Giant pythons invade southeastern Florida: study

AFP ^ | 5-15-08

[Darren McCarty]

MIAMI (AFP) - Giant pythons capable of swallowing a dog and even an alligator are rapidly making south Florida their home, potentially threatening other southeastern states, a study said.

"Pythons are likely to colonize anywhere alligators live, including north Florida, Georgia and Louisiana," said Frank Mazzotti, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor, in his two-year study.

The pythons thriving in Florida are mostly Burmese pythons from Myanmar that were brought over as pets and then turned loose in the wild.

From 2002-2005, 201 of the beasts were caught by state authorities, but in the last two years the number has more than doubled to 418, Mazzotti said in his study published on the university website.

The largest python caught so far in Florida measured five meters (16.4 feet) and weighed 70 kilograms (154 pounds).

[Darren McCarty]

I don't understand why someone would keep these as pets. Where can someone put a 15 foot snake? It's like keeping a gator as a pet. It's also bad when they all escape and become invasive species like the infamous Zebra Mussels up here.

[cripplecreek]

I thought the woman I was seeing in Fla. had been telling people about my visit when I read that title.

[Uncle Hal]

One more thing to worry about.

[evad]

Giant pythons invade southeastern Florida: study

Dims getting ready for Nov 7??

[SandRat]

May we have a ban on these Python Stories? So far FR has —

Giant pythons invade southeastern Florida: study

05/18/2008 5:56:13 PM PDT · by Darren McCarty · 2 replies · 57+ views
AFP ^ | 5-15-08
MIAMI (AFP) - Giant pythons capable of swallowing a dog and even an alligator are rapidly making south Florida their home, potentially threatening other southeastern states, a study said. “Pythons are likely to colonize anywhere alligators live, including north Florida, Georgia and Louisiana,” said Frank Mazzotti, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor, in his two-year study. The pythons thriving in Florida are mostly Burmese pythons from Myanmar that were brought over as pets and then turned loose in the wild. From 2002-2005, 201 of the beasts were caught by state authorities, but in the last two...

Giant Pythons Invade Florida

05/17/2008 6:57:30 PM PDT · by restornu · 75 replies · 1,369+ views
Discovery ^ | May 16, 2008 | AFP
Burmese Python Giant pythons capable of swallowing a dog and even an alligator are rapidly making south Florida their home, potentially threatening other southeastern states, according to a new study Giant pythons capable of swallowing a dog and even an alligator are rapidly making south Florida their home, potentially threatening other southeastern states, a study said. “Pythons are likely to colonize anywhere alligators live, including north Florida, Georgia and Louisiana,” said Frank Mazzotti, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor, in his two-year study. The pythons thriving in Florida are mostly Burmese pythons from Myanmar that were...

Giant pythons invade southeastern Florida: study

05/15/2008 9:54:51 PM PDT · by NormsRevenge · 50 replies · 1,201+ views
AP on Breitbart.com ^ | 5/15/08 | AP
Giant pythons capable of swallowing a dog and even an alligator are rapidly making south Florida their home, potentially threatening other southeastern states, a study said. “Pythons are likely to colonize anywhere alligators live, including north Florida, Georgia and Louisiana,” said Frank Mazzotti, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor, in his two-year study. The pythons thriving in Florida are mostly Burmese pythons from Myanmar that were brought over as pets and then turned loose in the wild. From 2002-2005, 201 of the beasts were caught by state authorities, but in the last two years the number...

Giant Pythons Could Spread Quickly Across South [As if killer bees and kudzu weren’t enough...]

05/12/2008 10:37:19 AM PDT · by Sub-Driver · 105 replies · 3,061+ views
FOX ^
Giant Pythons Could Spread Quickly Across South Monday , May 12, 2008 By Katie Tweed As if killer bees and kudzu weren’t enough, the southern United States may soon have another invasive species to contend with — giant Burmese pythons capable of swallowing deer and alligators whole. Approximately 30,000 of the big snakes, which can reach 30 feet and 200 pounds, already live wild in Florida’s Everglades, thanks to thick-headed pet owners who’ve released them into the swamps when they’ve grown too large to keep at home. But now the U.S. Geological Survey says Florida is not the only place...

[Trteamer]

Put a substantial bounty on them and hunt them to extinction.

[A.A. Cunningham]

I don't understand why someone would keep these as pets.

You might find the answer here.

[raptor29]

Just one more benefit the U.S. receives from 3rd-world immigration.

[Alright_on_the_LeftCoast]

Can they be trained to eat liberals?

[Green Mountain Man]

Are they good to eat? How about pythonburgers? If not, can you make them into fuel to compete with high gas prices?

[mrsmel]

You think that’s bad, there are idiots illegally keeping exotic venomous snakes for which we often don’t even have antivenom. Things like cobras, Gaboon vipers, even a few black mambas. I’ve read somewhere that a few cobras supposedly escaped near the Miamai airport and proceeded to breed, but I’m pretty sure that’s an urban legend. But it does suggest a nightmare scenario, if the wrong exotic venomous snake(s) got loose in the right environment. Just what highly populated areas need, exotic venomous snakes that can look a grown man in the eye (king cobras, black mambas),and for we which we don’t have antivenom, running loose. The “hot” keepers (both legal and illegal) get all indignant about regulations or bans on their “hobby”. I can only hope if their damned snakes get loose, they only bite the owners, then somehow die. I have nothing but contempt for these selfish, self-centered, immature people.

[doc1019]

Best hurry before some bureaucracy declares them an endangered species. ;-)

[mrsmel]

LOL!

[ASA Vet]

Oh come on, you don't really expect someone to do a simple search do you?

[SandRat]

Yes I do.

[doc1019]

Are they good to eat?

Probably taste like chicken. ;-)

[Squantos]

Any leads yet on how many stories there have been posted on sweet potato’s yet ?

Sorry......:o)

[Kackikat]

you are too much..lol

[cripplecreek]

you are too much..lol

So she is running her mouth?

[Kackikat]

During clinton era there were some deaths by exotic snakes, and one in a car in ARK, where box was found near the car.
I say don’t open any boxes you haven’t ordered, because you don’t know what’s in there. And furthermore don’t put unordered boxes in your car...especially if you have enemies. Snakes come in various shapes and sizes.
Just another reason for the list as to why I don’t want to live in Florida.