Pythons wiping out mammals in Everglades

[Doomsday101]

Burmese pythons have eaten so many small mammals in Everglades National Park that populations of rabbits and foxes have disappeared and numbers of raccoons, opossums and bobcats have dropped as much as 99%, according to a report released Tuesday by researchers at Virginia Tech University, Davidson College and the U.S. Geological Survey.

“Pythons are wreaking havoc on one of America’s most beautiful, treasured, and naturally bountiful ecosystems,” said U.S. Geological Survey Director Marci McNutt in a statement.

The massive nonnative snakes have become an established species in the park in the past 11 years, after snakes that were once pets were released into the wild, according to the researchers. Park spokeswoman Linda Friar said earlier this month that there are tens of thousands of the snakes in the park.

In the remote southernmost regions of the 1.5 million-acre national park, researchers could find no marsh or cottontail rabbits or foxes. In those same areas, the raccoon population has declined 99.3%, the opossum population 98.9%, and the bobcat population 87.5%, the researchers reported.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/31/pythons-wiping-out-mammals-in-everglades-researchers-say/?hpt=hp_bn1

[Rackat]

Burmese pythons have eaten so many small mammals in Everglades National Park that populations of rabbits and foxes have disappeared and numbers of raccoons, opossums and bobcats have dropped as much as 99%, according to a report released Tuesday by researchers at Virginia Tech University, Davidson College and the U.S. Geological Survey.

“Pythons are wreaking havoc on one of America’s most beautiful, treasured, and naturally bountiful ecosystems,” said U.S. Geological Survey Director Marci McNutt in a statement.

The massive nonnative snakes have become an established species in the park in the past 11 years, after snakes that were once pets were released into the wild, according to the researchers. Park spokeswoman Linda Friar said earlier this month that there are tens of thousands of the snakes in the park.

In the remote southernmost regions of the 1.5 million-acre national park, researchers could find no marsh or cottontail rabbits or foxes. In those same areas, the raccoon population has declined 99.3%, the opossum population 98.9%, and the bobcat population 87.5%, the researchers reported.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/31/pythons-wiping-out-mammals-in-everglades-researchers-say/?hpt=hp_bn1
Allow Python hunting in the park. Their skin makes good boots, belts, shoes, and other items.

[Doomsday101]

Allow Python hunting in the park. Their skin makes good boots, belts, shoes, and other items.

I'm sure it will come down to that. I know that they have been considered protected species but given the problems in Florida and the fact they are not indigenous to the US they should permit the hunting of them

[TheCount]

Wow, 10's of thousands of them? I bet they don't even have a natural predator there either. Invasive species are really doing a number on the ecosystem. Sad.

[Cythim]

Wow, 10's of thousands of them? I bet they don't even have a natural predator there either. Invasive species are really doing a number on the ecosystem. Sad.

I read about this a few months ago, you are right about them having no natural predator. This is what happens when humans mess with natural ecosystems for their own pleasure.

[Doomsday101]

I read about this a few months ago, you are right about them having no natural predator. This is what happens when humans mess with natural ecosystems for their own pleasure.

This is what happens when idiots buy exotic animals without understanding what they are getting into.

[burmafrd]

This is what happens when idiots buy exotic animals without understanding what they are getting into.


that is ABSOLUTELY what has happened. It is not accidental; this is done by arrogance and greed and stupidity.

[Muhast]

Wow, 10's of thousands of them? I bet they don't even have a natural predator there either. Invasive species are really doing a number on the ecosystem. Sad.


Alligators typically don't bother with snakes. So I don't think they do either.

Not to mention they breed like crazy and are large!

[Cythim]

This is what happens when idiots buy exotic animals without understanding what they are getting into.

It happens with trees as well and you can buy them at Lowes or Home Depot. I remember reading about a type of tree in Austin that spreads easily and chokes out natural vegetation without providing any sustenance for wildlife to feed on.

[Sam I Am]

Wow, 10's of thousands of them? I bet they don't even have a natural predator there either. Invasive species are really doing a number on the ecosystem. Sad.

I read about this a few months ago, you are right about them having no natural predator. This is what happens when humans mess with natural ecosystems for their own pleasure.

We should import a few honey badgers then! :laugh2:

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/005/637/Honey-Badger-Dont-Care.jpg

[Doomsday101]

We should import a few honey badgers then! :laugh2:

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/005/637/Honey-Badger-Dont-Care.jpg

Honey badgers don’t they live in Baton Rouge Louisiana? :laugh2:

[kmp77]

Open season on snakes??

[Sam I Am]

It happens with trees as well and you can buy them at Lowes or Home Depot. I remember reading about a type of tree in Austin that spreads easily and chokes out natural vegetation without providing any sustenance for wildlife to feed on.

Are you thinking about Bamboo? It is extremely invasive.

[Sam I Am]

Honey badgers don’t they live in Baton Rouge Louisiana? :laugh2:

Did you miss the "we should import some honey badgers" part of that post? ;)

[Doomsday101]

Open season on snakes??

It will be open season on snakes or hunters depending on how drunk they get while messing around with snakes who can reach lengths of 16 feet. :laugh2:

[DCBoysfan]

Honey badgers don’t they live in Baton Rouge Louisiana? :laugh2:

Funny..I see what you did there :D

[Cythim]

Are you thinking about Bamboo? It is extremely invasive.

This was something with a canopy they blocked sunlight and berries that birds couldn't digest I think. Maybe the Chinaberry tree. Point being we bring in exotics because of the look and end up destroying the natural environment.

[SaltwaterServr]

If there's a commercial market for them, sell the permits and start hunting. PETA members may hold protests deep in the Everglades, at night, at will.

It's a win-win situation folks.

[Chocolate Lab]

Saw a good show on this on PBS a few months ago. You can watch the whole thing here.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/invasion-of-the-giant-pythons/video-full-episode/5565/

[bbgun]

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/7787/dailypicdump84064005.jpg

it bit my hiney

[theogt]

Photoshop. You can tell by the pixels.

[Trendnet]

I read about this a few months ago, you are right about them having no natural predator. This is what happens when humans mess with natural ecosystems for their own pleasure.


Bring in Chinese Needle Snakes, they'll eat the pythons

When the Chinese Needle Snakes get out of hand, bring in the type of Gorilla that thrives on snake meat.

And when winter rolls around, the Gorillas simply freeze to death.

[hipfake08]

This is what happens when idiots buy exotic animals without understanding what they are getting into.

Well let's go back to the idiots who allowed their import in the first place....

[Doomsday101]

Well let's go back to the idiots who allowed their import in the first place....

I agree but the guy importing them can only make a sell if someone is willing to buy.

[kapolani]

True story:

When pineapple and sugar cane crops started going up in Hawaii the rat population exploded (rats were brought by the white man).

They decided that they needed something to curtail the population explosion. So, in their infinite wisdom they decided to bring the mongoose to Hawaii.

Only one problem - rats are nocturnal - mongoose aren't. So, now there's a rat problem and mongoose problem. Brilliant!

[Sam I Am]

True story:

When pineapple and sugar cane crops started going up in Hawaii the rat population exploded (rats were brought by the white man).

They decided that they needed something to curtail the population explosion. So, in their infinite wisdom they decided to bring the mongoose to Hawaii.

Only one problem - rats are nocturnal - mongoose aren't. So, now there's a rat problem and mongoose problem. Brilliant!

IOwinLWrEIw

[BrAinPaiNt]

Bring in Chinese Needle Snakes, they'll eat the pythons

When the Chinese Needle Snakes get out of hand, bring in the type of Gorilla that thrives on snake meat.

And when winter rolls around, the Gorillas simply freeze to death.

They freeze to death in the everglades?

[ethiostar]

They freeze to death in the everglades?

I'm sure you didn't know this (don't feel bad, most people know it either) but the temperature at which Gorillas begin to freeze is 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is within the range of average winter temperature in the Everglades.

[BrAinPaiNt]

I'm sure you didn't know this (don't feel bad, most people know it either) but the temperature at which Gorillas begin to freeze is 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is within the range of average winter temperature in the Everglades.

I am pretty sure the Gorillas can adept to the temp change.

In the following interview it talks about it in the first segment and it is in LONDON which can get much cooler than the everglades.

http://www.videojug.com/interview/gorillas-in-captivity-2

I have no proof that they could as a whole but I don't think who groups of wild gorillas would die off in the everglades due to temps...although I guess it might depend when they moved them there. If they went straight from tropical climate to the lowest winter temps of the everglades I could see it but I doubt it would happen if they were moved in there during the middle of spring and have some time to get used to the temps and have a gradual adapting period.

Just a guess.

Then we would have snakes and wild gorillas and I think I would rather have wild snakes running around vs wild gorillas.

[Doomsday101]

I am pretty sure the Gorillas can adept to the temp change.

In the following interview it talks about it in the first segment and it is in LONDON which can get much cooler than the everglades.

http://www.videojug.com/interview/gorillas-in-captivity-2

I have no proof that they could as a whole but I don't think who groups of wild gorillas would die off in the everglades due to temps...although I guess it might depend when they moved them there. If they went straight from tropical climate to the lowest winter temps of the everglades I could see it but I doubt it would happen if they were moved in there during the middle of spring and have some time to get used to the temps and have a gradual adapting period.

Just a guess.

Then we would have snakes and wild gorillas and I think I would rather have wild snakes running around vs wild gorillas.

I agree. Let the trigger happy guys with the AK-47 go out and have some fun. :laugh2:

[ethiostar]

I am pretty sure the Gorillas can adept to the temp change.

In the following interview it talks about it in the first segment and it is in LONDON which can get much cooler than the everglades.

http://www.videojug.com/interview/gorillas-in-captivity-2

I have no proof that they could as a whole but I don't think who groups of wild gorillas would die off in the everglades due to temps...although I guess it might depend when they moved them there. If they went straight from tropical climate to the lowest winter temps of the everglades I could see it but I doubt it would happen if they were moved in there during the middle of spring and have some time to get used to the temps and have a gradual adapting period.

Just a guess.

Then we would have snakes and wild gorillas and I think I would rather have wild snakes running around vs wild gorillas.

Oh man, I was trying to be funny, but failed:o: I have no idea when at what temperature they start to freeze.

The average temperature in the tropical forest is around 70-75 degrees. So, I'm sure, given time, they can adapt in the Everglades, temperature wise.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Oh man, I was trying to be funny, but failed:o: I have no idea when at what temperature they start to freeze.

The average temperature in the tropical forest is around 70-75 degrees. So, I'm sure, given time, they can adapt in the Everglades, temperature wise.

Well I started looking it up and I seen a lot of different posts all over the internet about bringing gorillas in (to different areas for different animals) and thought maybe you had read them as well. No harm no foul. :cool:

Could you imagine going out on an everglades tour and some wild gorilla jumping out at you. :laugh1:

Also I was thinking I saw some documentary about this a year or two ago (about the snakes not gorillas) and it seemed to indicate that it might be beyond the point of changing it now IIRC.

I agree with others that there should be some kind of snake season down there. They could get some extra money for people in the state, or coming from out of state, to get special permits to go in and hunt down snakes to try and curve the population some. On top of that they could start a business of skin trade to a degree.

I would love a nice snake skin on a guitar.:D

[ethiostar]

I would love a nice snake skin on a guitar.:D

You mean on a banjo :laugh2:

http://aonojikken.net/chin-chin.jpg

[Doomsday101]

I don't get this deal about gorillas? What do revolutionary fighters have to do with snakes? :laugh2:

[trickblue]

I am pretty sure the Gorillas can adept to the temp change.

In the following interview it talks about it in the first segment and it is in LONDON which can get much cooler than the everglades.

http://www.videojug.com/interview/gorillas-in-captivity-2

I have no proof that they could as a whole but I don't think who groups of wild gorillas would die off in the everglades due to temps...although I guess it might depend when they moved them there. If they went straight from tropical climate to the lowest winter temps of the everglades I could see it but I doubt it would happen if they were moved in there during the middle of spring and have some time to get used to the temps and have a gradual adapting period.

Just a guess.

Then we would have snakes and wild gorillas and I think I would rather have wild snakes running around vs wild gorillas.

Hey Mr. Serious...

That Chinese Needle Snake/Gorilla thing is an excerpt from an episode of The Simpsons... :cool:

[Sam I Am]

You mean on a banjo :laugh2:

http://aonojikken.net/chin-chin.jpg

:lmao2:

[BrAinPaiNt]

:lmao2:

Is that a metal butterfly on that thing? :laugh2:

[arglebargle]

My guess would be an iron butterfly.....

[Trendnet]

Hey Mr. Serious...

That Chinese Needle Snake/Gorilla thing is an excerpt from an episode of The Simpsons... :cool:


Indeed it is!

Couldn't find the video clip...

but here's the exchange in the Simpsons episode

Skinner: Well, I was wrong. The lizards are a godsend.
Lisa: But isn’t that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we’re overrun by lizards?
Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They’ll wipe out the lizards.
Lisa: But aren’t the snakes even worse?
Skinner: Yes, but we’re prepared for that. We’ve lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat.
Lisa: But then we’re stuck with gorillas!
Skinner: No, that’s the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.

[vta]

Some people see a problem, while others see an opportunity.
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