Don't Release Those Snakes
According to one newspaper “700 Python hunters have slithered down to Florida” to take part in the Burmese Python hunt. This snake is not native to the Everglades and considered an invasive pest—large pest. Not only can they grow to seventeen feet or more— a snake in the wild might lay fifty eggs —perhaps more. That’s a lot of population growth,
Over the past few years the python population has undergone a rapid jump in numbers—no natural enemies. They may not have any enemies, but they are busy eating some of the local denizens— rabbits, foxes, raccoons, opossums and bobcats.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says that more than 1,000 people from more than 30 states have registered to compete in the month long “Python Challenge.” They just keep comin’.
There’s money to be made —kill the longest python and you’re $1000 richer or catch the greatest number of pythons and your bank account goes up by $1,500.
Most of those who signed up for the month long challenge need to take part in an online training program and then attend an open house where they learn about pythons.
As a participant you must kill the python in a humane manner and before you receive marching orders you sign a liability waiver.
I once signed such a waiver when I rode a mule down into a canyon. Signing the waiver kept me up half the night—did they expect me to break a bone or die on the way down?
In December a seventeen-foot python, obviously bothered by the unusually cold weather in the Everglades attempted to join a family from Arkansas who were in a picnic area. Rangers responded and the snake was humanely killed.
How did Florida get into this predicament? People bought Burmese Pythons as pets and then when they began to grow too big and too strong they released them into the wild.
And then there’s a warning from amateur herpetologists—if you get to the point where you can’t take care of the snake because he’s over 100 pounds and fifteen feet long don’t release him into the closest park. Call a zoo.
I’ve just requested Frank Buck’s Bring ‘Em Back Alive from my library. I remember reading about a large python having it out with a Bengal tiger—who won?
Over the past few years the python population has undergone a rapid jump in numbers—no natural enemies. They may not have any enemies, but they are busy eating some of the local denizens— rabbits, foxes, raccoons, opossums and bobcats.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says that more than 1,000 people from more than 30 states have registered to compete in the month long “Python Challenge.” They just keep comin’.
There’s money to be made —kill the longest python and you’re $1000 richer or catch the greatest number of pythons and your bank account goes up by $1,500.
Most of those who signed up for the month long challenge need to take part in an online training program and then attend an open house where they learn about pythons.
As a participant you must kill the python in a humane manner and before you receive marching orders you sign a liability waiver.
I once signed such a waiver when I rode a mule down into a canyon. Signing the waiver kept me up half the night—did they expect me to break a bone or die on the way down?
In December a seventeen-foot python, obviously bothered by the unusually cold weather in the Everglades attempted to join a family from Arkansas who were in a picnic area. Rangers responded and the snake was humanely killed.
How did Florida get into this predicament? People bought Burmese Pythons as pets and then when they began to grow too big and too strong they released them into the wild.
And then there’s a warning from amateur herpetologists—if you get to the point where you can’t take care of the snake because he’s over 100 pounds and fifteen feet long don’t release him into the closest park. Call a zoo.
I’ve just requested Frank Buck’s Bring ‘Em Back Alive from my library. I remember reading about a large python having it out with a Bengal tiger—who won?
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