Snake story

[Swamp Hunter]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/13/2950397/monster-python-caught...

 

“A 17.5-foot snake could eat anything it wants,”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/13/2950397/monster-python-caught...

 

 

[Swamp Hunter]

Hello everybody. Im living behind historic Monroe Station in my Scotty camper. I have no phone reception, no internet, no TV reception and Im not sure if I can get my mail...  Please stop by and say hi to John or I.  The station will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Loop Road is open

 

Im in town getting supplies so I logged on to tell you another large Python was found south of Loop Road in the Stairsteps Unit this past Labor Day weekend. This snake had a full size deer in its digestive track. Its becoming old news to some but I still think its newsworthy.. Look for the story. Sorry my camera is broken. These snakes are indeed a huge problem and they are eating more large mammals than I realized.

 

I wont be back in town for 3 weeks.  Bye

[Swamp Hunter]

The above snake story is true but I was asked by my superiors not to discuss these large deer eating snake finds with anybody. Unfortunately I already posted the story. It did not make the news and probably wont. The problem is much worse than anyone expected and for this reason they want the story squashed for now. I need to ask Keith to delete the story here. In the meantime here is a much smaller snake found near the Jetport.

 

Im at McDs heading back to Monroe Station. I now have phone and TV but no internet yet.

[Dennis McDonald]

Big Cypress Sportsmen's Alliance posted pictures of this snake on Facebook.The story has gps coordinates I presume of where it was found. It said the airboat section of the stairsteps unit.

[daniel]

anybody who spends any time in the bushes knows there are big snakes there... i have only gone snaking a handful of times, and like i mentioned previously, ran across a 14'er 2 summers ago... plus, i have seen photos and heard stories of plenty of others... the park and the press can try to keep it quiet, but it's inevitable that people are going to find out... better people know to try to be safe, than to hoodwink them into thinking it's not that big of an issue. 

[Gary M]

What are the regulations on harvesting one?

I assume you are not supposed to transport live ones, but is it OK to kill one and have  its dead carcass in your possession?

Is there an obligation to notify anyone about their location, or if you kill one?

[daniel]

as i understand it, you need a tag... a certain permit. a close friend of mine has one, and we "dispatched" said 14 footer... gave it to the park biologists. but no, i don't think you can just go kill one legally... 

[Dennis McDonald]

http://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nonnative-species/python-permit-p...

Here is a link to the FWC website rules on pythons.

[vivian]

I just watched a documentary about the African rock python invasion in south Florida. This was shown on Animal Planet.

Have you any reports on these African rock pythons from the hunters? I wonder if their range has exceeded the Krome avenue, tamiami trail area.

[Swamp Hunter]

The African Rock Python is not here yet and no reports as far as I know.

[Swamp Hunter]

Thanks. Tad is my boss. Great pics on that Facebook page. Witt is killing his share.

 

 

Monroe County, Florida
******************
Burmese Python killed and a mature white-tailed deer found inside (4 photos)Burmese python Python molurus ssp. bivittatus Kuhl, 1820 Record ID: 2419128 Location: Monroe County, Florida Source: Tad B...

artareau, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Project: EDDMapS Florida Habitat: Wetlands: Marsh Locality: Big Cypress National Preserve along trail in Gum Slough Comments: 18+ python observed and killed by Allen Witt in Big Cypress National Preserve. Python observed along trail in Gum Slough. Python killed and had partially digested mature white-tailed deer inside. Coordinates: 25.67185, -81.07377 NADatum: WGS84 Ownership: National Park Service Status: Not Verified Observation Date September 2, 2012 Date Entered September 12, 2012

[Dennis McDonald]

Rock pythons are alot more aggressive and not as good looking as retics so people didn't have them as pets like burms. That would make it less likely to have the numbers released be very high. I haven't had any snakes for close to 6 years. I only remember seeing maybe 2 or 3 for sale. I bought some anacondas from a guy in Miami once and while I was looking at them caught three that had escaped prior to my arrival. He didn't seemed to concerned. It definitely wasn't the first one loose. He lived on a canal somewhere in Miami. That was about 10 years ago.

[yakmaster]

Not so fast Dale...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090911-pythons-flor...

They're here, just not thick yet...we hope