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Roddy, the guy on the right with the dark complexion..lol, a close friend and employee caught these 2 Burmese roadcruising last night on the TAMIAMI TRAIL just west of Shark Valley. Almost anytime you go roadcruising in certain areas you WILL CATCH Burmese Pythons. They are very abundant.

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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

What's the largest you've seen in Florida, Tom? (well, that you don't suspect to be first gen releases)

I only have seen 2 very large ones one 15-16' long doa on hiway 29 just north of Alligator Alley and a solid 17' plus snake frshly killed by the Collier County Sherriffs Dept crossing the Tamiami Trail in Ochopee, Fl in 2005 I believe....thanks...In all my trips to S.E. Asia I've never seen a larger wild one than here.....lol
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

That's pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Here is the only one I ever saw while living in Asia.

Now that is amazing.

I didn't think the larger pythons went into the trees. How big is that snake?

What do you think about the bounty hunter idea? I have mixed feeling about it myself. A good idea for experienced handlers of large pythons but potential danger to the novice. I'm hoping they have some type of screening process. I'm located in the Tampa area and considered doing that for free at one time but started a new job.
Frank

Tom,

Please remember that everyone has access to these forums. Those that like snakes and those that don't. The burmese problem in the everglades is probably going to be the undoing of the reptile industry as we know it and one of our very own constantly stating how over abundant they are will only expediate things. I know you like me do not want to become an outlaw overnight because of the way politicians view things.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto
J&K Reptiles

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, an amel tiger retic female, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

The idea is to show the silliness of any legislation banning something that will never be eliminated from the wild. It is similar to the Walking Catfish of over 25 years ago. They were banned and doomsday scenario's were predicted. Well today Walking Catfish are very abundant, have proven not to be detrimental, and are still banned. Thus far it has NOT been proven the Pythons are even injurious as I've stated many times. The best legislation would be none and let Florida deal with it as they have done sucessfully already. IT IS NOT A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND NEVER WILL BE. Again a commom animal found in the stomach analisis are wild feral cats which are the MOST single species destructive animal out there. They might turn out to be an important part of the ecosystem and beneficial overall. I forsee Python's years down the road being an attraction for visitors to the Park. Already the have them on some of the newer Park brochures as a species you might see along with Crocodiles and Alligators. So it seems the Park officials already realize the great potential for tourism these snakes could be. Instead of banning them they should be continually studied in terms of what they eat, how much they eat[not much compaired to mammalian predators], and be used in the interum as a tourist attraction which they already are. If they want numbers reduced [only possible near roads] the bounty idea is a good one that was thrown out there at the news conference a day or so ago. I feel we must adhere to the TRUTH unlike the actual "scientist" who are shaping their careers and future on this one snake. For us to lie or remain silent while a few espouse selfserving propaganda is wrong. One of the best arguments that can be made is that a ban will NOT serve any purpose other than to harm the economy of the U.S. A BAN WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE WILD PYTHONS. Over time these snakes will receive protected status in Florida just as it has on Java where Burmese were introduced a few hundred years ago by snake charmers. This may take years to play out but I believe it will happen. It is only now that they are saying the correct numbers accrding to the population models. Before the conference 30,000 was the number subscribed to by officials. I have never personally thrown numbers out there only commented on their statements. I understand where your coming from as I've been involved in this from day 1 from an information gathering standpoint and helping to fight this both financially and recruiting others to help as well. It is BAD proposed legislation and will NOT solve any problem but create more. The ban if passed is a "pandora's Box" of unprecidented proportions.....
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

I should elaberate on the "bounty idea". It would be, I think, a huge mistake to allow nuts to go off the roads in the Glades hunting Pythons. I believe they could be allowed to roadcruise them but disturbing the habitat off road would be a giant mistake. Just my 2 cents....It certainly would cut down on numbers living near the roads and would help in overall perception of the snakes......
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

I have not followed closely the specific area of this issue regarding population estimates. Do you know of any formal studies that have been conducted over the last few years that have accumulated enough of a data base to give reasonable estimates regarding the actual numbers of burmese in the wild in Florida. I have heard numerous wide ranging estimates, some obviously highly exaggerated. I have conducted studies on wild snake populations in the past, and would be interested to see any data involved with this issue. Thanks,

Kelly

I have heard many different things about the population depending on who you talk to. The state says a minimum of 30,000 and the model with the feds says not less than 100,000 or more than 300,000. All I know is that they have become unbelievably common both in the Park and around it. Interestingly enough they don't seem to be moving into surburbia except for the Redlands Area which is a huge farming distict and where my farm is located. It is there they've become very abundant likely because of a huge food supply inherit with farming. The feral cat population has dramatically decreased here which is a good thing. Additionally one old problem here for both people and livestock have been packs of wild dogs that on occasion have attacked even people. I have NOT heard of problems in the last year or so. Here is where historically unwanted domestic pets have been dropped off by Miami residents but you don't see many anymore...So the pythons aren't all bad....
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

I agree with you Tom. I didn't think it was a good idea. I've had images of the over zealous newbie trotting around the everglades and them biting off more than they can chew when entangled by a large burm. I used to breed these awesome snakes a few yrs ago. My biggest girl was 16ft and fat as a light pole. She was strong. I do realize that most being reported are much smaller but still even a 10ft wild one is probably a challenge for someone inexperienced or unprepared. The only reason I though about doing it at one time was for my own collection.

Thanks for the response.
Frank

Hello Tom. It is good to see people like yourself defending the interests of many. I saw the article in Reptiles magazine about your involvment with the Florida Burmese deal. You bring up many valid points as to banning these U.S wide. Like you said it would do nothing but create bigger troubles. Due to irresponsible pet owners, bogus internet pics and U-tube, the public views all "bigs" snakes as man eaters. The state I live in (Montana)prohibits the ownership of any of the Big 5. Retics, Burms, Anacondas, African rocks and Amythestine's. This states so called panel of wildlife "experts" deemed any of these snakes would pose a health threat and could eat their sheep or something.
To one fellow herp owner to another....thank you! And you have mine as well as many others' support. Rich

"...wild feral cats which are the MOST single species destructive animal out there."

Amen to that!!

Dan
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