From United Press International
Scientists fear spread of Burmese pythons
Feb. 24, 2008 at 12:38 AM
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (UPI) — Scientists fear that Burmese pythons, already known to be breeding in South Florida, could spread through much of the southern United States.
Climate maps produced by the U.S. Geological Survey show the giant constrictors, native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, could find suitable temperatures in an area that includes the southeast as far north as Virginia, most of Texas and parts of the southwest and most of California, Science Daily reported.
The pythons would be likely to threaten endangered species. In Florida, they have even become involved in battles with alligators.
The U.S.G.S. said the affected area could extend significantly north by the end of the century if the climate warms.
Burmese pythons can grow to be more than 20 feet long with weights up to 250 pounds. The Everglades National Park determined in 2003 that there was a breeding population within its boundaries and pythons have also been found in Big Cypress National Preserve, Key Largo and other open areas in the region.
The pythons are popular pets. But many owners have bought small ones and released them when they grew too big to handle and too expensive to feed.
18′Burmese Python and Friends
I belive that because here in Ironton Missouri where they aren’t sopost to be in the wild. I walked out side on summer day and incountered one maybe bigger than that one. Solid black on top with a yellow and orange speckled belly. Its head looked like a foot ball, and its body was bigger. I can’t even find one on the net that looks like it. I live out on a highway in the country with 70 acres. Neibors don’t own any. So yea, some can with stand the winters some how, and are growing big. The skary thing is I have seen another smaller one the same color, half as long just not as thick. So I wonder if they breed with other snakes, are someone let a pregant one lose and it lived, and they adapted. Personaly who ever had the first one needs shot, because now i’n not sure I want to live here any more. I am skard when my kids even go out. I wonder how many are out there, and I think they are really smart not to be seen so far.
yep i agree it is kinda scary i live in kansas ive never seen a python in the wild here yet but i have family down south and they said that yep theres pythons and they are huge now im kinda scared to go down there to see my family i have a phobia of snakes
I live in the Houston area and have never seen one…..take heart they make great shoes and boots. This way there will no high import fee to get from their native Southeast Asia. Hey harvest them….let hunters take them. Rattle snake is tasty, maybe they are too if not make the meat into pet food.
I like your attitude – maybe they do make good boots! Seems the biggest problem is boa constrictors, there was another news report on CNN just yesterday about these big dog eaters: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/30/python.patrol/?iref=mpstoryview
that is one BIG SNAKE
ooooout…
IS ONE BIG SNAKE…
good!
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