Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Those of you who have heard me tell this story, I now have a copy of the photo for you, those who have not heard it here it is one more time;

As many of you know, I am a Deputy Sheriff in Collier County FL. Part of our area covers the Everglades Swamp. There is a sustainable population of Wild Burmese Python that now call the Everglades home. Well one night about three years ago a trucker stop off at our Everglades Sub Station to let us know he ran over a snake, it was very early morning, still night really. Well the reaction from our Deputies was, “duh, this is the Everglades everyone one runs over snakes.” But the driver was shook up and claimed this snake to be “Huge, the size of a telephone pole!” Well as opposed to arresting this truck driver for DUI, one of our Sgt.s went to go see what this fellow was so worked up about and this is what they found.

The Ford Crown Vic Patrol car is 21’9” long not including the push bumpers on the front. The Burmese Python came 6” short of the rear bumper of the Squad Car when laid out next to it. This is one of the Wild Burms found in our swamp down here.

I have a third picture it is of a South FL Water Management worker who swore that he had killed a 12‘ Diamond Back Rattle snake out in what we call the South Block (the northern fringe of the Everglades Swamp) He sent me this picture and sure enough he killed a 12’ snake but it was another Burm, these things are all over the place. I can not get this picture to load onto Kingsnake, file size too big, but I can e-mail it to anyone who would like to see it! Fish and Game have recorded 4 incidents with Alligators and Burms Struggling with each other. In all four cases the gator ended up with the Burm, but it appears that Burms have developed a taste for gator meat and seem to attack them regardless of size. At time I love living in South FL, The Feral animal capital of the WORLD!!!

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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

You can see what kind of snake it is better in this one

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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

>>You can see what kind of snake it is better in this one
>>
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>>Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
>>Hopkins Holesale Herps
>>Hopfam1@aol.com

I am not saying this to be a smart @$$ or anything, just an observation but that looks more like a Reticulated python as opposed to a Burmese.
I would imagine they adapt quite well to South Florida.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Hey Jimmy, that is 100% pure S. FL burm! Way back in 88 I think, Todd Hardvick did pull a 21', 200 pound retic out from under someone's house. I also got called out to capture what the cops called a 6' python. This was back in 91 or 92 when I worked at a pet shop in Boca Raton, FL and was known around town as the reptile guy. Anyway, I show up at this house and the cops and homeowner pointed me in the direction of some palmetto on the side of the house and said the snake was in there. Of course, they were all out on the road. When I looked in I saw an absolutely monstrous head of a very pissed off boa constrictor. After going in with a garbage can lid as a shield and wrestling it out, it took 3 adults to stretch her out and she measured right around 10 feet. What a bruiser! Wish I had pics of that one! Bottom line is, they are out there for sure down here in paradise. Billy

>>>>You can see what kind of snake it is better in this one
>>>>
>>>>-----
>>>>Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
>>>>Hopkins Holesale Herps
>>>>Hopfam1@aol.com
>>
>>I am not saying this to be a smart @$$ or anything, just an observation but that looks more like a Reticulated python as opposed to a Burmese.
>>I would imagine they adapt quite well to South Florida.
>>-----
>>Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
>>"resistance is futile"
>>Jimmy (draybar)
>>

These are Animals that are currently Feral and self sustained just in My area Lee/Collier Counties:
Burmese Pythons
Green Iguana
Mexican Spiny Tailed Iguana
Nile Monitor
Tokay Gecko
Mediterranean Gecko
House Gecko
Day Gecko (several Spps)
Brown Crested Anole
Puerto Rican Anole
Brown Bark Anole
Cuban Anole
Knights Anole
Jamaican Anole
Cuban Tree Frogs
Thread/Blind Snake
Brown Vine Snake
Copper Head Snake (not Native to South FL)
Green’s Monkeys
Spider Monkeys
Beebe parrots,
Quaker Parakeets
Budgies
Cockatiels
Spectacled Caiman
Brown Basilisk
Striped Basilisk
Oscars
Piranhas
Peacock Bass
Arawanas
Cichlids of all kinds

Others that are commonly found but not known to be a breeding population
Ball Python
Boa Constrictor
Ferrets
And several of the King snakes and Milk snakes

There are rumors that Monocled Cobras are breeding and populated in the Everglades and that rumor was supported by a find of a road killed one back in 1986 by fish and game.
The are lots of reasons given by people why and how, from all the different hurricanes, starting with Donna and Andrew to all the former US 41 road side shows that were popular back in the 60’s, 70’s, and early 80’s. Many claim that when they closed down most of the animals were released into the swamp due to lack of anything better to do with them.
I am sure that a lot of them are releases from bad keepers, escapes and importers “throwing out the bad”. I personally have seen at least 4 different importers/breeders release damaged or sickly animals into the wilds of FL thinking that the animal has a better chance, apparently they did!
It may not be the best thing for the Environment, but it does make for some fun Herping and some really odd calls at work.
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

But the burmese in the pic is kinda on its side.Those are the side markings of a burm.It sure must eat well.That is a monster.

HOLY MOLY!!!! That is a big snake!!! I never really thought about large snakes living in Florida but it makes perfect sense really.... the food is there and the habitat!

Can't wait to show this photo to my friend who just moved there!!She just "LOOVVVEESSSSSSS" snakes!!
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Becki, loved by:

1 pet hubby
1 fur-angel, Great Dane, Lucky
1 lab/great pyr. mix, Bandit
1 grey banded king, Nitro (aka The Pig!)
1 snow corn, Nessy
1 blizzard corn, Grumpy
1 reverse okeetee corn, Junior
1 black king snake, "Just Followed Me Home"
"Hakuna Matata!"

I had wondered whether those rumors were true. I would like to see that other picture you talked about in your message. Where was that picture in your post taken? Also, I heard there a breeding population of ball pythons in Flamingo, have you heard anything about those? It amazing how many escaped species thrive here. Thanks.
~Dan
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0.0.1 San Luis Potosi Kingsnake
0.0.2 Yellow Rat Snake
0.1 Normal Cornsnake
0.0.1 Eastern Garter Snake
0.0.1 Northern Water Snake

Keep the snake ...give me that unit!! purrrr im a law lady myself meaning i ummm like the law, purrr ggrroowwllll..ok ill heal now lol
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My roomates are2 boas, 4 corns,Rotti,3cats and snake food AKA the food chain.

That i e-mailed to you?
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

That's one of the main reasons why I love being a cop. Like Forrest Gump said, "you never know what you are gonna get." Imagine what kinda day this cop had! At the very least, he got some cool pictures and stories to tell!

Speaking of stories, here's my blog, if anyone is interested.

http://rookiecop.blogspot.com/

Feel free to read stories and post comments. my comment sections are kinda emancipated!

AJ
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1.0 Hypo Okeetee - Wesley (Princess Bride)
0.1 Ghost - Sydney (Scream)
2.0 Striped Amel - Jay and Aiden (Kevin Smith movies)
1.0 Snow - Silent Bob (Kevin Smith movies)
0.1 Anery - Columbia (Rocky Horror)
1.0 Creamcicle - Brandon (Mallrats)
0.1 Zig Zag Anery - Pepper (didn't name her)
0.1 Normal - Bindy (Croc. Hunter)
0.1 Motley - Craven (Underworld)

np
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My roomates are2 boas, 4 corns,Rotti,3cats and snake food AKA the food chain.

measure the car again.....? 21 foot 6 inches for a cruiser?....I gotta go and measure one..(they are always eating and drinking cofee a few doors up at the local store here).....(4 and 5 at a time..unless...I have a batch of drunks around )...(bar right across from store).......

anyways......car is 21 foot.......? seems really big

my first impression when I saw the pic was damn.....a 16 footer.......

.........yes.I am going out to measure my one car now.....big enough car for comparison.....(Taurus SES)........

.......just do what i would do .......

go hunting these BIG snakes......and invite the friends over for a cookout..........

steak 'em out......and you got a vest to boot'........

JY
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yep
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Some one else gave me the specs on the car, the only thing I can think of is that the Sgt. who tool the picture measured from bumber to bumber going over the top of the car, getting the extra feet from the hight of the car, so it was a 17'2" burm instead of a 21'3" burm, still dang big though LOL
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

....hey....first....I don't wanna bust your bubble...just hard to believe and I didn't think YOU personally actually measured the car or snake........

I think you must be a "cool enough dude" even for a copper......
LOL......"Krispy Kreme Specialist"???.........(wish they were a quarter up here like in Fl....damn.....59 cents here......

anyways.....I did measure the ford ses taurus......it was roughly 16 foot..and I gave you 17 and a half for a little bigger victoria.....then the snake is shorter than the car..I roughed it at 16 foot and gave you the extra foot for good measure....I figured 17 footer.....

just look at the pic you get a rough image in your head how big it is from the thickness compared to the tires and car....

I played with friends FAT burms and retics and we figured them at 16 to 18 foot....twice as thick as this one maybe.....well fed...and YES boys and girls - the one retic grabbed him one day ...and if it hadn't had wrapped around his waist and legs.....I could have gotten the snakes free after his wife burried him and all........he did get it off and he did complain....(the wife locked the cellar door and stayed upstairs while he fought the darn thing.....NICE wife.....women....wussies)......

,,,,,,,,,they still should have steaked it out and had a good grill time.........?..what the heck.....

good luck...be careful out there.....!.....

JY
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yep
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I also live in florida. I don't live near the Everglades but I went down there recently. At some of the trails, they have pictures of burmese pythons fighting with alligators. Also, there were articles in the local news papers about them. I wanted to find some real bad. It would be so awsome to catch a huge burm. Not only would I be catching a really cool snake, I'd also be helping the local environment. I've never seen most of the introduced species in florida. The types I have seen are cuban treefrogs, green iguanas, brown anoles, bark anoles, little green parrots, and spiny tailed iguanas. If any of you could tell me where you've seen any of the other types, please do! I'd love to see them.

Hoppy you mention that your Ford Crown Vic patrol car is 21'9" long.

Since I was curious I went out and measured my Ford F 150 long bed that I know is longer than the police cars in my neighborhood. I live next door to two of them.

My truck was only 18' 6". That would mean your cruiser is (approx) 3'3" longer than my long bed truck.

Not that it matters on the fact that you found a burm.

I have had a few conversations with Game and wildlife and none of them say there is a substainable population of Burms-or Ball pythons. What there are is a lot of large releases/escapes that are thriving.

To this date there has been no netonates or eggs from any python found in the Florida wilds. Though I have no doubt that one day there likely will be.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

If you ever get to my neck of the woods I will hook you up with the US Fish and Game down in the Everglades National Park. I must admit I have never come accorss a group of Hatched burm eggs down there, but I have also never come accross a group od any hatched snake eggs, does that mean that all the snakes are a release problem, I don't think so, and yes I have personally have picked up at small 2 footer from the south blocks and several 3 footers, so they are not "large releases" they are breeding population. The fella above who stated that there are pictures of the fighting gators is correct, the US fish and game have them documented and photographed, if you would like to e-mail me I can send you some more photos and news articles, just for your clarifaction.
The legnth of the crown vic is 17.8 from what I have been told, the Sarg who measured it went over the roof, end to end, to come up with the 21.9 foot size
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com