Reptile & Amphibian Forums

NORTH AUGUSTA STAR (South Carolina) 12 November 05 Carolina creatures — pythons (Tony Mills)
I am sure many of you have seen a picture in recent media outlets of a giant python that ingested a large alligator and then apparently burst apart from eating too big a meal. What an incredible sight that must have been to witness a 13-foot-long snake attack and then eat a six foot crocodilian. The really surprising part to this story is that it happened in the United States. We are not supposed to have wild pythons; not even in Florida's semi-tropical everglades. The particular species pictured is native to India and Southern Asia. These giant snakes were introduced along with a bevy of other exotic creatures into parts of our country. It may seem kind of neat on the surface, but in reality exotic plant and animal introductions are often a really bad idea.
It is not just Florida that deals with exotic species. Exciting animals like Patagonian hares, iguanas, monitor lizards, caiman, Mediterranean geckos, boa constrictors and others have been captured in local neighborhoods over the last few years.
So how do these introductions actually occur? The pet trade industry in the U.S. allows us to keep an amazing array of exotic beasts in our homes or yards. For instance, it is even legal in many states to keep big cats like lions and leopards at home. Talk about a colossal bad idea. The real problem occurs when people get weary of cleaning cages or caring for their captive animal and cannot find a proper way to dispose of it. People do not have the heart to euthanize their pet so they release the non-native animals into our forests and wetlands. Wild animals are often difficult to keep caged, so sometimes a pet escapes on its own. If the animal manages to survive in the wild, it may do some serious damage. It may out-compete native predators or even eat too many native plants or animals causing catastrophic results to our fragile ecosystem. Sometimes, the introductions are not accidental but can have disastrous unforeseen effects. Many countries, including our own, have purposefully released large numbers of exotic species into the wild in an attempt to eliminate certain pest species.
Back to the pythons! Burmese pythons get extremely large, occasionally reaching 20 feet in length.
Two-foot hatchlings are common in local pet shops, pet fairs and flea markets. They make reasonable captives for knowledgeable enthusiasts and responsible pet owners but require spacious cages with secure lids. The chances of a Burmese python surviving one of our winters outside are pretty slim but in Florida, where the climate is much milder, populations have been established.
In December, several members of the Savannah River Ecology Lab, including Whit Gibbons and me along with a group from Davidson College, will travel to Everglades National Park to capture as many pythons as possible. Hmmm ... it is hard for me to imagine a better field trip. A few of the animals will be fitted with surgically implanted transmitters designed to record movement feeding and general ecology of these giant snakes.
It is critical for scientists to research the impacts the pythons are having on the local animals of the national park.
If we understand what impacts they may have on the local ecology, and how they are existing in the park, we can make the correct decisions about how to better manage them.
By the way, I have seen at least two separate pictures over the years of large alligators eating pythons in the Everglades.
Sometimes the table is turned and the serpent becomes the supper.
Carolina creatures — pythons

I think there's going to be a lot of Burmese being turned into gator food. I've also seen footage of gators eating pythons. I think the number of pythons eating gators will remain much smaller.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC