Florida biologists prove invasive Burmese pythons are swallowing deer, alligators whole

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Florida biologists prove invasive Burmese pythons are swallowing deer, alligators whole

ABC7
By Julia Jacobo
1 Nov 202



The scale at which the Burmese python is able to decimate the native wildlife population in South Florida continues to astonish biologists studying to eradicate the invasive species.

Researchers in the region recently proved that Burmese pythons are able to stretch their jaws wide enough to swallow large prey -- such as fully grown deer and alligators -- whole, according to a paper published in the journal Reptiles & Amphibians.

"Knowing the size of prey that predators can consume facilitates understanding and predicting their ecological impact," the paper states.

A group of biologists stumbled upon a nearly 15-foot female Burmese python in December 2022 in the midst of devouring an adult white-tailed deer, Ian Bartoszek, a wildlife biologist and science coordinator at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, told ABC News.

(more)
https://abc7.com/post/florida-biologists-prove-invasive-burmese-pythons-are-swallowing-deer-alligators/15484314

[Smokin Joe]

Why do all these expert biologists have so much trouble with the idea that any animal will fill an available niche if it can and do what it does? Don't mess around and just capture these critters, put a bounty on them.

[Free Vulcan]

Buh buh buh - consensus!!

I'm so fed up with these university, grant addicted 'scientists' in their lab coats and geek glasses with their 'scientific' consensus proclamations from their scribbled chalkboards.

Then they go out in the field and shock!, surprise!, clutch my pearls! as their entire god-complex alternative reality gets blown to bits.

[Free Vulcan]

Why do all these expert biologists have so much trouble with the idea that any animal will fill an available niche if it can and do what it does? Don't mess around and just capture these critters, put a bounty on them.

Cuz we darn well know there's at least one market for 'em!

[Smokin Joe]

Buh buh buh - consensus!!

I'm so fed up with these university, grant addicted 'scientists' in their lab coats and geek glasses with their 'scientific' consensus proclamations from their scribbled chalkboards.

Then they go out in the field and shock!, surprise!, clutch my pearls! as their entire god-complex alternative reality gets blown to bits.

We went through this with cougar in the State of North Dakota. Ranchers were telling the DNR that we had cougar in the badlands. They were told that there were no cougar in the badlands, so it couldn't be cougar. Anecdotal vs credentialled, this went back and forth for a few years until one day, a rancher backed his pickup up to the steps at the DNR and dragged the dead cougar out and dropped it on the steps.

[Free Vulcan]

We went through this with cougar in the State of North Dakota. Ranchers were telling the DNR that we had cougar in the badlands. They were told that there were no cougar in the badlands, so it couldn't be cougar. Anecdotal vs credentialled, this went back and forth for a few years until one day, a rancher backed his pickup up to the steps at the DNR and dragged the dead cougar out and dropped it on the steps.

And that's the way you do it, and grin while you watch them choke and sputter on it.

Same in Iowa, till one was killed by police in the south Des Moines burbs.

I just hope the crow those days was especially tasty.

[libertybele]

Pythons used to be limited to the Florida Everglades but now they are slithering north and have become invasive.  They have been caught and/or sighted in Collier county, Lee county, and Broward county. A different type of python the ball python has been sighted as far north as Tampa Bay.

One python caught was 177 lbs!  17 ft. long

https://www.news-press.com/story/news/environment/2024/04/17/hunters-catch-huge-burmese-python-it-weighed-177-pounds/73170757007/

Monitor lizards are another invasive species that have reached the same areas and you are not allowed to kill them.  You have to call the city and they will come out and set traps.  Why, I have no idea. 


Right now we have a 6' gator in our canal.

It has become like 'Wild Kingdom' around here.   

[Smokin Joe]

Pythons used to be limited to the Florida Everglades but now they are slithering north and have become invasive.  They have been caught and/or sighted in Collier county, Lee county, and Broward county. A different type of python the ball python has been sighted as far north as Tampa Bay.

One python caught was 177 lbs!  17 ft. long

https://www.news-press.com/story/news/environment/2024/04/17/hunters-catch-huge-burmese-python-it-weighed-177-pounds/73170757007/

Monitor lizards are another invasive species that have reached the same areas and you are not allowed to kill them.  You have to call the city and they will come out and set traps.  Why, I have no idea. 


Right now we have a 6' gator in our canal.

It has become like 'Wild Kingdom' around here.   

SSS....or fire up the barbecue..snake steaks.