Fears of a new super snake emerging in the Everglades grew this week during a hunt to track South Florida's invasive python population.
A three-day, state-coordinated hunt that started Tuesday had, by Wednesday, discovered at least five African rock pythons -- including a 14-foot female -- in a targeted area in Miami-Dade County.
Those findings add to concerns that the rock python is a new breeding population in the Everglades and not just the result of a few overgrown pets released into the wild, according to the South Florida Water Management District.
State officials worry that rock pythons could breed with Burmese pythons, which already have established a foothold in the Everglades. That could lead to a new super snake, said George Horne, water district deputy executive director.
In Africa, the rock python eats everything from goats to crocodiles. The snakes have even killed children.
"They are bigger and meaner than the Burmese python. It's not good news," said Deborah Drum, district deputy director.
Perhaps a little more control on the import of invasive dangerous species would be in order.
Its time for open season and a bounty on pythons in Florida before this gets out of hand.
Just think of all those boots and purses just waiting to be harvested.
Extra style points for taking a python with a Colt Python.
No comments:
Post a Comment