Comments on: How to Control Florida’s Invasive, Occasionally Killer Pythons?

By: Burr

Burr — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:31:00 +0000

You got it, Leif. I’v eaten snake and it is good and talked to a WWII from the SE Asia area who survived Jap prision camps eating python!

By: Leif Oldhart

Leif Oldhart — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:36:59 +0000

Despite the scare-mongering of this story, I have the solution to the python problem in just three positive words: “tastes like chicken.”

Up to 154 lbs do you say? Good lord! Imagine how many frog legs you’d need to put that much meat in your larder! Alligators are a protected species, but I’ll bet these pythons are just as good. And look at that dyn-o-mite beautiful snakeskin! You people need to stop seeing the glass as “half empty.” This glass is “full up,” and that’s a fact!

By: Phil from Clearwater

Phil from Clearwater — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:48:31 +0000

Skwish,

On one hand, I’d agree that we need the large NATIVE predators returned to the ecosystem, but on the other hand, I’m afraid you don’t understand the seriousness of exotic invasives.

These snakes and the myriad of other invasive exotics loose in Florida are absolutely transforming the state’s ecosystem. When a new species is turned loose in an environment it’s like playing Russian roulette with the ecosystem. Some species (plant and animal) don’t make it, others relatively peacefully coexist, but others can expand without control and totally disrupt everything. You never know until it’s too late.

Some well known examples include: hydrilla, water hyacinths, Brazilian pepper and melaleuca. Other less known species include: Cuban tree frogs, Tilapia and Cane Toads.

The truth is that the entire Florida ecosystem is rapidly being displaced by these introduced species. There’s nearly a million acres (yes million) in south Florida that is nothing but Brazilian Pepper trees. Nothing eats it and it overpowers anything in its way.

Pythons are just one more nail in the Florida’s coffin.

By: Skwish

Skwish — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:00:49 +0000

Healthy ecosystems require predators to maintain balance. If we kill off one killer animal because we didn’t take the necessary precautions and a person is killed, a different predator will ultimately take it’s place. Keeping a large predator in the house with a small child is probably a bad idea.

By: Shaithis

Shaithis — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:46:34 +0000

The problem is that when people buys these exotic species they are not truly aware of how big these snakes get and what it takes to care for them. The state should immediately initiative an easy way for owners to “unload” there unwanted pets at animal control or pet stores with no questions asked. I think the bounty idea is pretty good. Add dollar signs behind snake skins and your sure to see the population drop.

By: Christina Viering

Christina Viering — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:01:28 +0000

A pet python recently killed a child in Orlando.

By: Skwish

Skwish — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:10:37 +0000

This is a good example of an animal taking advantage of an ecological niche we probably cleared out. I think it’s pretty unrealistic of people to believe we can somehow re-engineer “native” ecosystems. When you think of it, less than ten thousand years ago North America hosted animals like Wooly Mammoths and Sabretooth Tigers. Whether we brought their demise or not, new species took over their niches and a new balance was struck. Maybe Pythons won’t survive people’s efforts to control them, but life will still find some balance here. Whatever the case, we probably can’t pick and choose what will make it and what won’t all the time.

By: Michael Gray

Michael Gray — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:55:55 +0000

There are the pythons in areas few humans care to tread, Florida wilderness, their perfect habitat. They must be efficient predators to be thriving and really, what are they eating? Native species, young livestock, pets and now a child, with python teeth marks on her young head.

The population of monitor lizards is also steadily spreading and they are at least equally as lethal, perhaps more. In their native lands, they attack and kill people, livestock and water buffalo. They have been found from Orlando south. Both are spreading north to a state near you. Monitors like to wait by trails for their prey, and feed at night. Stop them now or never.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:57:27 +0000

Here in Cali, ferrets and hedgehogs are illegal because “they could get loose and kill everything in the environment” despite the fact they’ve been domesticated animals for quite some time. Snakes are never domesticated, they’re just not hungry enough to kill us yet. Quite legal here!