Reptile & Amphibian Forums

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/01/14/African-rock-pythons-caught-in-Florida/UPI-42101263489077/

Text Below -

MIAMI, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Five African rock pythons were captured in Miami-Dade County, Fla., leading to concerns of an increased invasive constrictor snake population, an official says.

George Horne, deputy executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, said the capture of at least five African rock pythons -- one measured 14 feet long -- during a state-coordinated hunt this week has prompted concerns the snake species may be breeding and also could cross-breed with Burmese pythons, another exotic reptile multiplying in the region.

Officials fear a possible mixed-breed snake in the Everglades would help increase the large constrictor snake population in the region, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Adding to such concerns is the fact the African rock python is known as a very dangerous snake in its native territory. Deborah Drum, deputy director
for the district's restoration sciences department, said rock pythons in Africa have been known to attack anything from goats and crocodiles to children.

"They are bigger and meaner than the Burmese python ... . It's not good news," Drum told the Sun-Sentinel.

District officials said a growing number of snakes have been seeking refuge in flood control levees since unusually cold temperatures in Florida recently.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/fl-breeding-snakes-20100113,0,4868133.story

This one has a photo.

"This is a 12-foot North African rock python found during an ongoing python hunt led by state officials this week in the Everglades in Miami-Dade County. (South Florida Water Management District / January 13, 20100"

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090911-pythons-florida-giant-snakes.html

Apparently this is still not a "new" find - this Nat geo article was from September 14, 2009, warning everyone about African Rock Pythons.

"Already squeezed by the invasion of the giant Burmese python, Florida now faces what one scientist calls one of the U.S. state's "worst nightmares.

Africa's largest snake—the ill-tempered, 20-foot-long (6.1-meter-long) African rock python—is colonizing the U.S. state, new discoveries suggest.

Six African rock pythons have been found in Florida since 2002. More troubling, a pregnant female and two hatchlings have been found, which means the aggressive reptiles have set up house.

More dangerous than even Burmese pythons—which are known to eat alligators (alligator-python picture)—the African pythons are "so mean, they come out of the egg striking," said Kenneth Krysko, senior herpetologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.

"This is just one vicious animal."

So far the giant snakes have been found only in a single square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of suburban area west of Miami. Pet breeders unprepared for the pythons' ferocity may have released them, Krysko said.

What's "really scary" is that the new invaders only have to cross the road to enter Everglades National Park, where Burmese pythons have already eaten thousands of native animals, he said.

There is more text behind the link, photos, and a video.

Obviously they are loosing the Burmese argument, so they have to dig down deeper for a scarier/more dangerous and menacing foe/scenario.
Time to drag out some old speculation. You know if you throw enough mud against the wall some of it is bound to stick.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer