Are Pythons "native" to Florida? Where are they coming from?

[CatWoman]

I just read the 3d "python ate something" story this week.

What the hell is going on?

[matcom]

1. no. the python is native to

my pants :P

[CatWoman]

4. Mat, I was chewing on a corned beef sandwich

and when I read this, I actually choked.

I was laughing so hard.

You fucking nut!!!!!!!

[matcom]

5. THAT will teach you

to eat corned beef :D

[Texasgal]

2. From what I understand...

The pythons are not native.

They were at one time family pets who manageded to escape and now have created a population problem.

I read that somewhere, I don't have a link though, and I could be wrong. :shrug:

[AirmensMom]

9. Here's a link that might help.

The story talks about where they come from.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/sfl-105pythongator,0,6131995.story?track=mostemailedlink

[henslee]

3. No. Not native. Most likely a pet that escaped or was let go. I am

in Miami right now and the coverage of these python stories is ridiculous -- front page color fotos... interviews with family of missing cat, etc. Frankly, anytime there is a bizarre animal death or gory hunting story, it is big news here. I am sick of this place.

[RebelOne]

11. Yes, I got sick of that place in 1989 and moved up here

to North Georgia. I had lived in Miami since I was 4 years old. I finally became disgusted with the heat, humidity, crime, drugs, bugs and no one speaking English anymore.

[Ladyhawk]

6. There is a lot of feral jungle wildlife in Florida.

People who are smuggling will often release the animals rather than get caught. Also, if a tropical pet gets loose, it will find conditions conducive to survival.

I believe that all pythons are old-world snakes, while boas (close relatives) are New World. At least, I can't think of any New World python species. Boas give birth to live young. Pythons lay eggs.

Pythons come in all sizes, so "python" does not automatically mean a huge snake. The two largest species are the reticulated python (bad temper) and the Burmese python (more laid back). India and Africa have large species of rock pythons. Australia has a couple of species that get pretty big: The carpet python comes to mind.

[CatWoman]

8. you go, Professor Ladyhawk

:D

[miss_kitty]

7. Assholes dump their big pets

shitheads. They should make people who want to have exotic animals be a little more regulated.

[BreweryYardRat]

10. Yep, as stated above.

Stupid fuckers letting their snakes go when they get too big. At least we aren't staring at reticulated pythons in our swamps...yet.

[KG]

12. FL has all kind of non-native flora and fauna.

it's a zoo out there