topic Re: Snake Hunt in Pet Lovers

Snake Hunt

Kachina624 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 00:55:24 GMT

The big annual Florida python hunt is on for this year. Last year's winner caught/killed about 200 pythons. Yikes! Anyone interested in participating can Google "Florida Snake Hunt".

Re: Snake Hunt

KittySoftPaws — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 01:02:17 GMT

I think it's sad, I don't like them but it's not their fault they are there, they are trying to survive like everything else. There is no easy answer. The problem is they have no enemies so there are too many and they are taking over and each female carry's hundreds of eggs. Not a good situation. So it is necessary.

Re: Snake Hunt

Mindy D — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 04:25:15 GMT

They are pretty close to my neighborhood, as it borders the glades.

Lately, I'm much more afraid of an explosion of cottonmouths (aka, water moccasins). People are finding them in their yards, by their pools, on their patios, in their garages and on the sidewalks and the street. There have been four posts by neighbors bitten on NextDoor. I have never seen anything like this. One poster said her treatment for one bite ran 17K. Fortunately, she had a photo of the snake. This allowed the doctors to quickly choose the right antivenin. People have posted photos of so many I've lost count. I really don't like having venomous snakes all over our properties. The giant pythons could kill by constriction and they do bite when disturbed, but they are not venomous.

Re: Snake Hunt

Mindy D — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 04:37:48 GMT

@KittySoftPaws I have sympathy for them too but they are destroying the ecosystem in the glades. They also carry a parasite which they are spreading to native snakes and there is concern about extinction of native species as a result. They compete with other apex predators and they have upset the ecosystem in the region. I wish they did not have to be harmed, but some solution is necessary.

Re: Snake Hunt

phoenixbrd — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 01:43:03 GMT

A sad situation without a good solution 😢

@KittySoftPaws Respect...I understand and share your feelings.

Re: Snake Hunt

SilleeMee — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 02:57:07 GMT

Someone needs to develop a species-specific birth control formula which can be fed to the female snakes. That way their numbers will go down enough to manage them without too much harm. Maybe not possible today but might be on the horizon for future scientists.

Re: Snake Hunt

Sooner — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 03:03:33 GMT

We had water mocs around our house when I was growing up and they are scary and will chase you. I understand that wildlife management is necessary in urban areas, or wildnerness areas where herds may face disease and starvation or overpopulation that threatens residents without it.

Re: Snake Hunt

Mindy D — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:09:30 GMT

@SilleeMee @This is being done with mosquitos. It's been done with other animals too. Right now, the wildlife control agents are finding males and implanting transmitters in them. Then the males are followed to where females are and the snakes are caught. This is not part of the hunt that's is currently taking place.

Another tactic being used is the incorporation of python detector dogs that help animal control agents locate large groups of snakes. Once located, the agents move in to capture the snakes. This strategy is only being employed using two or three dogs right now.

I agree with your birth control idea.
There are some problems that make it hard to do. The snakes have a long life expectancy and continue to grow and eat throughout, even if they can't breed. Your idea will end newly birthed snakes, but it will take years to have an effect. They live around 20 years and it's estimated that there are thousands of them in the glades.

Re: Snake Hunt

BlueFinch — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 07:04:29 GMT

Well, once again, we're looking at human stupidity leading to an invading species. These python populations grew from those who got rid of their exotic pet when it became to much to handle, or perhaps escaped.

They probably threw out their baby alligator, goldfish and child's turtle, too. The let's free them mentality.

It didn't take long for the python situation to be out of control. Now they have to be slaughtered on a regular basis for multiple environmental, health and safety reasons. What's sad is, that man is responsible for this mess in the first place.

Re: Snake Hunt

Goldengate8361 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 07:41:47 GMT

OMG. Florida. What a strange state. (I'm saying that awe and love in my heart, of course).

Re: Snake Hunt

deedledeedeedle — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:07:58 GMT

never would I ever live in Fla due to the many predators. yikes.

dee

Re: Snake Hunt

jlkz — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 12:11:32 GMT

@Mindy D

When the first COVID vaccine became available, we were in Naples condo and had to drive over to Ft. Lauderdale for our shot. Going over Alligator Alley was most uncomfortable: constantly searching the roadside for snakes and gators. The " Python Crossing " sign didn't add to the long drive either !

Since your post mentioned proximity to the Glades, please be extra careful !

Re: Snake Hunt

Boomernichols — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 21:08:37 GMT

@Kachina624 Snakes are what bad dreams are made of in my world. We had a road supervisor get struck by a copperhead and died from the bite, I stepped over a snake laying on my WELCOME mat and no he was not welcome here. I thought that I would have a heart attack as it scared me so badly. Copperheads and water moccassins are so prevalent here in Mississippi. Pray that Florida can outwit the pythons!

Re: Snake Hunt

Kachina624 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 21:31:39 GMT

@Boomernichols I don't like them either but I'd love to see one of these huge pythons. They must be a sight to behold.

When we lived in Texas, the piney woods area, I went out one night, set down the dog's food and there was a small copperhead right under my arm. DH later killed a couple more in the same area, right outside our back doir.

Re: Snake Hunt

Kachina624 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 21:33:44 GMT

@jlkz I know of several roadside parks here in NM that warn visitors to watch for rattlesnakes.

Re: Snake Hunt

Kachina624 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 21:37:26 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
Someone needs to develop a species-specific birth control formula which can be fed to the female snakes. That way their numbers will go down enough to manage them without too much harm. Maybe not possible today but might be on the horizon for future scientists.

@SilleeMee Okay Ms. Chemist, get to work.

Re: Snake Hunt

pieman — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 18:18:07 GMT

Sounds like you live in Fl?

The Next Door site has pics everyday where snakes are on their lanai's/

Near their pools , going up the driveway's.

I can't stand them, I don't care what they are good for.

I don't have time to run to my pc to see if they are good or bad.

If they are in or around my property, their heads are off!!

I was amazed at the anount of people here that say "oh they are good for mice and rats"...I have neither, I keep the Terminix Man in business.

I never knew when you chop off a snakes head, the mouth keeps moving. :-0

Well I hope they capture those Big Boys, I would die if I saw one of those in my driveway.

Re: Snake Hunt

ECBG — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 00:04:15 GMT

Ick! Just ICK! Thanks to those that can handle this problem!!!

Re: Snake Hunt

Nonametoday — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 00:13:56 GMT

@BlueFinch wrote:
Well, once again, we're looking at human stupidity leading to an invading species. These python populations grew from those who got rid of their exotic pet when it became to much to handle, or perhaps escaped.

They probably threw out their baby alligator, goldfish and child's turtle, too. The let's free them mentality.

It didn't take long for the python situation to be out of control. Now they have to be slaughtered on a regular basis for multiple environmental, health and safety reasons. What's sad is, that man is responsible for this mess in the first place.

@BlueFinch

No, they didn't throw out all that. The pythons ate them and their children.

Re: Snake Hunt

BlueFinch — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 00:48:17 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Boomernichols I don't like them either but I'd love to see one of these huge pythons. They must be a sight to behold.

When we lived in Texas, the piney woods area, I went out one night, set down the dog's food and there was a small copperhead right under my arm. DH later killed a couple more in the same area, right outside our back doir.

@Kachina624 Never have seen one of these creatures in the wild, but did visit them at the SA Zoo. There's only one snake that is more impressive than the python -- the green anaconda. Scary, but still attractive, simply for its magnificence.

I'll never get the image of that anaconda out of my mind. Still can't quite figure why we need 30ft snakes anywhere on the planet, but I didn't make the rules :-). And, they do make for good horror movies.