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Pythons wipe out rabbits—and probably much more—in Everglades
Science Mag ^ | March 18, 2015 | Erik Stokstad

Posted on 03/20/2015 8:16:22 AM PDT by C19fan

Everglades National Park, a world-renowned wetland in southern Florida, once abounded with rabbits, raccoons, muskrats, and other small mammals. But roughly 15 years ago, these species started to become scarce. About the same time, biologists noticed a boom in the population of a predator that had invaded the 64,238-hectare park: the Burmese python. Now, an experiment adds to the evidence that the pythons, which grow up to 5 meters long, are to blame for the collapse of the mammals' populations.

“There’s no question that this is an environmental disaster,” says J. D. Willson of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, who was not involved in the study.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.sciencemag.org ...


TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: everglades; invasive; python
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To: thackney

Tell a coonass they aren’t fit to eat then sit back and watch how many recipes he can come up with to prove you wrong.


21 posted on 03/20/2015 8:33:07 AM PDT by IMR 4350
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To: biff

Yeah it doesn’t hurt but allowing the hunting of invasive species is seldom the fix some claim it will be.

That said, adding some commercial profit would probably help. I wouldn’t have any problem ordering snake in a restaurant.


22 posted on 03/20/2015 8:34:58 AM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: dfwgator

When I read the headline, that scene was my first thought, also.


23 posted on 03/20/2015 8:35:19 AM PDT by A Formerly Proud Canadian (I once was blind, but now I see...)
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To: dfwgator

That there is what you call low hanging fruit in the Comedy aisle.


24 posted on 03/20/2015 8:35:38 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Where am I to go now that I've gone too far?)
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To: C19fan

Breed rabbits with genetic poison that is python specific and let em go, then in a few years we will have a problem of too many rabbits and not enough predators, so we will introduce pythons.......................


25 posted on 03/20/2015 8:35:57 AM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: Arkansas Toothpick
My solution to the problem:
26 posted on 03/20/2015 8:36:08 AM PDT by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: Arkansas Toothpick

That’s how the predator/prey cycle works. When prey populations decrease (due to being preyed upon), predators have nothing to eat and starve to death. When the predator population has dropped significantly, the prey population rebounds. As prey become numerous, the predator population starts to pick up again. And then there are so many predators that they eat almost all of the prey... etc.

This happens in any system, including systems where herbivores prey on plants.


27 posted on 03/20/2015 8:37:08 AM PDT by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: JoeProBono

This is idiot zombie land


28 posted on 03/20/2015 8:38:03 AM PDT by bicyclerepair (Ft. Lauderdale FL (zombie land). TERM LIMITS ... TERM LIMITS)
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To: C19fan

Meanwhile, nutria are an invasive species in the Bayou. I see a 2-state solution here...


29 posted on 03/20/2015 8:38:12 AM PDT by jimmygrace
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To: Verginius Rufus

GMTA!!


30 posted on 03/20/2015 8:38:14 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: jimmygrace

Do nutria eat pythons?

What the hell does eat pythons?


31 posted on 03/20/2015 8:39:06 AM PDT by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: IMR 4350

Um, I think I’ll have two feet of Dry Rub Python ribs
and a side of rabbit.


32 posted on 03/20/2015 8:41:09 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: C19fan

Don’t worry global cooling warming climate change will get them.


33 posted on 03/20/2015 8:41:30 AM PDT by longfellow (Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
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To: cripplecreek

Come on down to Python Rib Shack, “All we do are ribs!”.


34 posted on 03/20/2015 8:42:02 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Crusher138

Nothing, really, once they’re past infancy. Even in infancy (they hatch out at about 18” long) they are too big for many Florida predators.


35 posted on 03/20/2015 8:42:12 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Google "tiny kitten pictures," and put down the gun.)
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To: skinkinthegrass

I don’t think rainbow snakes grow to 16 feet long...


36 posted on 03/20/2015 8:42:30 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Arkansas Toothpick

NO! They will adapt and find new prey. Small dogs, cats infants and toddlers are tasty make easy pickings.

In fact, they can eat larger meals like deer and humans when available.


37 posted on 03/20/2015 8:43:32 AM PDT by doberville
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To: tet68

Snake’s snake snack shack.

You’ll want to swallow.


38 posted on 03/20/2015 8:43:42 AM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: IMR 4350

Wicked!


39 posted on 03/20/2015 8:44:36 AM PDT by doberville
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To: C19fan
Pythons wipe out rabbits? Pythons? Rabbits? That is so crazy there is nothing left to do but Batdance.


40 posted on 03/20/2015 8:46:26 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (B. Hussein Obama: 14 acts of Treason and counting.)
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