Posted on 10/16/2009 4:18:02 PM PDT by george76
Watch out, animals of South Florida: It's a wild world out there. There are five species of foreign snakes just waiting to eat you.
More troublingly, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report released Tuesday, nonnative snakes like the Burmese python could slither their way north from the warm, humid conditions of South Florida.
The big snakes threaten native species and ecosystems because they mature and reproduce quickly, travel long distances and can eat almost anything in fur, feathers or scales, experts say.
The 302-page report could be a step toward a ban on importing constrictor-like snakes into the U.S., said Ken Warren, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's South Florida office. The FWC will now evaluate the report and seek public comment before recommending such a ban.
"In many aspects, the report confirms what we already knew: that these snakes are a problem and that they do pose some risk," Warren said.
The report analyzed nine kinds of snakes. Five - Burmese pythons, northern and southern African pythons, boa constrictors and yellow anacondas - are of "high risk" to the ecosystems of the U.S., especially in Florida.
Four others - the reticulated python, Deschauensee's anaconda, green anaconda and Beni anaconda - are considered medium risk to ecosystems.
Scientists are already studying where Burmese pythons can survive in the U.S. Seven are being studied in a natural enclosure in South Carolina to see if the tropical natives can live through colder winters.
The number of invasive pythons in South Florida and throughout Everglades National Park has exploded in the past decade to potentially tens of thousands, though wildlife officials aren't sure exactly how many are out there.
In July, an 8-foot pet python strangled a toddler in Central Florida.
(Excerpt) Read more at krdo.com ...
I don’t see the Kenyan Moneysucker on that list of deadly snakes.
like australia and it frogs
Are they on the planes?
Which reminds me...I need to get rid of my Bushmaster and black Mamba collection....;-D
You beat me to it.
ML/NJ
Just eating the critters American snakes won’t eat. Celebrate diversity!
Whatcha need is recipes, an open season, and maps of where they live. That’ll clean ‘er right up!
hmmm. Interesting title.
The man said snakes, FRiend, not @ssholes!
Those big snakes taste good.
Sounds perfect for the manufacture of what some people call manly footwear!
On the plus side, seems like a good way to solve the nutria problem in the Gulf states. Nothing like one imported pest to deal with another imported pest.
BRB, gotta go grind a fresh edge on my machete.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.