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fultonfish
Guest
I don’t know. I only know what I see on television. Thought I saw an alligator wrestling with a python.
Somehow, I think I’m not getting the big picture.
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Somehow, I think I’m not getting the big picture.
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SwizzleStick
Guest
I think they hunt each other, depending on size. A bigger alligator would hunt smaller snakes, while larger snakes could hunt alligators, right? Anyway, I offer this below, for what it is worth.
WARNING: Some may find the photo a bit graphic and gross.
Tale Gator
Claim: Photograph shows a snake that burst trying to eat an alligator.
snopes.com/photos/animals/snakegator.asp
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SwizzleStick
Guest
"Invading giant snakes threaten U.S wilderness areas
MIAMI (Reuters) - Burmese pythons and other giant snakes imported as pets could endanger some of America’s most important parks and wilderness areas if they are allowed to multiply, according to a report released on Tuesday."…
Entire article here: in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE59C65F20091013
MIAMI (Reuters) - Burmese pythons and other giant snakes imported as pets could endanger some of America’s most important parks and wilderness areas if they are allowed to multiply, according to a report released on Tuesday."…
Entire article here: in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE59C65F20091013
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aicirt
Guest
According to the article, Congress is considering legislation to ban the importation of some constrictors. :banghead:
Why not just ban any and all constrictors?
No constrictors are native to the US. Why wait until you have another crisis? Same ban should apply to importation of all poisonous snakes.
Some of these constritors can cross bred.
Why not just ban any and all constrictors?
No constrictors are native to the US. Why wait until you have another crisis? Same ban should apply to importation of all poisonous snakes.Some of these constritors can cross bred.
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Dale_M
Guest
Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean a new species will result. For example, there has been recent concerns that the African Rock Python has established breeding colonies in Florida. The Rock python is Africa’s largest snake (16-20 feet) and has a more aggressive disposition than the Burmese python.Some of these constritors can cross bred.
Theoretically, the two species can cross-breed, which actually might make for a good movie (Super-snakes terrorize small Florida town). But all of the off-spring of such a union appear to be sterile, so I’m thinking that a new species of super-snake isn’t likely to happen.
xml.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-african-rock-python,0,6731221.story
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aicirt
Guest
Even if they’re sterile, it wouldn’t deminish their appetite for goats, wart hogs and crocs. Guess while running amuck here they’ll settle for flamingos, gators, panthers, and when that menu is depleted, look for little kids and family pets.
While I’m concerned about them, I am appalled that these constrictors are being imported. As one collector said the African rock python is aggressive and people can’t handle it. So why should any of these things be allowed to be imported in the first place.
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SwizzleStick
Guest
According to the article, Congress is considering legislation to ban the importation of some constrictors. :banghead:
Why not just ban any and all constrictors?
Because that makes too much sense. Seems to me that the government has a bit of trouble with that concept at times.
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JohnPaul64
Guest
I could never understand for the need to have a “pet” like this.
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aicirt
Guest
Here’s another little bugger we have to contend with…Asian carp. One article advises fish owners to destroy their fish. No more flushing them down the toilets for that burial at sea. Decades ago, a major storm hit Asian carp fish farms and off they went into our rivers.
wildlifedepartment.com/asiancarp.htm
forcesofgeek.com/2009/03/china-sends-super-fish-to-kill-us.html
The second link has pictures of the Asian carp which “fly” and have been known to hit fishermen.
wildlifedepartment.com/asiancarp.htm
forcesofgeek.com/2009/03/china-sends-super-fish-to-kill-us.html
The second link has pictures of the Asian carp which “fly” and have been known to hit fishermen.
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Dale_M
Guest
Oh, yes. And not just fisherman. Boaters, jet skiers and water skiers have also been hit by the startled fish, in some cases breaking teeth or ribs or leaving the victim unconscious.
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fultonfish
Guest
Hmmm.
2006 discussion on snopes.
Would like to see an update.
Another theory is that two alligators were fighting and the loser took a rest. In its weakened condition, it became a meal for a patrolling snake. However after the meal, the snake had to rest. While the snake was resting a patrolling alligator took a bite out of the snake.
Personally, I find the python/ alligator / Florida swamp discussion fascinating.
Never did outgrow my fascination for the appeal of certain subjects that usually are the topics of interest to ten-year-olds.
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exoflare
Guest
What would be the point of banning them, though? The problem isn’t that the government hasn’t taken action; the problem is there are people out there stupid enough to try and keep one of these things as a pet. Anyone that dumb is a hazard to society no matter what.Because that makes too much sense. Seems to me that the government has a bit of trouble with that concept at times.
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jmcrae
Guest
To paraphrase King Henry VIII, the law is there so that the rest of us can live peacefully among the terminally stupid.
Having a law against private ownership of dangerous animals would allow society to do something about the problem before somebody gets killed.
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TinaG
Guest
Snakes? Ewwww.
You’d think we had learned our lesson in Eden. Sad to say, this isn’t the first incident of its kind and I am afraid it won’t be the last. And pythons in the Everglades are disrupting the ecosystem big time. The ancestors of these pythons were released when their owners could no longer handle them. Those owners were smarter than some, though…Usually I am compassionate in cases like this, but some people just push the envelope. I am still saddened by this, as all should be. In one way or another, we are all terminally stupid, and
You’d think we had learned our lesson in Eden. Sad to say, this isn’t the first incident of its kind and I am afraid it won’t be the last. And pythons in the Everglades are disrupting the ecosystem big time. The ancestors of these pythons were released when their owners could no longer handle them. Those owners were smarter than some, though…Usually I am compassionate in cases like this, but some people just push the envelope. I am still saddened by this, as all should be. In one way or another, we are all terminally stupid, and
Tina
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fultonfish
Guest
I was just wondering if there was anything new in the python-in-the-Everglades story.
Is there a bounty for killing pythons? Or are they now a protected species?
How is Python Pete doing? [He’s a little doggie who allegedly can sniff out pythons; assuming he can sense them before they eat him]
How is the market for snakeskin boots and handbags doing?
Is there a bounty for killing pythons? Or are they now a protected species?
How is Python Pete doing? [He’s a little doggie who allegedly can sniff out pythons; assuming he can sense them before they eat him]
How is the market for snakeskin boots and handbags doing?
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TinaG
Guest
The pythons are doing very, very well in what is an ideal habitat for them - but their prey and alligators are not doing so well. There is a yucky picture going around the internet about a python eating a gator in which they both died - each killed the other. And these were both big animals. You might Google the subject if you are interested. I think I read an article in the professional literature (engineering) about there impact on the ecosystems and the destruction of species that have no defenses. Classic Darwinism, if you will. The dandelion is similarly misplaced - it used to be restricted to Italy, from whence the Italians brought it to the US, and it has, to my knowledge, no competition. It is now everywhere (I have tried it in salads but let us say the family PREFERS lettuce!!).
Perhaps pythons are edible…Hmmmm.
Kid - Mom, what is this?
Mom - It tastes like chicken.
Kid - Hmmmmm.
I can see it now!!
I THINK there is a bounty. The idea of turning it over to the free enterprise system is an excellent one.
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Monte_RCMS
Guest
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Dale_M
Guest
About a month ago, I saw a passing reference to him. Despite all the hoopla (and apparently there was a lot) about his training, he never quite got the hang of it. Which is probably in his own best interest.
I do wonder if at some point during his training, he thought: “You want me to find what?!” … and kind of played dumb after that.
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jmcrae
Guest
He might be even smarter than anyone ever thought.
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Monte_RCMS
Guest
an update
lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=530759
What killed many of Florida’s
problem snakes? Winter
Miami Herald, by Curtis Morgan
Original Article
mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/23/90947/what-killed-many-of-floridas-problem.html
Posted By:krispy kritter, 3/24/2010 4:28:06 PM
Winter walloped the Burmese python, but not enough to wipe out the most infamous invader of the Everglades, scientists and wildlife managers told a congressional panel assessing efforts to control the exotic snakes. The Tuesday hearing put some of the first hard numbers on the staggering death toll from a historic cold snap — nine of 10 pythons equipped with radio tracers in Everglades National Park died, according to one yet-to-be published study. It also cranked up the heat on a simmering battle over a controversial federal proposal to ban the interstate sale and import of large constrictors.
Hmmmmm…
How did the alligators make out with the cold and all?
lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=530759
What killed many of Florida’s
problem snakes? Winter
Miami Herald, by Curtis Morgan
Original Article
mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/23/90947/what-killed-many-of-floridas-problem.html
Posted By:krispy kritter, 3/24/2010 4:28:06 PM
Winter walloped the Burmese python, but not enough to wipe out the most infamous invader of the Everglades, scientists and wildlife managers told a congressional panel assessing efforts to control the exotic snakes. The Tuesday hearing put some of the first hard numbers on the staggering death toll from a historic cold snap — nine of 10 pythons equipped with radio tracers in Everglades National Park died, according to one yet-to-be published study. It also cranked up the heat on a simmering battle over a controversial federal proposal to ban the interstate sale and import of large constrictors.
Hmmmmm…
How did the alligators make out with the cold and all?
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