WFOR (Miami, Florida) 20 December 13 Officials On Snake Survey For Dangerous & Invasive Rock Pythons

Miami: South Florida is already dealing with a Burmese python invasion in the Everglades and now state biologists are concerned that the aggressive rock python might be the latest invasive species to become established in the Everglades and elsewhere in South Florida.

Wildlife officials planned Friday to do a walking survey just west of Miami to see how many of the big snakes might be living there.

Florida is already grappling with Burmese pythons in the Everglades, where they are being blamed for sharp decreases in many native species.

Rock pythons can grow to about 16 feet and are the largest snakes in Africa. Biologists say they are among the world’s most aggressive snakes and will eat almost anything they can swallow.

On August 30, 2013, a Rock python attacked and killed a 60-pound Siberian husky in the backyard of a home near the Bird Drive recharge area of Miami-Dade County where, where other rock pythons have been seen.

Experts said these types of attacks are rare and that encountering pythons most commonly occurs in communities on the edge of the Everglades in the fall and winter months.

The survey Friday is part of a state effort to eradicate the snakes from South Florida.
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