Posted on 07/29/2015 8:55:56 AM PDT by nickcarraway
National Park Service officials say they captured a Burmese python over 18 feet long along a popular wildlife-watching trail in Everglades National Park.
The 18-foot-3-inch python was caught July 9 along the tram road at Shark Valley in the park. The paved loop is used by cyclists and trams taking visitors on wildlife tours through the wetlands.
Park officials tell WFOR-TV in Miami that a python researcher caught the female snake, which was euthanized.
According to state wildlife officials, the longest python ever caught in Florida was 18 feet 8 inches long.
Pythons are not native to Florida, where scientists say the snakes are devouring native wildlife. According to researchers, a python that's 18 feet long is capable of ingesting large prey such as deer or alligators.
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Not just the belt, but also chaps, vest and full length duster.
“Not just the belt, but also chaps, vest and full length duster.”
And boots, too! ;-)
Big snake.
Whoever was holding the snake’s head in that photo better be careful, especially if the head has been chopped off. Some snakes retain a ‘biting reflex’ after being killed or even after decapitation. From my understanding, the biting reflex can remain as long as 90 minutes after the head is cut off. This is due to their very low metabolism compared to humans.
There is a bayou behind my house. I once saw about an 8’ python sunning himself on the bank of the bayou. I reported it to wildlife but they took no action. I suppose that they did not believe me.
I don’t think that snake is dead.
Heebies, meet jeebies.
Quote:
“Some snakes retain a ‘biting reflex’ after being killed or even after decapitation.”
I have seen that.
When I lived outside of Houston I killed a small rattlesnake
in my garage using a shovel (cut off the head.)
It acted like it was still trying to bite for a while (I don’t recall how long.)
Really spooky.
Monty!
A copperhead snake, decapitated in Huntsville, Alabama, manages to bite its own body after its head has been severed. The venomous reptile’s severed head appears to attack out of instinct, while the body writhes around in reaction. Many snakes have reflexes for hours following their death
Video at link:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/aug/15/decapitated-copperhead-snake-bites-itself-video
A lot of these non-native snakes are on the loose in FL.
I wonder if it is possible for a Burmese Python to cross bread with a more aggressive African Rock Python and what type of snake that would create.
The wife and I took that tram tour last October. We got tired of ejecting those pythons from the tram. Darn snakes. Kicked a few gators off as well.
That is why the Wood chipper was invented.
A prelude to Fargo. :)
Did you ever consider the snakes might have taken over the wildlife office and were just conning you? Ever hear of the invasion of the snake people? I thought not. Not that I believe in kooky conspiracies.
Monty Rock Python?
Yeah, they killed it.
Odd how enviro-nuts claim that we are driving dozens of species theoretically to extinction every day yet when we try to actualy irradicate an invasive species, we are completely incapable.
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