Large python "busted" in Florida

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/07/us/fl...rnd/index.html

Mixed feelings here...she doesn't belong in the Everglades, but I don't like the outcome either...:(

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/07/us/fl...rnd/index.html

Mixed feelings here...she doesn't belong in the Everglades, but I don't like the outcome either...:(

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It's an invasive species that is destroying the local ecosystem, including the native reptiles. I don't like the idea of killing snakes either, but these need to be controlled or we're going to lose an entire ecosystem to them.

I think a lot of these animals are at least made use of. I know that smaller animals are sold frozen as feeders. Larger animals are skinned to be used in that trade over wild caught animals from their native area.

Good and bad, but overall I think this is more positive than negative.

2c

Paul

I wonder what the cost would be to relocate them to their natural habitat? I am sure it is not cheap but is an option that I am sure has not been looked at.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

I wonder what the cost would be to relocate them to their natural habitat? I am sure it is not cheap but is an option that I am sure has not been looked at.

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Apart from the tremendous cost, you'd be exporting various issues like ticks & diseases that perhaps don't exist in their native lands and which could wipe them out.

Also, any time a snake is relocated, there exists the possibility that they will interrupt the balance wherever they are put: there is only enough food (prey) & shelter
in a given location. When other such predators already live there, then either they or the snake you relocate will starve. Re-location is not an effort to be taken lightly,
even when it is legal to do so & even when it makes sense (ie. won't bring foreign health risks to native populations, etc).

Relocating animals is usually strictly prohibited, even native animals within the state. It only spreads disease and other harm.


The best way to handle is capture and kill. It seems wrong at first, but like mentioned before you will end up killing off an entire ecosystem.

Lake Erie has been suffering for many decades, maybe even more than a century, becuase of the zebra mussel and goby infestation. Gobys are a kill on sight species, it is illegal to return them to the water if you catch one.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Apart from the tremendous cost, you'd be exporting various issues like ticks & diseases that perhaps don't exist in their native lands and which could wipe them out.

Also, any time a snake is relocated, there exists the possibility that they will interrupt the balance wherever they are put: there is only enough food (prey) & shelter
in a given location. When other such predators already live there, then either they or the snake you relocate will starve. Re-location is not an effort to be taken lightly,
even when it is legal to do so & even when it makes sense (ie. won't bring foreign health risks to native populations, etc).

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Totally agree. It sounds like the right thing to do, the most natural and humane thing to do, but they could bring with them a predator that wipes out the whole population. I agree with humanely eliminating them, and actually ENFORCING strict exotic animal laws! :please:

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Originally Posted by GoatBoy

it is illegal to return them to the water if you catch one.

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Wow! :O

Not to mention that their natural habitat is so devastated that there are not many places to return them to that aren't filled with masses of human beings.

yeah, it's a bittersweet situation. also that big girl is a great big catch (and kill). 73 eggs!

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"Using male pythons with radio transmitters allows the team to track the male to locate breeding females," their statement says. "The team not only removes the invasive snakes, but collects data for research, develops new removal tools and learns how the pythons are using the Preserve."

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that's an ingenious method! u can get multiple catches, track patterns and hides/nests.

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Originally Posted by Ax01

...that's an ingenious method! u can get multiple catches, track patterns and hides/nests.

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Yeah, they've been doing this for quite a while. Snakes are hard to find...I mean, we have trouble finding one loose in our homes...can you imagine searching the whole
Everglades+ ?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/07/us/fl...rnd/index.html

Mixed feelings here...she doesn't belong in the Everglades, but I don't like the outcome either...:(

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I agree. I do not like the outcome either, but unfortunately it seems be necessary. It's not just the pythons either. Tegus have become a problem. I believe in the summer of 2018 governor Scott (of Florida) signed a bill to go after tegus also. It is very sad, but something does need to be done.

The tegus are going to be a much bigger problem overall as they can survive in cooler temperatures, unlike the burms. They recently have been found as far north as southern Georgia. https://apnews.com/45d2b633fcbf408c92e4b061d9b44689