SNAKE ATTACK in our classrooms!!!!!

[marct]

For those of you that don't know me, I am an elementary school teacher in Louisiana. I frequently receive weekly issues of "Time For Kids" magazine. Just last month, I received this issue titled "Snake Attack!". Being that: 1) I am a lover of snakes, and 2) I am a teacher that filters what I let 4th graders read (regardless of what "they" say is appropriate or not) red flags quickly went up when I saw this issue.

I don't know all the facts about the pythons being found in the Everglades of Florida, but the following are the "facts" that the magazine presents:

-There are as many as 150,000 pythons in Florida's Everglades National Park.

-The snakes are "Challenging the top of the food chain out here" says Bergeron. "It's not natural".

-Burmese pythons are popular pets, but they can be difficults pets. They grow fast, and eat alot. Many python owners cannot care for their big pets, and dump them into the wild.

-The Everglades are a perfect habitat for pythons.

-Pythons are the biggest hunters in the Everglades. They eat mamals, birds, and other reptiles.

- As of Aug 09, 21 Pythons have been caught.

Now, I'm not one to rock the boat or anything but... Some of these "facts" seem a little far fetched to me. Whats your opinion about this? Looks like the media/government it trying to get something across.

If I am wrong, I stand corrected.

[marct]

Notice the red blood on the tree!

[Russ Lawson]

-There are as many as 150,000 pythons in Florida's Everglades National Park.

Extremely unlikely. Experts (not some USGS scientist who thinks they're an expert) estimate 5,000 to 10,000 pythons - this number was likely affected by the recent cold snap in Florida.

-The snakes are "Challenging the top of the food chain out here" says Bergeron. "It's not natural".

The top of the food chain in the Everglades consists of American alligators, American crocodiles, and Texas cougar/Florida panther hybrids. The bigger burms may eat some of the same food items, but it is unlikely any of the other species are being out-competed like that suggests. Alligators definitely feed on burms, and the fact that alligators are much heavier at the same lengths, and much more at home in an aquatic environment where a struggle would take place, it is without a doubt in my mind that should a Burmese python and an American alligator of the same size engage in a struggle, the alligator will win. However, when a burm goes after an alligator a fair bit smaller than it, the alligator does in fact end up as food for the burm (I believe 12 have been found with alligators in their stomachs, but I am not certain on that number).

-Burmese pythons are popular pets, but they can be difficults pets. They grow fast, and eat alot. Many python owners cannot care for their big pets, and dump them into the wild.

It is illegal to release exotics into the Everglades. Nobody has ever been caught releasing a Burmese python into the Everglades. Does this mean it has never happened, no. It is not as commonplace as the article states, especially now after all of the legislation, and considering the fact the FWCC has amnesty days for people to turn over these animals without being penalized. Also, the statement that many python owners can't care for their animals is complete crap.

-The Everglades are a perfect habitat for pythons.

The cold snap would indicate otherwise, but for the most part, it is good habitat for them.

-Pythons are the biggest hunters in the Everglades. They eat mamals, birds, and other reptiles.

Someone forgot about American alligators and crocodiles, which are MUCH heavier than Burmese pythons. These both are definitely bigger hunters than any of the ENP Burms.

- As of Aug 09, 21 Pythons have been caught.

I believe that number should be higher. I think somewhere around 200-300 to date have been captured.

You were right. Most of their "facts" are complete crap. Nice catch on that, and thank you for not submitting your 4th graders to that ignorant garbage.

[BeastMaster]

Can you say propaganda? That is total garbage!

Throw it away and cancel your subscription. Then write them and tell them why.

BTW, the recent freeze in the Everglades has caused a huge death toll to all of the cold blooded residents, but the "media" is padding the #'s for the "killer" pythons.

The Burms are obviously planning take over the world, causing the global climactic shift and single speciously melting the ice caps. Not to mention, I'm sure pythons were the cause of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

Seriously who believes this nonsense?

[marwari31]

I must say I am impressed... I have never held a burm before but I did not know they were so strong they could squeeze the blood out of a tree...

[herpdaily]

i must say i am impressed... I have never held a burm before but i did not know they were so strong they could squeeze the blood out of a tree...

haha!

[Elise.m]

Ugh... I can't believe that. Not even people who write articles for TIME magazine can get their facts straight.

I don't think I'll ever be friends with someone who works in the media.

[marct]

So now are you all ready for the icing on the cake? The article begins as: "Ron Bergeron, Shawn Heflick and Greg Grazizni are on the lookout for pythons." Do you think Greg Granzizni really knew what he was getting himself into when he agreed to be in this article?

Also, there is a "Think!" section that says: "Sales of pythons reached $10 million in Florida last year. Should people buy the snakes? Why or why not?....

Can you guess how much I hate the media???????

[Elise.m]

He may have said a few words or more, but just like what happened with Jack Hannah, it's all about how the media presents it.

[marct]

He may have said a few words or more, but just like what happened with Jack Hannah, it's all about how the media presents it.

I totally agree.