(Image curtsey of Google.Images.com)"These invasive predators are causing severe damage to our native wildlife, and they need to be eradicated."
People continue to seem naive in realizing that introducing a foreign species to a new habitat can play out to have negative effects for either that organism or those who inhabit that environment already... or both. Southern Florida is faced with an epidemic of an invasive species. A hybrid cross between the African Rock Python with Burmese Pythons has converged to form what is being referred to the “Man-eating Super Snake.” What has been antagonistically depicted in movies has become a genuine threat in the Everglades.
African Rock Pythons are known for being giant lethal constrictors and one of nature’s most hostile reptiles. Another vicious predator snake is the Burmese Python. Neither of these are native species of the United States, and both are invasive species. Many consider these to be exotic pets but their owners soon realize that they are simply too much to handle. In captivity and in the wild, both these species have attacked and killed humans. The worst part is that once the snakes grow too big or too intimidating to care for, these people drive out to the Everglades and release them into the wild. This has proven to be detrimental to the people populating neighboring communities, native animals, and the entire ecosystem.
African Rock Pythons and Burmese Pythons were never meant to share a habitat, for more reasons than one. Aside from both being equally deadly constrictors, they have shown to mate in captivity. If such behavior occurs in the wild, Florida will find itself fighting a losing battle against the hybrid offspring− man-eaters. This hybrid is even more invasive and exponentially more deadly. The hybrid vigor poses an all too real threat to animals and man in Southern Florida.
As dangerous as they are as pets, many people still go out of their way to possess this “exotic” animal. They cannot be bought in any pet store, so these ambitious people turn to the black market where supply and demand fuels this industry. Those who do own an African Rock Python or a Burmese Python are required by law to obtain a permit and to have a microchip ID inserted into the snake. And there are designated locations where one could take their unwanted pet python, yet still, illegal release in the wild still occurs. In an attempt to further the ecosystem conservation, authorities have set designated hunting seasons for residents. It’s a “see a python, kill a python” campaign. The fight against this vicious behemoth is in full force, but this is in hope that it is not too late.
(Picture curtsey of the Miami Herald)
Sources:
Animal Planet: Man-Eating Super Snake
Post Created by Jose Mijangos
People never seem to give enough credence to the issue of invasive species. While it is recognized as a problem, it could easily be a catastrophe. It's a repeating pattern. Introduce rabbits to Australia, decimate the vegetation of the region. Be a bit too lax about checking imports for beetles, and suddenly miles of forests are in danger. Even if the species does not directly endanger human life, the results are far from good.
ReplyDeletePosted by Jacob Lane
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ReplyDeleteIt's really strange that these two snakes, which are usually from different parts of the world, are still able to mate with each other and create viable offspring. Do you know if these hybrid snakes are sterile or are they able to reproduce and create more snakes?
ReplyDeletePosted by Janelle Hayes
I've been reading about this fiasco in the news recently. Its really interesting that the combination of these two snakes makes them much more deadly. I read an article about a "liger", or a cross between a lion and a tiger, and it says that these animals grow much larger than either of it's constituent predecessors. My question is why is growth in both the "liger" and the "maneater" so out of control?
ReplyDeletePosted by Michael Thomas
I am big into wildlife rehabilitation and it's situations like these that get my blood boiling about exotic pets. People just don't understand that wild animals are meant to be just that, WILD. They think it is cool to own something different until that something mauls at their face or the owner just gets bored, and then it's the animal that suffers. This is not okay! I find it ironic that this snake is such a lethal predator, because I know that if this were some safer type of invasive species, the first thing the government would do is introduce a predator to kill it. Well, we've skipped that stage this time!
ReplyDeleteAs I have seen it previously mentioned, these hybrids must be sterile, correct? So the permanent fix to this problem would be better legislation and law enforcement to keep people from buying and then undoubtedly releasing the snakes, in the first place.
It is sad that it has to come to people-eating snakes to get pet owners to think before buying an animal illegally.
Based on where these two snakes originate from, are is the Everglades really optimal habitat for these snakes?
Posted by Chelsea Van Thof.
This article instantly gave me the shivers. Is that picture in the beginning of a human that has just been eaten! I am against killing animals, but this campaign may be a necessary one. People that believe that they can leave these pets of theirs in random places are absolutely crazy! I heard a story before that when a pet snake was starving, it got out and ate a couples baby! I wonder if there is anything a snake doesn't eat! I wonder if their motive is to kill the humans or if they are actually hungry for some dinner!
ReplyDeletePosted by Abbie Saranteas
Posted by Abbie Saranteas
I have no doubt these snakes have incredible predatory prowess. However, we must remind ourselves that it is humans who have introduced this invasive species into ecosystems and it is humans who are screwing around with both our environment and the environment of other species. Scary as they may seem, pythons simply want to survive.
ReplyDeletePosted by Michael Shi
I'm pretty sure one of these snakes has eaten a ten year old already in Miami. I was researching a little bit more on these snakes and they are so vicious that they begin to attack the moment they hatch. These snakes are extremely dangerous and considering the size of these snakes, the amount of food they need will be tremendous. This can be disaster for the local animals in the area.
ReplyDeletePosted by Jobin
These sound absolutely terrifying, I would never want to encounter one, thats for sure.Why someone would want to own one is beyond me. It is interesting that theses two snakes, from different parts of the world are able to breed. Other than people, what other things do they eat? Perhaps they could be useful in making a dent in the wild hog population currently plaguing this part of the country as well.
ReplyDeletePosted by Emily Nobrega
This is a very good article. I believe this is a very interesting article that highlights the effects that invasive species have on new environments. This is true in this article which highlights the effect of harmful snakes and the havoc they are raising in the United States. I watch a similar show on animal planet showing all the invasive species and the very damaging effects they have on native populations and are able to reproduce very quickly because they have no natural predators. It is up t us to stop the human trafficing of these dangerous animals to protect our environment.
ReplyDeletePosted by: Andrew Ryan
Any sort of new species being introduced to an environment will cause huge problems to the ecosystem. I read in National Geographic today that stink bugs (or shield bugs) that I see around so much are actually an invasive species that is normally found only in Asia. A group of them must have snuck about a shipment heading states-side and been released here that way. Since they have no natural predators, their population exploded quickly, and there is a danger of them crowding out indigenous species. One of the solutions being looked to is releasing a population of wasps that preys on the stinkbugs. To me that seems like fighting fire with gasoline, I'd definitely have cute little shield bugs flying around than mean stinging wasps everywhere.
ReplyDeletePosted by Rhys Ursuliak
It is situations such as these that anger me about the human race's ignorance. Florida should not allow for any exotic pets unless the people with the licenses are professional handlers and can provide adequate housing for the animal for life. This seems pretty steep, but it allows for the local neighborhoods to be safe and for the "man-eaters" to live long lives as contained animals. Though I always preach that animals should be kept in the wild that can be placed in the wild, but in this case allowing for "man-eaters" to live in the wild is dangerous.
ReplyDeletePosted by: Em Arsenault
@Janelle Hayes: That is a very good question! I have not read anything about their reproductive success as science specialist and law enforcement have established such a strict policy, they avoid at all costs that mating could ever occur. But most likely, they are a sterile genotype.
ReplyDelete@Michael Thomas: I believe that hybrids sometimes turnout more lethal and larger than their predecessors because the evolutionary arms race is pushing for the biggest, strongest, most optimal survivalist. But then again, it's just my theory.
@Chelsea Van Thof.: What makes these particular snakes so lethal and a genuine threat to Florida is the mere fact that they are a very adaptable hybrid; aside from being among the deadliest predators, these man-eaters assimilate to many different types of environments and feed on just about anything!!
@Everyone: Thank you for taking the time to read my post and a very special thanks to those who commented! Much appreciated!! :)
Response by Jose Mijangos