Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently wrote University of Florida wildlife biologist Dr. Frank Mazzotti after reading an article about research they were doing during the freeze in Florida earlier this month, Here is the link to the original article...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/weather/01/10/us.cold.weather/index.html

This is his response I received yesterday

"We evaluated the effects of the recent extended period of cold temperature on Burmese pythons by following the fate of pythons with radio transmitters and by conducting searches for pythons both during and especially immediately after the cold spell. We are preparing the results for rapid publication in a peer reviewed outlet and we will issue a press release with with the detailed results coincident with their publication. At the moment we can tell you that pythons both survived and died during the cold period. The cause of death was not always apparent and that is one of the areas we are still gathering information on. We believe that rapid peer reviewed publication of these results is in everyones best interest.

We are getting requests for the results from everywhere from individuals to CNN. I really want to avoid the controversy surrounding other efforts that were not exposed to external peer review. We are fortunate enough to have been in a position to know exactly what happened. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the results.

Frank"

In my opinion there should not be ANY non-native species of snakes with radio transmitters re-released in the everglades. We do not need to track the snakes they are pretty much confined to the everglades. So we know where they are. If we wanted to learn behavioral pattern and tendencies we should be doing that study in the snakes natural environment. Any and all non native snakes should be removed immediately from the everglades. Having snakes running around with transmitters is just going to help increase the population. Even if only males are released that makes a better chance for a male and female to find each other and reproduce. Also, when you see a big burmese python or other non-native species of snake on the news found eating someones pet or a native animal of the everglades or just on the road dead. I doubt they will report if the animal was radio tagged so that's just giving them more ammunition to throw at us. Bottom line in my opinion if the animal doesn't belong there remove it.

The University of Florida is the number one source when it comes to reptile related issues. From diseases such as IBD to those in the Everglades.

They did a true scientific study with the main purpose being the effects of the recent cold spell. Tracking habits and movement over a long period of time was not the purpose. If they are determining the cause of death in the snakes obviously they are gathering them up.

I can assure you every snake they released is back in their possession, dead or alive. A true scientific study can only be done the way they did it, not the way the USGS did for their joke of a paper.