Reptile & Amphibian Forums

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090528/od_nm/us_everglades_pythons

Note the second paragraph where our "wildlife biologists" put the blame SOLELY on irresponsible snake owners.

Thanks,
Ed

Actually I've seen the population models and it's likely there are hundreds of thousands. You can go out anytime and find them roadcruising almost at will. Pythons have been found in the exteme S. W. corner of Fl down at Shark River. Check a map and you'll see the nearest road is 70 miles north of there. My point is THEY ARE HERE TO STAY AND ARE IN BIG NUMBERS. Before they would only publicly admit to 30,000 even though they knew there were hundreds of thousands. Six were caught this past week in 2 days roadcruising that were between 5-11' long. I could guarantee almost anyone that if you roadcruise the Tamiami Trail at night from Ochopee eastward you will find Pythons....NEW LEGISLATION WILL ONLY HURT THE ECONOMY AND DESTROY AN INDUSTRY BUT WILL NOT GET RID OF THE PYTHONS...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Hi Tom,

So these scientists were intentionally *underestimating* the number of Everglades pythons??? I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying, but why would they do that? And why would they
"come clean" now? Interesting...

Thanks,
Ed

>>Actually I've seen the population models and it's likely there are hundreds of thousands. You can go out anytime and find them roadcruising almost at will. Pythons have been found in the exteme S. W. corner of Fl down at Shark River. Check a map and you'll see the nearest road is 70 miles north of there. My point is THEY ARE HERE TO STAY AND ARE IN BIG NUMBERS. Before they would only publicly admit to 30,000 even though they knew there were hundreds of thousands. Six were caught this past week in 2 days roadcruising that were between 5-11' long. I could guarantee almost anyone that if you roadcruise the Tamiami Trail at night from Ochopee eastward you will find Pythons....NEW LEGISLATION WILL ONLY HURT THE ECONOMY AND DESTROY AN INDUSTRY BUT WILL NOT GET RID OF THE PYTHONS...
>>-----
>>Tom Crutchfield
>>www.tomcrutchfield.com

They deliberately misled everyone so government officials would think that there was a chance that with grant money and studies they could be eradicated. If you tell someone there's hundreds of thousands[the truth] any idiot would know their here to stay and just learn to live with them because in actuality that's what is going to happen. So many are popping up since the rains have started it's impossible to deny any longer....thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Hi Tom,

That's interesting. Seems like many (most?) of the reptile community believes these "scientists" are corrupt, but in that they overestimated the population in order to hype the restrictive federal bills being proposed. Either way, though, we know they are obviously not interested in science and truth but the almighty dollar and job security.

Thanks,
Ed

>>They deliberately misled everyone so government officials would think that there was a chance that with grant money and studies they could be eradicated. If you tell someone there's hundreds of thousands[the truth] any idiot would know their here to stay and just learn to live with them because in actuality that's what is going to happen. So many are popping up since the rains have started it's impossible to deny any longer....thanks
>>-----
>>Tom Crutchfield
>>www.tomcrutchfield.com

They may have other motives as well but they knew several years ago there were many, many more than they admitted to. The reason I gave may not be the actual reason but is conjecture on my part. Regardless they are NOT exaggerating the number of Pythons. Believe me when I say they are very common and easy to find almost at will. To find any snake in such numbers indicates a huge viable population unfortunately....
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Hi Tom,

I do believe you, but it seems like whatever the number is,
they will use it to push for something (laws, funding) which will in turn create job security for them.

Personally, aside from the fact that the propagandists are being dishonest, the number doesn't really matter to me. I know I'm in the minority, but I don't really have a problem with the pythons being there. It's part of evolution that species expand their ranges, it's been going on for hundreds of millions (billions?) of years. And I think it's just as likely the pythons are not harming (maybe even helping) the local ecosystem as it is that they are harming it. Bio-diversity isn't always a bad thing.

Thanks,
Ed

>>They may have other motives as well but they knew several years ago there were many, many more than they admitted to. The reason I gave may not be the actual reason but is conjecture on my part. Regardless they are NOT exaggerating the number of Pythons. Believe me when I say they are very common and easy to find almost at will. To find any snake in such numbers indicates a huge viable population unfortunately....
>>-----
>>Tom Crutchfield
>>www.tomcrutchfield.com

with that many down there its not likely they just showed up over night, it seems to me that they would have to have been around for many years, i would think if they are distructive to the eco system effects would be seen buy now..... they arnt exactly Cane Frogs!!!
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-Stephen-

0.1 soon to be wifey (Babe)
1.0 rotwiler/chow (Boomer)
1.0 norm corn (Jake)
1.0 col redtail boa (Switch, formally known as Dixie)
0.1 ball python (Bella)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Torpaz & Saphira)

Tom,
...This is interesting. I had no idea there were so many of them. I wonder how many of them are now being caught by snake hunters? Any possibility that a bounty on them and financial incentives to move captured ones to the skin trade could make a difference in the population?
Jeff

In the last week an employee of mine went roadcruising and caught 2 one night and 4 the second near Shark Valley crossing the Tamiami Trail. Check out the pics I posted on the Field Forum on Kingsnake....He only looked about 2 hours each night...The ONLY snake he found in greater numbers were Water Snakes...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Jeff,

That might be a double edged sword. Given we humans have almost destroyed the Everglades (along with much of the rest of the earth), not sure sending hoard so rednecks (along with their guns, knives, trucks, boats, beer, coolers, etc.) would be beneficial to the ecosystem.

Thanks,
Ed

>>Tom,
>>...This is interesting. I had no idea there were so many of them. I wonder how many of them are now being caught by snake hunters? Any possibility that a bounty on them and financial incentives to move captured ones to the skin trade could make a difference in the population?
>>Jeff

Ed,
...Rednecks, beer, knives, guns, trucks coolers? Apparently you have seen me getting ready to go snake hunting.
Jeff

>>Jeff,
>>
>>That might be a double edged sword. Given we humans have almost destroyed the Everglades (along with much of the rest of the earth), not sure sending hoard so rednecks (along with their guns, knives, trucks, boats, beer, coolers, etc.) would be beneficial to the ecosystem.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Ed
>>
>>
>>>>Tom,
>>>>...This is interesting. I had no idea there were so many of them. I wonder how many of them are now being caught by snake hunters? Any possibility that a bounty on them and financial incentives to move captured ones to the skin trade could make a difference in the population?
>>>>Jeff

>>Ed,
>>...Rednecks, beer, knives, guns, trucks coolers? Apparently you have seen me getting ready to go snake hunting.
>>Jeff

or any other weekend activity???
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Jeff,

Hey, I've lived in Floriday and NC most of my life. I'm 70% redneck myself...

Thanks,
Ed

>>Ed,
>>...Rednecks, beer, knives, guns, trucks coolers? Apparently you have seen me getting ready to go snake hunting.
>>Jeff
>>
>>
>>>>Jeff,
>>>>
>>>>That might be a double edged sword. Given we humans have almost destroyed the Everglades (along with much of the rest of the earth), not sure sending hoard so rednecks (along with their guns, knives, trucks, boats, beer, coolers, etc.) would be beneficial to the ecosystem.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>Ed
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Tom,
>>>>>>...This is interesting. I had no idea there were so many of them. I wonder how many of them are now being caught by snake hunters? Any possibility that a bounty on them and financial incentives to move captured ones to the skin trade could make a difference in the population?
>>>>>>Jeff