We were watching an episode of Animal Cops on Animal Planet where a 13 foot Burmese Python was caught in a backyard pool several miles away from the everglades in a heavily populated area. I have no idea when the snake was captured but by looking at an article on Gizmodo I can safely say it was Christmas 2011.
I do know that a 17 foot 7 inch 164 1/2 pound monster was dispatched in the everglades earlier in August of 2012. And it had 87 eggs in it. And recently (12/28/12) another 17 footer was shot and killed when it slithered into a picnic area. Not very reassuring that monsters like that exist in Florida.
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| 17 foot 7 inch python that was caught in August 2012 |
In the Miami Herald is was stated that a 13 footer was captured at mm 105 on Key Largo on August 30th of 2012. It was a female but had no eggs. Upon examination it was still a virgin. The Herald also reports that about a dozen Pythons were captured or killed on Key Largo since 2007.
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| Python captured at MM105 in Key Largo, photo from KeysNet.Com. |
A few months ago in Key Largo two pythons were spotted but got away before the authorities responded.
There was a quick blurb about the Pythons in Key Largo on TV where scientists were amazed these things swam through salt water to get to the island. In theory reptiles do not do well in salt water. Looking at articles that were published, salt water is no deterrent to the pythons. They have been spotted swimming across Florida Bay.
On November 12 of 2011 a 7 footer was captured on Marathon in the Key Colony section sunning itself in front of a driveway.
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| Python being captured in Key Colony. Photo from Key Colony Real Estate |
And as recent as mid-December three pythons were caught. One was behind Publix in Marathon where FKAA workers discovered a 7 foot Burmese python when they moved a mattress clearing land behind the supermarket. They quickly dispatched it with a front-end loader. Also in December two ball pythons were caught near mm106 a few day apart. The Ball Pythons were 3 footers which is about the maximum size those snakes get unlike the Burmese which can get to over 22 feet in length.
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| Python caught behind Publix, photo from Keysnet.com |
What I find is amusing is that only ten days prior to the article the KeysNet published one stating that the python problem was more hype than problem.
I've even read that the snakes captured in the Keys in the articles that I mentioned were escaped pets. Err if you expect me to believe that, then I have a great used bridge in Brooklyn for sale for you.
In tests that were conducted scientists took captured baby pythons. They separated them into thirds. One third was given fresh water to drink,a second third drank only brackish water and the final third was given only saltwater to drink. To everyone's astonishment the snakes that were give saltwater lived for 30 days with some even as long as 200 days.
This gives more credence that these monsters are swimming great distances through salt water. It was hoped that the saltwater that surrounds the keys would protect the Keys from the invasion of these monsters. Yes these are truly monsters.
I posted in an earlier blog that Florida should enact an open season on these monsters. In part they have. You need to get a $25 permit and can hunt only in certain areas. There are no bounties though which really can deter the desire in hunting them.
But Florida has seen some light, they now are holding a hunting contest running from January 12 to February 10th where the most killed will earn $1,500 and a $1,000 goes to the biggest one caught. Great ideas but a little to skimpy. The prizes should bet higher to attract more hunters. And the hunt is only in certain areas only. Right now only Florida residents can get permits or participate in the hunting contest.
Florida should open the hunting to everyone. The sale of the permits will bolster the economy not only in the permit sales, but by bringing in business from out of state hunters who will need lodging, fuel, food and what have you. There is good financial potential there. Not to mention the money guides can make as well. Plus the hunting should include the entire state and not just the everglades.
As an idea give residents property tax breaks for say for every 10 snakes caught or killed in a 6 month period could help bolster the removal of these pythons. And to sweeten the pot, let's say that if a person kills 10 pythons over 8 feet in the 6 months can get say 25% off their property taxes. And for killing 10 pythons over 12 feet would get as much as a 50% reduction in property taxes.
By expanding the hunting would not only help with bringing in money, but help the eco-system by ridding the state of these monsters once and for all.
With the Keys now getting invaded by these monsters hunting python should even extend to there as well. And not in the future but as of right now. There are many animals that are fair game for these monsters. Even the protected Keys Deer can be consumed into oblivion by these snakes.
What if someone is walking their dog either on or off the leash say on Big Pine Key or Ramrod Key. No problem with being off the leash at all BTW. But what if one day the dog is a little close to the bushes and a large python latches into it. At the speed these things can attack there would be no way the person could save their beloved pet. Can this happen? I am sure it can. Will it happen? If these snakes are not eliminated I am sure it will happen one day.
Right now only the reports have been from the populated islands within the keys have had snakes spotted and captured. I have to ask if anyone has looked into the unpopulated islands? I wonder how many pythons have made it to those. At least there you can blast away with just about anything short of a missile launcher and not worry about a stray bullet which is always a concern when hunting near a populated area.
Let's do the math: Python + Mini-gun = no more python. I like it. Of course a mini-gun is slightly illegal. But if it wasn't I'd love to drill down a few pythons with one.
The invasion of these snakes can seriously hurt tourism and the dollars that tourists bring if the snakes are not eradicated. Only the handful of people who are experienced with snakes would not have a problem with them but for the most part, most people loath or fear these killers. Granted the pythons do not attack humans as a rule but a small child can make a great snack for a large python. Several children in the United States have already been killed by pythons. Either escaped pets or by those in the wild.
A few people I know have already canceled their winter trips to the Keys because of the pythons. I am sure more will follow in time. If it snowballs then the financial security of the keys is in jeopardy.
I feel that Florida needs to do a lot more, not control the pythons but to totally eradicate then from the face of the planet. Not only by the state but each county needs to marshal people to work on destroying these snakes which not only are endangering the eco-system, but can endanger the flow of tourist dollars. And can also hurt the sale of homes as well in an already volatile housing market.
Can the Keys become the next Lehigh Acres if the pythons are not eradicated?
With the finding of the pythons on Marathon, which is one of the places I was thinking about moving to if my search is cannot land me a job in Key West, really makes me want to think twice about moving to the Keys at all. Of course I still hope to move there but I would seriously consider have a modern version of the good old fashioned snake charmer at the ready just in case I do run into a python. If not that then a very sharp machete or other cutting instrument. If I find a python on my property, permit or not that python will become hamburger. Mmm, I wonder if they can be used for shark bait? After all they do resemble a large worm.
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| Modern Snake Charmer |
'till next time
References:
Hugh Burmese Python Caught in Florida Everglades
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-13/burmese-python-florida/57039860/1
Python Challenge 2013
http://pythonchallenge.net/
Miami Herald, Python magnet? Experts aim to rid Keys of invaders, September 18, 2012
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/18/3008162/python-magnet-experts-aim-to-keep.html
Gizmodo, Florida Keys Could Be Heading For A Python Invasion, January 12, 2012
http://gizmodo.com/5873461/the-florida-keys-could-be-heading-for-a-python-invasion
Fox News, 17 foot long python caught in the everglades
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/13/17-foot-long-burmese-python-caught-in-everglades/
WPEC-TV CBS12 News: 17 foot python slithers into families Everglades Park Picnic
http://www.cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_3998.shtml
Key Colony Real Estate, Are you missing Your Pet Python, November 30, 2011
http://www.keysproperties.com/blog/keys-news-florida-keys-key-colony-beach-python
KeysNet.com, Python 'was ready to fight', September 9, 2012
http://www.keysnet.com/2012/09/05/477896/python-was-ready-to-fight.html
USA Today, Giant non-native pythons spreading across Florida, January 6, 2012
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/story/2012-01-04/invasive-giant-pythons-florida/52383352/1
KeysNet.com, 7-foot Python found behind Marathon Publix, December 29, 2012
http://www.keysnet.com/2012/12/29/484066/7-foot-python-found-behind-marathon.html
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