Forget about rescuing the pythons in the Everglades, let's just kill them all -.-

Everyone knows about the python issue in the Everglades in Florida. But I must say finding one and killing it...just to see what it's last prey was... is just unacceptable.
This sends a message to our society that it is okay to intentionally harm a python or snakes in general. And It is not okay. It is okay to rescue them and that is all.

Here is the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...8.html#s445129

I'll respectfully disagree that the only way to remove a python from the everglades is to 'rescue' it.

I have no issues with exterminating burms in the 'glades. Getting an idea of what environmental impacts they may have by examining their diets is just a bonus.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I'll respectfully disagree that the only way to remove a python from the everglades is to 'rescue' it.

I have no issues with exterminating burms in the 'glades. Getting an idea of what environmental impacts they may have by examining their diets is just a bonus.

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X2

The only reason this is upsetting to you is because you view burms as pets while the rest of the world views them as a dangerous predator. There are tons of gated communities that allow hunters to come in to "regulate" their deer populations every once in a while. Deer that don't know to run because they are so used to being around humans. Basically fish in a barrel. Most people don't care because deer aren't "pet" animals. They are are wild animals. Just like those Burms. And a overpopulated, troublesome, and in the case of the burms foreign wild animal at that.

Edit: I'm not trying to be harsh and i do agree its upsetting but that is not the only animal that is treated that way. And to the rest of the world (specifically people in florida) that is a threat that they are having to deal with.

I agree with MB.

They don't belong there. No one wants them. It's unfortunate but it's true.

I may not feel the same way about homo sapien illegals, but then again, then again......

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Originally Posted by wilomn

i may not feel the same way about homo sapien illegals, but then again, then again......

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lol

I understand they do not belong nor are welcome there. However, people have brought this issue upon themselves.
If anything extermination should be the last resort to solve the problem.
This article is presenting to society that it is "okay" to kill any snake they see regardless of the type.

Then come up with a home for all the burms that's cost effective.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I understand they do not belong nor are welcome there. However, people have brought this issue upon themselves.
If anything extermination should be the last resort to solve the problem.
This article is presenting to society that it is "okay" to kill any snake they see regardless of the type.

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I did not read the article in depth and only skimmed it but i do not think that its an anti-snake article. Large snakes in the everglades are a known problem and this article is simple presenting one of these large snakes that has managed to kill and eat a deer. This could largely change how the ecosystem there works, if that becomes a main food source for them.

And if they opted to rescue them all instead of exterminating them where would they all go? My guess is that they would be kept so poorly that extermination would turn out to actually be the humane way to do it.

Edit: you beat me to it raptor

It boils down to this: there's only a limited amount of zoos and breeders willing to take the wild burms. When those facilities say "no more" what then? You're still going to have burms left over. Can't ship them back to the native country since they could easily be carrying illnesses/parasites that the native burms don't have a resistance to.

The most humane and cost effective thing to do is euthanize them.

I do agree that it is sad Generationshell but i really see no other alternative.

They kill almost all that are found out there. They DON'T belong there.
Just the way the cookie crumbles.

I agree with the majority of these postings. I love burms, I have plenty, BUT, there really is no other option. Euthanasia is what needs to be done.

In a snake community, I can see it being a touchy subject. But the fact is, this is an invasive species posing a threat to the native ecosystem. While I may not personally be happy about so many snakes being killed, it is for the better in this circumstance.

I don't think they'll be able to wipe out all the invasive snakes in the Everglades, but population control (like they do with deer) wouldn't be a bad thing.

I have to agree with everyone else. You are looking at it as a snake owner and not how it is destroying the glades. Look at it this way because I know texas has same issue as florida with feral hogs. Do you have a issue with them being killed off because they dont belong? Some concept different animals.

I have to say I really agree with everyone else they are big problem to native animals. I know I have seen some endagered species of birds and what not being taken out dead burms. I like burms but there would never be enough space to house all of the ones caught. It really is a bummer and cast a negative shadow on the reptile community though. I read another article about this incident and it made it seem so much worse. The "man eating African rock pythong" which causes more people who don't know any better to worry.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/201...und-adult-deer

I just wish they would this this with feral cat populations they are much worse for environment and people. (Disease carrying etc) Plus they survive many places. They can be real pests I think they had plans to euthanize but people were so outraged in certain cities they round them up sterilize them and set them free. People feed them. I had a lady once hit my leashed pug with a cane because he barked at a feral cat she was feeding. Anyways my 2cents

I do understand where people are coming from. However, in articles like these about burms in the everglades they should expand on why euthanasia is the only option. People need to become educated to prevent that connection of people seeing all snakes in a negative manner.

guess we need to start carefully transplanting the brazilian peppers too. don't want tree huggers to get upset with us down here. oh and now we need to catch all the lion fish and return them to fish stores......where does it end.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I do understand where people are coming from. However, in articles like these about burms in the everglades they should expand on why euthanasia is the only option. People need to become educated to prevent that connection of people seeing all snakes in a negative manner.

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It's not the only way, not by a long shot. BUT, it is the best and most cost effective way in dealing with the growing number of invasive giants in the everglades. There are SO many burmese pythons in the everglades that you will never find homes for them. Who's gonna want a WILD burmese python? They would most likely refuse to eat and die in captivity. Not to mention they would be living in conditions so bad that it would be best to euthanize them. I don't think they will ever completely wipe out burmese pythons in the everglades but I do agree that population control is a must.

^this. very few people will want a full grown, wild burm. The ones that'd mainly have a chance would be the youngsters.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raptor

^this. very few people will want a full grown, wild burm. The ones that'd mainly have a chance would be the youngsters.

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Exactly. Correct me if i'm wrong but most of the ones they are finding are not babies. Personally I plan to set up near the everglades when I am established and try to save as many as I can. While I don't even remotely believe that I can save all of them I love burmese pythons and every one counts to me. I think there would be major problems with the adults but babies may do well in captivity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raptor

It boils down to this: there's only a limited amount of zoos and breeders willing to take the wild burms. When those facilities say "no more" what then? You're still going to have burms left over. Can't ship them back to the native country since they could easily be carrying illnesses/parasites that the native burms don't have a resistance to.

The most humane and cost effective thing to do is euthanize them.

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I agree 100%

Although I certainly don't LIKE it - I have no problem with the ethical dispatching of invasives. There just aren't enough places to store these animals and we need them out of the everglades.

What really bothers me is around the country where almost all snakes are immediately killed by the ignorant. I can't tell you how many times a year I hear about someone killing a "water moccasin" around here. They dont live in the area and its always a water snake.

The burms i can handle...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by evan385

Exactly. Correct me if i'm wrong but most of the ones they are finding are not babies. Personally I plan to set up near the everglades when I am established and try to save as many as I can. While I don't even remotely believe that I can save all of them I love burmese pythons and every one counts to me. I think there would be major problems with the adults but babies may do well in captivity.

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many years ago when i got in to reptiles most if not all burms were W.C. and let me tell you in my experience it didn't matter if they were babies or adults they all feed just fine. btu they all behaved just like w.c afrocks, retics, what have you. they were nasty. the babies did settle down over time of course but i never seen one get nearly as docile as c.b burms.

I understand the comparison to the hogs in Texas.
However, even that I do not support since I am not an advocate of hunting.

I just read that there is estimated at least around 150,000 pythons in the everglades. And recent data shows that only about 330 are taken a year. If they were really worried about the endangerment of other species you would think they would be getting thousands a year...
Is there just not much effort to get the pythons?

I havent had a change of heart completely and although I think it is wrong I do understand where others are coming from. But I just don't understand if this is such a problem why have only 300 and some odd been removed last year?

Ever go field herping? Or lose a snake in your own home? Snakes are hard to find! I go often and there are just times when you don't find anything--especially in a place as large and hard to travel in as the everglades.

I've heard varying statistics on how many there are...some people say there are tons, some people say there are very few. Until they are gone, it's really hard to say for certain.

It's hard to even give away a large, wild and angry burm. Especially since healthy CBB morph babies are getting to be so cheap. Burms are big, too. It's hard to have a collection of burms. Maybe if they were something like ball pythons that more people could successfully house dozens of, it would be easier to get them homes. I know some people out there who try their hardest to give them homes, but.. sometimes you just can't find homes.

And at least the ones who are killed go for a good purpose--to study the problem and see how bad it is. They can see if endangered or pet animals were eaten, and prove that no, a burm doesn't eat thousands and thousands of animals in a month. So it helps stop the insane amount of bad media, hopefully. Back up the truth with facts. It's sad how we have to get those facts, but if it ends up saving more of them, I think it's worth it.

I know if I was to get a wild caught animal I'd rather get it from a place where it was invasive rather than taken from their natural home. But there are only so many people who can even house a burm. If you can and want to save them, maybe you can find a way to contact people collecting them and tell them you want to save and help rehome the adults.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I understand the comparison to the hogs in Texas.
However, even that I do not support since I am not an advocate of hunting.

---

Curious - are you a vegetarian?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by purplemuffin

Ever go field herping? Or lose a snake in your own home? Snakes are hard to find! I go often and there are just times when you don't find anything--especially in a place as large and hard to travel in as the everglades.

I've heard varying statistics on how many there are...some people say there are tons, some people say there are very few. Until they are gone, it's really hard to say for certain.

It's hard to even give away a large, wild and angry burm. Especially since healthy CBB morph babies are getting to be so cheap. Burms are big, too. It's hard to have a collection of burms. Maybe if they were something like ball pythons that more people could successfully house dozens of, it would be easier to get them homes. I know some people out there who try their hardest to give them homes, but.. sometimes you just can't find homes.

And at least the ones who are killed go for a good purpose--to study the problem and see how bad it is. They can see if endangered or pet animals were eaten, and prove that no, a burm doesn't eat thousands and thousands of animals in a month. So it helps stop the insane amount of bad media, hopefully. Back up the truth with facts. It's sad how we have to get those facts, but if it ends up saving more of them, I think it's worth it.

I know if I was to get a wild caught animal I'd rather get it from a place where it was invasive rather than taken from their natural home. But there are only so many people who can even house a burm. If you can and want to save them, maybe you can find a way to contact people collecting them and tell them you want to save and help rehome the adults.

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That would be cool if it was 150,000 ball pythons in the everglades instead of burmese pythons. I mean it would still be bad but not nearly and they don't grow as fast so there would be less of them and they would impact the environment far less than burmese pythons. They wouldn't be eating anything bigger than say a large squirrel or a small rabbit at the most so far less impact on the species in the everglades.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I understand the comparison to the hogs in Texas.
However, even that I do not support since I am not an advocate of hunting.

I just read that there is estimated at least around 150,000 pythons in the everglades. And recent data shows that only about 330 are taken a year. If they were really worried about the endangerment of other species you would think they would be getting thousands a year...
Is there just not much effort to get the pythons?

I havent had a change of heart completely and although I think it is wrong I do understand where others are coming from. But I just don't understand if this is such a problem why have only 300 and some odd been removed last year?

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Sadly hunting is something that is necessary. Man kind has done a real number on the environment. We shrink natural habitat, kill off predatory animals and introduce non-native species, some on purpose others not. With out predatory animals we get over run with other species and if the non-native species don't have anything to keep their population in control then they start to cause major problems.

Killing the Burmese pythons is the best that we can do. As others have stated, no one is going to want these as pets and we can't return them to Asian. Snakes are not easy to find in the wild and there really is no way of knowing how many are out there. I'm sure if it wasn't for how much people enjoy watching shows like The Python Hunters there would be even less of an effort to remove them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I understand the comparison to the hogs in Texas.
However, even that I do not support since I am not an advocate of hunting.

I just read that there is estimated at least around 150,000 pythons in the everglades. And recent data shows that only about 330 are taken a year. If they were really worried about the endangerment of other species you would think they would be getting thousands a year...
Is there just not much effort to get the pythons?

I havent had a change of heart completely and although I think it is wrong I do understand where others are coming from. But I just don't understand if this is such a problem why have only 300 and some odd been removed last year?

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the hogs are doing millions of dollars in damage , killing pets and other animals.... theyre not just killing these animals and dumping them a lot of the time theyre taking them to food banks to be processed and the meat is being used to feed hungry families!!!.... its all very well saying save every wild Burm but once the zoos, rescues etc can't take in any more what happens when a responsible pet snake owner realises theyre out of their depth with a 10 foot burm? They try and take it to a zoo or rescue ... if that zoo or rescue is full of wild caught animals and they think theyre out of options they may just release it into the wild and the problem is turned full circle again..... Down there theyre an invasive species same as the cane toad and in my opinion the only possible solution is eradication :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I understand the comparison to the hogs in Texas.
However, even that I do not support since I am not an advocate of hunting.

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Okay, think of the deer problem in the northeast, then. Deer populations are naturally controlled in the wilds of N. America by predators like wolves, but we've removed that. In that case it's our job to replace the predator we removed from the ecosystem.

In the burm case, it's our job to fix the ecosystem we messed up by releasing giant megafauna with no native natural predators. In both cases it would be nice if we could find a way to sterilize the populations rather than wiping them out with hunting... but lacking that, if we don't hunt, the rest of the ecosystem will suffer. That is: lots of other animals will be outcompeted and die out.

Sometimes that can result in the entire ecosystem dying out and being replaced with an entire other ecosystem, like when beavers die out and swamps turn into grasslands, or invasive beetles kill pine forest, or invasive grass + wildfires turn saguaro cactus desert into brushland...

What everyone forgets is this has been a issues for years now. Also everyone wants tp blame iton the owners. Which some of it is people releasing animals, but pull up what hurricane andrew did to miami zoo and all the loose animals they had to catch. Now think of all the destroyed houses anf snakes that got loose. Miami is right next door to the glades. Either way us letting them loose or mother nature doing it. For those of you who have not been to thw everglades it is amazing and burms will destroy it. Love my snake, but I do supportgetting them out of the glades.

First, none of the accreditted scientists are saying there's 150,000 burms in the Everglades. That number was made up by a few media sensationalists writing the article to alarm people. Most estimates are FAR lower. The estimate was also done a few years ago, prior to the two seriously hard winters we had here, which killed off a lot of the burmese in Florida.

Does this mean that there's no burmese problem? No. But it means stop believing every media article you run across. As far as "why only 300" caught? question... it's the Everglades. Have you any idea the size of the Everglades? Have you ever seen it? It's a giant marsh/swamp/waterways, with shifting natural canals designated by floating mats of grass that can be acres in size, with small hillocks of actual ground. Burmese are quite happy to sink under the muddy murky water and grass and sit there for an hour. Exactly how easy do you think it is to find snakes in a swamp? Not every Burmese python in the Everglades is 16 feet either, so don't make the mistake of thinking it'd be easy to spot a "giant snake".

The article doesn't tell people to go out and kill every snake. It DOES show that efforts are being made to eliminate or lessen the impact of the invasive species.

To the one person who stated they would be "setting up" near the Everglades to take burmese in... have you already be designated a Florida resident and gotten a grandfathered-in permit? Because if you dont' ALREADY have a permit, you are not allowed to own burmese. That's state law now. Only people who already had one or more of the prohbited species PRIOR to the law being enacted got the permits. You could apply for a permit for those "restricted" species for about two years, then they changed it to NO further permits, and so anyone who doesn't have a permit, can't get a permit. It was made to allow existing pet owners to keep their pets, not to allow any new pet owners to get the species on the *big five* list.

Burmese are awesome animals, and great pets for those inclined to keep a giant python. They don't belong in the Everglades, they must be removed from the Everglades and there is NO rescue to take in thousands of burmese pythons to house and feed them for up to 30 years(their possible lifespan).

If they have not changed the rules, the state requires any burmese caught in the Everglades to be killed(with the few exceptions of certain permit-holding people). You can(I believe) keep the dead snake for meat and hide if you want. You cannot go to the Everglades, hunt down a burmese python and take it home as a pet.

Yeah, I remember someone asking Shawn from the python hunters about it. They said you have to have something like 5 permits and then the people taking in the animal have to have permits in order to save any of them, not anyone can just go in and take them in. I don't remember the specifics though!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I understand they do not belong nor are welcome there. However, people have brought this issue upon themselves.
If anything extermination should be the last resort to solve the problem.
This article is presenting to society that it is "okay" to kill any snake they see regardless of the type.

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It would be impossible to place them all in good homes. Add that their wild, so yuo now have to worry about parasites, disease, a wild tempermant, and the fact that they're so big only a small percentage of hobbyist can/will keep them.
I applaud your love for the animals, but they are devastating the local ecosystem, what about thenative animals that are suffering? Unfortunately, humanely exterminating them to eradicate them from the everglades has become the only option.

Whew. This thread brought me down. :(

Or we could just put up a bunch of pinatas of dead rats in various places and just wait. I'm sure a few would come a slitheron. :snake: (btw I'm just joking)

But no really, everyone on here has a good points. Realistically it is the only way.
However, I just think that if they really want to start lowering the population of pythons in the everglades they really need to up their efforts. I'm not saying it is easy nor am I saying they haven't been trying. But almost everyone of you justified why this is a serious issue. We can't hope the problem goes away on it's own. And I guarantee killing 300 some odd a year is not leveling out the hatchlings that are hatched out each year.

One thing this thread reminds me of is just how amazing of a creature they are. Makes me love them more :]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

First, none of the accreditted scientists are saying there's 150,000 burms in the Everglades. That number was made up by a few media sensationalists writing the article to alarm people. Most estimates are FAR lower. The estimate was also done a few years ago, prior to the two seriously hard winters we had here, which killed off a lot of the burmese in Florida.

Does this mean that there's no burmese problem? No. But it means stop believing every media article you run across. As far as "why only 300" caught? question... it's the Everglades. Have you any idea the size of the Everglades? Have you ever seen it? It's a giant marsh/swamp/waterways, with shifting natural canals designated by floating mats of grass that can be acres in size, with small hillocks of actual ground. Burmese are quite happy to sink under the muddy murky water and grass and sit there for an hour. Exactly how easy do you think it is to find snakes in a swamp? Not every Burmese python in the Everglades is 16 feet either, so don't make the mistake of thinking it'd be easy to spot a "giant snake".

The article doesn't tell people to go out and kill every snake. It DOES show that efforts are being made to eliminate or lessen the impact of the invasive species.

To the one person who stated they would be "setting up" near the Everglades to take burmese in... have you already be designated a Florida resident and gotten a grandfathered-in permit? Because if you dont' ALREADY have a permit, you are not allowed to own burmese. That's state law now. Only people who already had one or more of the prohbited species PRIOR to the law being enacted got the permits. You could apply for a permit for those "restricted" species for about two years, then they changed it to NO further permits, and so anyone who doesn't have a permit, can't get a permit. It was made to allow existing pet owners to keep their pets, not to allow any new pet owners to get the species on the *big five* list.

Burmese are awesome animals, and great pets for those inclined to keep a giant python. They don't belong in the Everglades, they must be removed from the Everglades and there is NO rescue to take in thousands of burmese pythons to house and feed them for up to 30 years(their possible lifespan).

If they have not changed the rules, the state requires any burmese caught in the Everglades to be killed(with the few exceptions of certain permit-holding people). You can(I believe) keep the dead snake for meat and hide if you want. You cannot go to the Everglades, hunt down a burmese python and take it home as a pet.

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THANK YOU!

I used to live in SWFL. For those of you who don't understand, the Everglades basically goes from Ft. Myers (West Coast of Florida) across to Northern Ft. Lauderdale and even more north (East Coast of Florida). The actual size of the everglades is absolutely astounding.

As said above, it's a bunch of grass that floats on top of the water and is constantly changing. It's a Burm's paradise.....Which is the problem. The amount of total animals in the everglades is absolutely mind-boggling.

Florida's invasive species are massive in numbers. Even the little brown anoles (Who don't cause too much of an issue) are an invasive species. I'm all for eradicating the Burmese pythons from the everglades. Take yourself out of the shoes of a pet owner, and realize how much damage they are doing to the environment. You might change your mind.

Edit: Added a picture for your reference:
https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/...30237833_a.jpg

Red is considered "Everglades"
The yellow is basically all the parts that are giant wetlands that is very inaccessible unless you have an airboat.

Hope that covers the actual scope of how large of an area we are talking here. This isn't some small park that can covered in a day.

Its very sad that they have to be killed, however the local wildlife rescues/zoos and other animal shelters that usually take in snakes have reached/ exceeded their capacities for these animals. They are now refusing almost any snakes, whether they are pets being given up, or wild caught animals being removed from their new found habitats.

I have personally tried to contact a number of these places to take in wild snakes removed from friends homes and they have all told me the same story. "No room", "no availability" I even contacted a two of the groups that specialize in the python removal of the everglades, and they said the same thing. Unless you can find a private citizen that wants to take them, you're outta luck. There are too many of them, and no where else to put them.

The important thing is that we can at least be made aware of their impact by studying their contents.


Wolfy-hound and Hedgehog make great points as well!
Its not just anyone that can take these animals in, and you have to have quite a bit of knowledge in order to get a permit to hunt them, including 10+ years of experience plus a degree and other knowledge. In addition to the few with permits to own/keep invasive species.
The size of the glades itself in addition to the various terrain you encounter is a double whammy, completely in the snakes favor.

I am not disputing the consequences and repercussions that the pythons are having on the ecosystem in the Everglades.

Yes it is a huge area. But c'mon only 330 or something are recorded as having been removed from the whole area last year. Yes it is a huge area, no it isn't easy.
But their efforts seem to be lacking just based on the data from the past couple years.

Lets not forget that the massive freeze a few years ago had to have killed off part of the population. If not some adults, certainly it killed off juveniles/eggs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raptor

Lets not forget that the massive freeze a few years ago had to have killed off part of the population. If not some adults, certainly it killed off juveniles/eggs.

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1.) You can kill all the burms you want in the everglades... it isn't going to work. You could send an army (literally, an army) in to hunt them down and kill them. You still arent going to get them all. And the volume that they reproduce in... forget about it.

2.) They are much more resistant to the cold then you think. the "massive freeze" was not cold enouph or last long enough to do any real damage to their population.

Of course you will never be able to get them all. But every one counts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

1.) You can kill all the burms you want in the everglades... it isn't going to work. You could send an army (literally, an army) in to hunt them down and kill them. You still arent going to get them all. And the volume that they reproduce in... forget about it.

2.) They are much more resistant to the cold then you think. the "massive freeze" was not cold enouph or last long enough to do any real damage to their population.

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There's a study that says otherwise..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

Everyone knows about the python issue in the Everglades in Florida. But I must say finding one and killing it...just to see what it's last prey was... is just unacceptable.
This sends a message to our society that it is okay to intentionally harm a python or snakes in general. And It is not okay. It is okay to rescue them and that is all.

Here is the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...8.html#s445129

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

However, even that I do not support since I am not an advocate of hunting.

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Both are about wildlife management you may not like it but it is necessary.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Generationshell

I am not disputing the consequences and repercussions that the pythons are having on the ecosystem in the Everglades.

Yes it is a huge area. But c'mon only 330 or something are recorded as having been removed from the whole area last year. Yes it is a huge area, no it isn't easy.
But their efforts seem to be lacking just based on the data from the past couple years.

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There is definitely not a "Lack of effort". Put it this way, do you have a pond near you, with lilly pads on it?

The everglades is the pond, and the lilly pads, are giant acre long pieces of floating grass and vegetation. The amount of animals that live under one piece is astonishing. Not to mention, the gators are a big enough hassle to deal with for the guys who go and get the pythons. I've got some pictures to help describe it:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._4910664_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._7616279_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._3134231_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._4944339_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._4506829_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._5206861_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...1_920093_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...1_680386_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._7349149_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._3677843_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._5499168_n.jpg

Oh, and then you have to worry about these guys.....

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._5049231_n.jpg

And this is the easy to trek through stuff. For the other parts of the glades, you need an airboat, no question about it.

Hope that helps describe the scope of things a bit. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Raptor

There's a study that says otherwise..

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LOL, of course there is.

Bottom line is the damage is already done. They are here forever, like it or not. Quit wasting tax dollars trying to fight a fight that can not be won. There are, believe it or not, much better things to spend money on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

LOL, of course there is.

Bottom line is the damage is already done. They are here forever, like it or not. Quit wasting tax dollars trying to fight a fight that can not be won. There are, believe it or not, much better things to spend money on.

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If you're arguing against removing the pythons, I have to respectfully disagree.

They need to be removed, as they are seriously screwing with the ecosystem. I'd rather have jobs created for this, than other things we waste money on. They don't have any predators in the glades, and that is a VERY bad thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Hedgehog

If you're arguing against removing the pythons, I have to respectfully disagree.

They need to be removed, as they are seriously screwing with the ecosystem. I'd rather have jobs created for this, than other things we waste money on. They don't have any predators in the glades, and that is a VERY bad thing.

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What I am saying is they are fighting an unwinable war. Burms are now a permanent part of the Everglades. No doubt they will change the ecosystem, but it is already too late to stop.

Don't worry, the world isn't going to end as a result. Not even close. Nature finds ways of workings things out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Hedgehog

If you're arguing against removing the pythons, I have to respectfully disagree.

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He wasn't arguing that removing them was a bad idea, I don't think.

I think he was saying that it's impossible, no matter how hard we try, to be successful.