Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The past week I've been reading about overpopulation of Burmese Pythons in Florida. Are they being abandoned by pet owners? Is the environment playing a part in which they have invaded human territory?
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I got to do some work with American Crocodiles in the Everglades last summer. One night, while driving home, I found a healthy, happy baby Burmese Python in the road. It could not have been more than two or three weeks out of it's egg. I took this to mean that Burmese Pythons have a strong enough population in the Everglades that they are reproducing there. I spoke to a park ranger about it and he confirmed that there are Burmese in the Everglades. Personally, I think this is a real shame. God knows what will happen to the wading birds there. There is a book out on the introduced species of Florida. Does anyone know if Burmese pythons are mentioned in it?

BTW, that baby Burmese was euthenized. As far as I know, there is an eradication program in place. These are really nice animlas but think carefully before you buy. They're not for everyone.

Mike

>>I got to do some work with American Crocodiles in the Everglades last summer. One night, while driving home, I found a healthy, happy baby Burmese Python in the road. It could not have been more than two or three weeks out of it's egg. I took this to mean that Burmese Pythons have a strong enough population in the Everglades that they are reproducing there. I spoke to a park ranger about it and he confirmed that there are Burmese in the Everglades. Personally, I think this is a real shame. God knows what will happen to the wading birds there. There is a book out on the introduced species of Florida. Does anyone know if Burmese pythons are mentioned in it?
>>
>>BTW, that baby Burmese was euthenized. As far as I know, there is an eradication program in place. These are really nice animlas but think carefully before you buy. They're not for everyone.
>>
>>Mike

Mike,
....What is going on with the American Crocs? Are they expanding their range back into areas where they had been before they declined in numbers?
Jeff

>>>>I got to do some work with American Crocodiles in the Everglades last summer. One night, while driving home, I found a healthy, happy baby Burmese Python in the road. It could not have been more than two or three weeks out of it's egg. I took this to mean that Burmese Pythons have a strong enough population in the Everglades that they are reproducing there. I spoke to a park ranger about it and he confirmed that there are Burmese in the Everglades. Personally, I think this is a real shame. God knows what will happen to the wading birds there. There is a book out on the introduced species of Florida. Does anyone know if Burmese pythons are mentioned in it?
>>>>
>>>>BTW, that baby Burmese was euthenized. As far as I know, there is an eradication program in place. These are really nice animlas but think carefully before you buy. They're not for everyone.
>>>>
>>>>Mike

...There are reliable reports of breeding populations of Burms in several locations in Florida. Most of them are from the west side of Miami across the Everglades to the Naples area. This subject gets lots of play in the press in Florida along with scare stories about Retics being bigger and more agressive snakes and coming right along behind the Burms. Because of the actions of irresponsible herp keepers it is only a matter of time before more anti-herp legislation is enacted in Florida. Florida has been a great state for keeping and breeding snakes. Many breeders have actually moved to Florida because of favorable herp keeping laws compared to some other locations. Burmese Pythons are wonderful snakes for some people but are too big for most of the people who buy them.
SNAKES ARE GREAT, PEOPLE SUCK!!!
Jeff

>>The past week I've been reading about overpopulation of Burmese Pythons in Florida. Are they being abandoned by pet owners? Is the environment playing a part in which they have invaded human territory?
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