There is a really good book out that details the non-native species that are present in Florida. I believe it's published by Kreiger. I have not read it yet.

I have done a little work in the everglades and I can tell you a few things.

1) It's not a very far drive from civilization. If a person were wanting to unload a pet python and they wanted to see it in a comfortable setting, getting it there would not be an inconvenience.

2) Driving home through the glades one night I found a hatchling Burmese on the road. Happy and as healthy as could be. The thing couldn't have been more than a month old or so. If it was there then its siblings were there and its mother was there.

3) Burmese pythons have established a viable breeding population in the everglades. I have talked about this with rangers in the park. They're not uncommon.

I'd be curious to know which facility it was that the snakes escaped from and how far this was from the park. But, I don't know how far these animals are capable of travelling on their own or if they would have the senses to navigate towards the park anyway.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

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