LauraCline
New member
This is somewhat related to our previous discussions about being responsible hobbyists because unfortunately, we get lumped in as keepers of "exotic pets". I knew there were some pythons in the 'Glades, but I had no idea they had proliferated to this extent.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/5/29/478292.html
EVERGLADES (Bay News 9) -- Burmese Pythons have become one of the largest issues in the Everglades, and state officials are urging for a bounty on the species to alleviate the problem.
The python is a non-native species and one of the most damaging to invade the Everglades
On Thursday, Governor Charlie Crist met with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to get his approval on pursuing the idea of a bounty.
"If we can send someone to the moon, we can figure out how to get rid of these snakes," said commissioner Ron Bergeron, who gave Salazar, Gov. Charlie Crist, and Sen. Bill Nelson a ride on his airboat to tour the River of Grass.
Details on endorsement of the bounty have not been decided, but one wildlife commissioner, Rodney Barreto, offered to put up $10,000 of his own money to get the program going.
Barreto said federal officials have been reluctant to go along with the idea, but Salazar said it has worked out west and he's in favor of pursuing it.
Officials estimate that more than 150,000 pythons are thriving in the Everglades. The estimate is based on the finding of 55 pythons in 1,200 acres covered by federal officials.
Pythons breed freely in tropical South Florida and are voracious predators.
The problem captured worldwide attention in 2005 when park employees snapped photos of a python that died while attempting to swallow an alligator.
Nearly 40 people, including government staffers and reporters, accompanied Salazar, Nelson and Crist on the Everglades tour.
Twelve airboats followed Bergeron's boat through the sawgrass and cattails. One airboat pilot, Rob Connelly of Wilton Manors, said he frequently sees pythons slithering away when he's running his boat across the marl prairies.
"They're fast," he said.
Finding the pythons may make the bounty-hunting program difficult.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2009/5/29/478292.html
EVERGLADES (Bay News 9) -- Burmese Pythons have become one of the largest issues in the Everglades, and state officials are urging for a bounty on the species to alleviate the problem.
The python is a non-native species and one of the most damaging to invade the Everglades
On Thursday, Governor Charlie Crist met with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to get his approval on pursuing the idea of a bounty.
"If we can send someone to the moon, we can figure out how to get rid of these snakes," said commissioner Ron Bergeron, who gave Salazar, Gov. Charlie Crist, and Sen. Bill Nelson a ride on his airboat to tour the River of Grass.
Details on endorsement of the bounty have not been decided, but one wildlife commissioner, Rodney Barreto, offered to put up $10,000 of his own money to get the program going.
Barreto said federal officials have been reluctant to go along with the idea, but Salazar said it has worked out west and he's in favor of pursuing it.
Officials estimate that more than 150,000 pythons are thriving in the Everglades. The estimate is based on the finding of 55 pythons in 1,200 acres covered by federal officials.
Pythons breed freely in tropical South Florida and are voracious predators.
The problem captured worldwide attention in 2005 when park employees snapped photos of a python that died while attempting to swallow an alligator.
Nearly 40 people, including government staffers and reporters, accompanied Salazar, Nelson and Crist on the Everglades tour.
Twelve airboats followed Bergeron's boat through the sawgrass and cattails. One airboat pilot, Rob Connelly of Wilton Manors, said he frequently sees pythons slithering away when he's running his boat across the marl prairies.
"They're fast," he said.
Finding the pythons may make the bounty-hunting program difficult.
