New Snake Alert for FL

[LukenDC]

Below appears a link to an article regarding the rapidly expanding population of Burmese pythons in Florida. Pet owners are releasing the snakes when they grow too big for home confinement. The snakes have reached a critical mass where they are now able to find mates and breed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060412...BEYcMas0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

 

[Evil Queen]

The picture (which I can't find now) of the snake that didn't make it trying to eat an alligator. The gater was too big and the snake more or less exploded, both animals died.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

The picture (which I can't find now) of the snake that didn't make it trying to eat an alligator. The gater was too big and the snake more or less exploded, both animals died.

that was an amazing photo. I clipped it out of the paper and mailed it to my parents.

 

[Simba's Mom]

This is one of the things they discussed during our break on the Backstage Safari tour at AK. Apparently, South Florida has quite a problem with pets from tropical climates (including, the mentioned, the Burmese Pythons) being released into the wild. For any Texans, way down here in Deep South Texas) we also have some tropical "pets" being released. In the last year, our area had a Python and a large Iguana in the wild (both gone now).

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I would completely be in support of regulating them as pets and coming into the state at all. My Mom is north of Tampa y about 2 hours and has had problems with big cats being released in that area. Again, people keeping them as pets. I just don't get it! If you can't take care of it, consider doing something (legal and) responsible... you're endangering people, pets, property, and the ecosystem when you do things like this.

Didn't California do this with something? There was a controversy about it though... and I can't rememer what it was about. Prarie dogs come to mind, but I'm not sure why.

EDIT: I think this is the one from last year.... what's the snake and what's the gator?

 

[olena]

I'd be in favor of pet regulation. When I was fishing last year in St. Cloud, I caught one of those walking catfish. I didn't know what it was at first. Dumb me obeyed the 'catch and release' policy of the pond. Later when I found out what it was, I felt bad about putting it back. I've been trying to catch him again.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I'd be in favor of pet regulation. When I was fishing last year in St. Cloud, I caught one of those walking catfish. I didn't know what it was at first. Dumb me obeyed the 'catch and release' policy of the pond. Later when I found out what it was, I felt bad about putting it back. I've been trying to catch him again.

Okay, I have to ask. What is a walking catfish?

We actually had someone release a young alligator into the local reservoir here. They spent weeks trying to catch it until one drunk fisherman whapped the heck out of it with his oar and killed it.

These snakehead fish from China are a problem in the Chesapeake bay.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Not long after we moved to our house, a 13 foot python was found just a few houses down the street from us. A neighbor noticed his cat seemed frozen with fear--the neighbor looked to see what was wrong, and found the python! He called the cops and the cops called someone to come take it away.

 

[Kimberle]

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Unfortunately it's humans here that are the real problem. They buy something (A pet that will eventually need more than they can provide) and set it free. I'd be all for legistation. Right now in my area (tampa) We have a large iguana population. A few years ago a friend of mine managed to catch a small one and kept it as a pet.

 

[Cantw8]

.........ewwwww........no like snakes.......ahhhhhhhhh..........yikes

 

[SillyMe]

.........ewwwww........no like snakes.......ahhhhhhhhh..........yikes

We know. You prefer dogs.

 

[Cantw8]

We know. You prefer dogs.

always a wise **** in the crowd

 

[Talking Hands]

Unfortunately it's humans here that are the real problem. They buy something (A pet that will eventually need more than they can provide) and set it free. I'd be all for legistation. Right now in my area (tampa) We have a large iguana population. A few years ago a friend of mine managed to catch a small one and kept it as a pet.

I am also for this legislation. I live close to the Everglades where these idiot people release these unwanted pets. My kids wanted an iguana but I nixed that when I found out how large they can grow. No way, no how. Same thing with a snake. Not in my house.

 

[olena]

Okay, I have to ask. What is a walking catfish?

I didn't know what the walking catfish were either, but I did a lot of research. They supposedly are very disruptive to the natural balance. They kill other fish, not necessarily for food. They have long ray fins going down their bodies. They look like eels with a catfish head with 8 barbels (whiskers). They reach a foot long and can survive outside water. They've been know to use their fins like crutches to inch up out of the water onto the bank to access more bugs and prey by the water's edge. They were big as pets several decades ago and apparently, a bunch of albino ones held in a fishery in Florida escaped in the 1960s and they have since spread. I don't know how far they'll spread, since they supposedly can't tolerate cold very well. They are native to Southeast Asia. Below are pictures I took of the one I caught, so I could later identify it.

It's certainly one of the creepiest things I've ever caught.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I didn't know what the walking catfish were either, but I did a lot of research. They supposedly are very disruptive to the natural balance. They kill other fish, not necessarily for food. They have long ray fins going down their bodies. They look like eels with a catfish head with 8 barbels (whiskers). They reach a foot long and can survive outside water. They've been know to use their fins like crutches to inch up out of the water onto the bank to access more bugs and prey by the water's edge. They were big as pets several decades ago and apparently, a bunch of albino ones held in a fishery in Florida escaped in the 1960s and they have since spread. I don't know how far they'll spread, since they supposedly can't tolerate cold very well. They are native to Southeast Asia. Below are pictures I took of the one I caught, so I could later identify it.

It's certainly one of the creepiest things I've ever caught.

I don't think it's CREEPY, but it's certainly -U-G-L-Y-

 

[lucas]

always a wise **** in the crowd

This line made me laugh out loud!

 

[icebrat001]

OMG, way too many creepy pictures in this thread.

I am not a fan of birds, reptiles or amphibians. They creep me out.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

Yuck! But it sounds like a serious problem I hope they do something about it.

 

[Evil Queen]

I remember as a child, seems like there was always walking catfish everywhere. Yuck!!