Fatal python attack shows threat from invasive species
by Palm Beach Post Staff | July 8th, 2009A pet Burmese python broke out of a glass cage last week and strangled to death a 2-year-old girl in her Florida bedroom.
The tragedy was the latest and most graphic example of a problem that has plagued the state for more than a decade: a nonnative species that is wreaking havoc in the Everglades, threatening the environment, native wildlife and people.
Police remove a Burmese python from a home in Oxford, Fla. on July 1 after it killed a young girl.
“It’s just a matter of time before one of these snakes gets to a visitor in the Florida Everglades,” said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
Nelson has introduced a bill to ban imports of the snakes, after years of trying to persuade federal wildlife officials to restrict their entry into the country.
Nelson was one of several senators who warned about the threat of invasive species at a hearing Wednesday.
From a mysterious fungus attacking bats in the Northeast to zebra mussels in the Great Lakes and snakehead fish in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, native wildlife is facing new threats nationwide.
Lawmakers are considering a variety of measures to address the problem, including a bill that would require cargo ships to discharge ballast water to ensure that invasive species do not attach themselves to their hulls. Most invasive species enter the country through oceangoing vessels.
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he supports a strong national standard for ballast water treatment that would remain in place for several years, giving ship owners time to develop new technology. Levin also supports a ban on imports of Asian carp, but said the aquatic species plaguing Michigan are no match — in size anyway — for the Burmese python, which can grow to 18 feet and has been known to eat alligators and even deer.
“I’m glad this damn python is a long way from where I live,” Levin said, eyeing large photos that showed the python in all its menace. The photos were displayed at a hearing conducted by two Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittees.
Burmese pythons are native to southeast Asia, but they survive easily in Florida’s warm, moist climate.
Some owners have freed the fast-growing pythons into the wild and a population of them has taken hold in the Everglades. Scientists also speculate that a bevy of Burmese pythons escaped in 1992 from pet shops battered by Hurricane Andrew and have been reproducing ever since.
Lawmakers also discussed the fungus killing Northeastern bats. Since it was discovered in a cave in upstate New York in 2007, the so-called white-nose syndrome has spread to 65 caves in nine states, and killed at least 500,000 bats. The disease now spreads from Virginia to Vermont and could expand across the county, officials said.
July 8th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
People are idiots who own these things.These are wild reptiles and are threating the everglades when let loose,because these morons who are irresponsible leave them go into the wild.Because they don’t feel like taking care of them.Ban Them!!!
July 8th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
They should BAN from living in Florida–or sterilize–people who own these snakes!
July 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Are you/they nuts!! One death does not warrant banning anything. But they should be banned because of the environmental harm they do when released and snakes really do not make good pets.
July 8th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
That’s really sad about the bat fungus thing but I think snake owners should have to go retrieve their “I’m a loser so I need a creepy Pet” back from the Glades that would be funny. I have a really nice snake story watched a former fratboy jerk walking around downtown WPB with a big yellow snake hanging around his neck annoying people 2 hours later he was drunk and the snake almost choked him to death. Only wish he would’ve succeded, poor snakes they are only doing what they need to do to survive. It’s sad that stupid jerks buy these things just to watch them eat how boring is that after 5 times.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
All these reptiles should be made illegal as pets in Florida or destroyed and people harboring them should have the very highest fines imposed on them.
And, what nut would want a snake as a pet??????????? Can you love it and have it love you back???????????
July 8th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I agree that snakes that WILL get over say 8 feet should be banned, but ALL snakes, well, NO. ball pythons are VERY cool and yes loving. some of them can be rather sweet, but not all, just like humans. some are mean no matter how small/large they are, just like humans. just because a majority of people are afraid of snakes doesn’t mean they should all be put to death. should all breeds of dogs that have EVER bitten a human be put to death and out-lawed?! I sure hope not.
sterilize all people who own snakes? yeah right, you’d have a better chance of sterilizing all stupid, mean, ugly and fat people. but NOT gonna happen.
I’m sure the snake was hungry and went looking for food. the owner is responsible for neglecting his snake. the snake was just being a snake, just like my neighbor’s dogs who ate him after he died in his home with his dogs who eventually got hungry and ate the meat available to them(true story). gross yes, but it happened, should we then ban ALL toy poodles for their vile act?! sure why not!!
July 14th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
[...] last week introduced a bill to ban imports of Burmese pythons and classifying them as “injurious [...]