:(. Burm shot in Flordia

Thought I would share. Didn't see it anywhere here. So sad...

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/...urmese+python/

I was just about to share this too. And yes it makes me sad. Why can't we let nature adapt to it's own? There is no need for that "hunt". Why must we interfere? Just let it adjust on it's own the same way it did with the countless numbers of alligators and crocodiles.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

I was just about to share this too. And yes it makes me sad. Why can't we let nature adapt to it's own? There is no need for that "hunt". Why must we interfere? Just let it adjust on it's own the same way it did with the countless numbers of alligators and crocodiles.

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Because this isn't about nature adapting on it's own, nature is not the reason the snakes are in Florida. We brought them there, so it's our responsibility as humans, to correct our mistake. Even if that means euthanizing some of the pythons, there is really no other option.

Just because snakes make great pets doesn't mean that you should consider invasive snake species sacred.

Feral cats
bunny hoards
rats

All 3 are invasive somewhere, and cause terrible destruction to native ecosystems. All are pets. Should we let the native snakes of Australia, the songbirds of North America, or the geckos of New Caledonia go extinct because we introduced the above species, or should we try to undo our mistake?

I entirely agree with mainbutter, this is a human error that should to be rectified.

On top of what was already said... when we do introduce an invasive species, nature isn't able to adapt fast enough, and the result is mass destruction. Part of the company I work for involves removing invasive species, mostly plants but some animals too. Some of the areas we have removed invasive plants were devoid of almost all native plants, and had a great reduction in native animals, because nature just cannot adapt that quickly.

That mass destruction is part if the adaptation. Part of the new ecosystem. It's all change we should let alone. Nature will take care of itself. The big picture will handle itself. Slaughter is not the answer.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

That mass destruction is part if the adaptation. Part of the new ecosystem. It's all change we should let alone. Nature will take care of itself. The big picture will handle itself. Slaughter is not the answer.

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So, I guess that means I should let all sorts of small snakes/lizards/turtles go extinct in my local area because the cats/dogs enjoy hunting them.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

That mass destruction is part if the adaptation. Part of the new ecosystem. It's all change we should let alone. Nature will take care of itself. The big picture will handle itself. Slaughter is not the answer.

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When everything disappears there isn't going to be anything left to adapt. Is a habitat composed of one single plant species, now prone to severe burning, with half a dozen animal species really an "adaptation", compared to the dozens of plants and dozens of animals that should be there?

And in the case of Florida and the Burmese pythons... if the pythons end up eating enough mammals, there won't be any mammals left to adapt. Part of it is habitat loss, part of it is introduced predators.

One of the species I monitor for the company I work for is an endangered song bird. It is threatened by habitat loss, as well as nest parasitism by an invasive bird species. When my company first started working with these two species, there were about a dozen pairs of the endangered species. After at least a decade of control on the invasive species (because complete eradication isn't possible), along with removal of invasive plants that degrades its habitat, and that endangered bird now numbers greater than 1600 pairs and there's talk of downgrading it from endangered to threatened.

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

That mass destruction is part if the adaptation. Part of the new ecosystem. It's all change we should let alone. Nature will take care of itself. The big picture will handle itself. Slaughter is not the answer.

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That really is not the way adaption works. The adaption of an animal takes millions of years and in the case of invasive species, rarely results in a new and thriving ecosystem. The only thing that happens is everything is thrown out of balance. Floridas invasive snakes threaten everything, including other native snakes and reptiles, and in this case, nature will not be able to take care of itself because these snakes are not part of the ecosystem. Florida wildlife are not equipped with the adaptations to fend off 10 ft.+ pythons and boas, even the alligators are prey and they're very close to the top of the food chain over there.
It may seem cruel to cull an entire species but in this case, it is a necessary evil to preserve what's left of Florida's native flora and fauna.

I'm sad that these "hunters" will probably kill the snakes inhumanely, but a culling of these animals is what is necessary. It's sad that the snakes have to die. Not many of them are even healthy, because they are not in their native habitat most of them are riddled with illness like RI.

Personally, I'd hunt them for food.

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Originally Posted by kdreptiles

I'm sad that these "hunters" will probably kill the snakes inhumanely, but a culling of these animals is what is necessary. It's sad that the snakes have to die. Not many of them are even healthy, because they are not in their native habitat most of them are riddled with illness like RI.

Personally, I'd hunt them for food.

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You would eat sick snakes?

Who picnics in the Everglades, anyway?! Kinda looking for trouble! :weirdface

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Originally Posted by kdreptiles

I'm sad that these "hunters" will probably kill the snakes inhumanely, but a culling of these animals is what is necessary. It's sad that the snakes have to die. Not many of them are even healthy, because they are not in their native habitat most of them are riddled with illness like RI.

Personally, I'd hunt them for food.

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It was already post in another thread that any burn hunts have strict rules attached to them.

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Originally Posted by JeRMz

You would eat sick snakes?

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...tastes like chicken....:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by bamagecko76

Because this isn't about nature adapting on it's own, nature is not the reason the snakes are in Florida. We brought them there, so it's our responsibility as humans, to correct our mistake. Even if that means euthanizing some of the pythons, there is really no other option.

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I agree, invasive species are bad for the ones already there, sadly there is no other way, I love snakes but if a burmese python came near any of my other animals I will shoot it . This probably didn't happen, but I have heard cases where sadly they do eat domestic animals

Mmm, python...

:tongue2:

I'm hungry.

As sad as it is, it's 100% humans' fault that this has to happen in the first place.

This is what has to happen. This is absolutely not​ nature taking its course. This is human selfishness ruining an ecosystem. Much like cane toads in Australia, or mongooses in Hawaii.

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Originally Posted by iknowthetruth

I agree, invasive species are bad for the ones already there, sadly there is no other way, I love snakes but if a burmese python came near any of my other animals I will shoot it . This probably didn't happen, but I have heard cases where sadly they do eat domestic animals

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More people have eaten domestic animals than a burm ever would. I'd be more concerned about the foreigner down the street than a Burmese python in my backyard. Remember, they are vegatating ambush hunters, and they are mainly isolated in the wilderness. I must also mention that their numbers are much sparse- all this media about them is hysteria. In reality, you'll be worrying about American panthers or coyotes eating your cats or your dogs before a giant snake of any sort. (Unless your an idiot of a reptile keeper)
I think there are "bigger fish to fry" than the damn feral burns.

I've been living here half my life and can say that unfortunately these things need to happen. Sad that this is the way it must happen and the truth is we may never be able to reverse the actions of irresponsible pet owners who have released these snakes into the environment. At the rate at which these large snakes reproduce we can only hope to keep their population in check, if that. The FL panther is nearing extinction extremely quickly and far as I know the numbers have dwindled so rapidly that the current numbers is estimated below 100!!! That being said, even a FL panther could fall victim to a burm, or other large non-native constrictors not to mention the competition over prey items. These snakes are also having a great impact on bird population, birds that are often responsible for transportation seeds of native plants (plants which then provide homes to many, many other native fauna) and thus these snakes are effecting more native species than initially thought. I understand there is a bounty for these snakes and though I am a peace loving, snake infatuated man I support the hunt.

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Originally Posted by galequin

I've been living here half my life and can say that unfortunately these things need to happen. Sad that this is the way it must happen and the truth is we may never be able to reverse the actions of irresponsible pet owners who have released these snakes into the environment. At the rate at which these large snakes reproduce we can only hope to keep their population in check, if that. The FL panther is nearing extinction extremely quickly and far as I know the numbers have dwindled so rapidly that the current numbers is estimated below 100!!! That being said, even a FL panther could fall victim to a burm, or other large non-native constrictors not to mention the competition over prey items. These snakes are also having a great impact on bird population, birds that are often responsible for transportation seeds of native plants (plants which then provide homes to many, many other native fauna) and thus these snakes are effecting more native species than initially thought. I understand there is a bounty for these snakes and though I am a peace loving, snake infatuated man I support the hunt.

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I think most burmese pythons in the everglades came from a breeding facility that was destroyed in hurricane Andrew, not from irresponsible owners.

On another note, there are TONS of other invasive species in North America: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._North_America . I wonder why rats, cats, dogs etc aren't banned from being transported across state lines... I think its ridiculous that they made the laws restricting owning them as pets, since the problem is already there and irreversible.

I highly doubt hunting will help much with the problem.

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Originally Posted by towelie4365

I think most burmese pythons in the everglades came from a breeding facility that was destroyed in hurricane Andrew, not from irresponsible owners.

On another note, there are TONS of other invasive species in North America: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._North_America . I wonder why rats, cats, dogs etc aren't banned from being transported across state lines... I think its ridiculous that they made the laws restricting owning them as pets, since the problem is already there and irreversible.

I highly doubt hunting will help much with the problem.

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Problems are only irreversible when they are accepted as inevitabilities. Humans impact their environment greater than any other species. To say that the hunt is pointless is to take a cavalier attitude toward a serious issue threatening FL wildlife. I am WELL aware of the seemingly endless, and ever increasing list of invasive species throughout America but this thread isn't about other species it is about the Burm in FL. Moreover there are many invasive species in America that have fulfilled niches without the dramatically harmful effects caused by the Burms and other great constrictors (dramatic being the operative word in that statement). The RIFA (red imported fire ant) is one such example, found all across the south/southeastern U.S. Furthermore I know of hundreds of Burm owners who have released their pets when they realized they committed to an animal they could no longer care for. Hell 20 irresponsible owners is ENOUGH when considering the rate of reproduction for these Burms. The cause of ANY problem like this is ALWAYS multi-faceted, I am aware of this I just chose to mention irresponsible owners as it tends to be on the forefront of these discussions. Lastly to say that hunting would probably not help much is misguided... Think for a second of ALL the species whose populations are DEVASTATED due to over hunting, the American Alligator is a PERFECT example, it wasn't until laws went into effect to protect them that we began to see their numbers rise again. Whether they are killed, or captured and returned to their native home actions should be taken to rectify human error.

I do respect your input and certainly there are many who lie on opposite ends of the spectrum concerning this issue. It is ALWAYS a pleasure to discuss such topics with people who share an interest and love for animals! Whether we agree on this topic or not we are drawn to this thread because of our passions and I am grateful to have a chance to share my thoughts with you :D. I do hope you agree!

Stay Blessed!

I definitely agree that it is a problem there, don't get me wrong. And I agree that irresponsible owners play a part, and I can definitely tell you that I have no sources or evidence to say which has had a greater impact on numbers. I just like to see a bit more balance when there are discussions, and put things into perspective a bit :). And yes, I know there have been species that have been devastated from over hunting--but there has to be a huge incentive for that. For the most part, species have been over-hunted to extinction since it would either earn that person a salary to live off of, or provide food to live off of. I personally don't see hunting being successful unless we put more money into it than I am willing to see spent :P

Very well said! Great discussion! I LOVE this site! :D