frequently released in the wild by their owners. But after a reptile breeding warehouse was destroyed in the 1992 hurricane, the python population boomed.

Florida, with its muggy, swamp-like conditions, has long been a hub for exotic breeding. More wildlife shipments pass through Miami’s ports than anywhere else in the country except New York and Los Angeles. Once a year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission organizes an amnesty pet drop-off: Keepers can give up their king cobras, Komodo dragons and other exotic species, no questions asked.

Commercial keepers need a permit for certain nonnative species. Those who apply must submit a disaster plan to the wildlife commission, but they create the plan themselves. “It’s really just for their own use,” said Gaby Vega, a spokeswoman for the commission’s Captive Wildlife Office.

In an evacuation, the reptile keeper’s association advises slipping snakes into a bag and putting the bag, tied closed, inside a crate. Owners can take the crate with them or anchor it to the ground with a rope, so that the snake doesn’t drown or float away.

 

[Darren.]

3 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

I remember reading about reptile farms in south Florida suffering hurricane damage causing the release of snakes into the everglades. 

 

By Livia Albeck-Ripka

• Sept. 8, 2017
• •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

When Hurricane Andrew battered South Florida in 1992, conservationists say, a slithering, voracious species escaped a breeding facility and made its way toward Everglades National Park. There, the Burmese python, originally from Southeast Asia, would feast on raccoons, eggs and deer, multiplying into the tens of thousands, until it had ravaged the ecosystem.

Now, with Hurricane Irma fast approaching Florida, wildlife organizations are concerned that other nonnative species could be unleashed in the state. There are more than 1,200 species of reptiles and amphibians kept in captivity in Florida, according to the United States Association of Reptile Keepers. Many of them, like the veiled chameleon, Mexican spinytail iguana and Javan file snake, are nonnative.

“You’ve got a lot of exotic pet breeders down in South Florida,” said Bruce Stein, associate vice president for conservation science at the National Wildlife Federation. “The question is: What’s next?”

There is no definitive proof that Hurricane Andrew was responsible for the invasion of the Burmese python, which was first spotted in the Everglades in the 1980s. Exotic pets are frequently released in the wild by their owners. But after a reptile breeding warehouse was destroyed in the 1992 hurricane, the python population boomed.

Florida, with its muggy, swamp-like conditions, has long been a hub for exotic breeding. More wildlife shipments pass through Miami’s ports than anywhere else in the country except New York and Los Angeles. Once a year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission organizes an amnesty pet drop-off: Keepers can give up their king cobras, Komodo dragons and other exotic species, no questions asked.

Commercial keepers need a permit for certain nonnative species. Those who apply must submit a disaster plan to the wildlife commission, but they create the plan themselves. “It’s really just for their own use,” said Gaby Vega, a spokeswoman for the commission’s Captive Wildlife Office.

In an evacuation, the reptile keeper’s association advises slipping snakes into a bag and putting the bag, tied closed, inside a crate. Owners can take the crate with them or anchor it to the ground with a rope, so that the snake doesn’t drown or float away.

 

The article I cited from the Sun-Sentinel probably didn't have complete

information of exactly what was released during Andrew. Typically, 

breeders that do Boa Constrictors also do Pythons because of their 

popularity. So I'd guess there were Burmese there, as your article 

suggests given the sudden "boom" in population thereafter.

 

What I'd be all about is if there was a boom in Ball Pythons. Breeders

make some amazing genetic variations that can cost upwards of $100k.

Ball Pythons are also some of the best snakes for pets as they are so

docile.

[J Francho]

I'm sure there are plenty of species of python/boa in the Glades.  The Burmese gets a lot of press because it's the second longest species of snake.  While not considered dangerous, the Reticulated Python has been known to eat humans.

[Fishing_FF]

I haven't seen anything on a sizable Retic population, but FWC and Venom One have been tracking a growing Rock Python population. They are seeing both increasing numbers and increase range (area) of the Rock Pythons. 

 

While Burmese get super big, the Rock Pythons get the award for aggression. They attack hundreds of people in Africa every year. There is an African snake and reptile training group that provides classes on handling snakes and lizards. The group does more venomous snake classes as the African people would rather face the Black Death (Black Mambas) and cobras than a Rock Python. That says something right there.

 

There have studies look at the possibility of a Burmese and Rock Python hybrid. All pythons are of the same genus, and it is believed they could in fact interbreed. Its never happened before as are located on different continents. However, Reticulated and Burmese Pythons are both found in Asia, and hybrids have been found. The fear among herpetologist is the creation of a large, super aggressive snake in Florida. 

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, Fishing_FF said:

I haven't seen anything on a sizable Retic population, but FWC and Venom One have been tracking a growing Rock Python population. They are seeing both increasing numbers and increase range (area) of the Rock Pythons. 

 

While Burmese get super big, the Rock Pythons get the award for aggression. They attack hundreds of people in Africa every year. There is an African snake and reptile training group that provides classes on handling snakes and lizards. The group does more venomous snake classes as the African people would rather face the Black Death (Black Mambas) and cobras than a Rock Python. That says something right there.

 

There have studies look at the possibility of a Burmese and Rock Python hybrid. All pythons are of the same genus, and it is believed they could in fact interbreed. Its never happened before as are located on different continents. However, Reticulated and Burmese Pythons are both found in Asia, and hybrids have been found. The fear among herpetologist is the creation of a large, super aggressive snake in Florida. 

It is very possible that these hybrid pythons already exist for several years now. These hybrids might show hybrid vigor (Heterosis) which is when a hybrid grows faster and bigger than the original parents.

[BASS302]

On 6/4/2018 at 3:10 PM, Gundog said:

Keep in mind that these snakes originated in the Jungles of South America.

I think Burmese pythons are from Asia, not South America.  South America has anacondas.

[Gundog]

4 minutes ago, BASS302 said:

I think Burmese pythons are from Asia, not South America.  South America has anacondas.

You are correct. I was thinking of anacondas. My bad.

[Fishing_FF]

6 hours ago, soflabasser said:

It is very possible that these hybrid pythons already exist for several years now. These hybrids might show hybrid vigor (Heterosis) which is when a hybrid grows faster and bigger than the original parents.

Last time I spoke with Lisa from Venom One, several questionable species had be DNA tested, but all came back as either Burmese or Rock. There probably are hybrids, just not collected yet. All pythons that are captured or killed during the hunts are brought into for identification and testing. Its how FWC knows pythons from the Everglades contain high levels of mercury, and warn against consumption of python meat. 

[greentrout]

Record-setting 17-foot Burmese python caught in South Florida, officials say

https://abcnews.go.com/US/record-setting-17-foot-burmese-python-caught-south/story?id=59043768

[Angry John]

Now we have to figure out how to catch these on rod and reel.  Musky setup???

[Gundog]

15 hours ago, Angry John said:

Now we have to figure out how to catch these on rod and reel.  Musky setup???

I don't care what anybody says, I'm not lipping them!

[Harold Scoggins]

Hate snakes, little snakes, big snakes, eating snakes, (Yes, I've eaten snakes.) I HATE SNAKES!

[greentrout]

 

This is the biggest female python ever captured in the Everglades' Big Cypress, researchers say

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/this-is-the-biggest-female-python-ever-captured-in-the-everglades-big-cypress-researchers-say/ar-BBVGEnb

[soflabasser]

On 11/8/2018 at 3:30 PM, Angry John said:

Now we have to figure out how to catch these on rod and reel.  Musky setup???

Caught a 10 foot Burmese python with my hands near Homestead/Florida city. Will do the same the next time I see another one.