have been on Florida's invasive species list for over a decade, living and reproducing in the Everglades and other parts of South Florida. Now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have a bigger problem on their hands: the African rock python. This snake has recently been spotted in South Florida, five having just been captured during a three-day hunt that began a few days ago in Miami-Dade County. (One female caught was 14 feet long.)
The rock python has been known to consume goats and crocodiles, and even attack and kill children on its home continent. "They are bigger and meaner than the Burmese python. It's not good news," said Deborah Drum, deputy director of the district's restoration sciences department.
State wildlife officials are now worried that the rock python (pictured below crushing a gazelle) and the Burmese python (pictured at left) could breed, thus creating a 'super snake' that could pose as a threat to not only wildlife, but also to domestic animals and humans. This hybrid breed could thrive in the Everglades because, like other constrictor snakes there, they have no natural enemy and could drastically increase in number.
LeRoy Rodgers, a water district scientist, stated, "These are animals that are hot predators, and now there are two species to worry about."
As for now, the FWC is continuing to search for these pythons and find solutions to prevent further impact upon Florida's native fish and wildlife.
Personally, I'm glad that we here in the Tampa Bay area are separated from Miami-Dade County area by about 200 miles, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be on the lookout and take precautions. Who knows when you could find an angry, 15-foot long African-Burmese python in your backyard.
This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2010.