Python count now at 50 snakes

[Baitball Blogger]

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Tuesday that 50 harvested Burmese pythons have been received by the University of Florida. The pythons are being processed and logged by UF for the 2013 Python Challenge.

University of Florida researchers examine each snake hoping to learn more about the elusive species.

No one knows for sure how many pythons live in South Florida. Wildlife officials say eradicating pythons from the Everglades was never the goal of the monthlong challenge. Instead, they hoped to raise awareness about the snake's threat to native wildlife and the fragile Everglades ecosystem. The snake faces both state and federal bans.

More than 1,000 people signed up for the challenge that started Jan. 12 and ends Feb. 10.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/fl-tophat-python-count-update-20130205,0,653119.story

[A HERETIC I AM]

1. Kill em'. Kill them all

Fuckin things.

[marmar]

2. They probably couldn't eradicate them now even if they wanted to.

nt

[JackN415]

3. 50 out of 100,000's... Need 2000 mos or 167 yrs (provided they don't reproduce)

... or let them die off of old age in 20 yrs.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. What they need is a good freeze.

[JackN415]

11. Did you read about the one survived sub-freezing 30,000-ft O2-deprived, outside an airplane?

[Baitball Blogger]

12. What other predators can eat them when they're too slow?

I know iguanas fall from the trees when it freezes. Wouldn't pythons prove to be vulnerable too?

[Left Coast2020]

4. Just keep the one who's first name is Monty

[Scuba]

5. Fifty caught by 1,000 who signed up. "Oh hell yeah, I'm a snake hunter."

[scarletwoman]

6. So, for every 50 they "harvest", I wonder how many remain in place?

"Harvested" - what a weasel word! Why don't they just say "killed"? That's what they're doing, aren't they? Killing them?

I totally understand - it's an invasive species, and the pythons are screwing up the ecosystem. I just don't understand the avoidance of calling the python hunt what it really is - killing pythons.

In any case, I wonder how many pythons remain in place, for every 50 pythons "harvested". I pity the Everglades - if it isn't one kind of snake messing them up, it's another - developers.

sw

[Vincardog]

7. Why not offer a $100 bounty on them?

[madinmaryland]

8. Snakes in a **********ing lake!!

[kratos00]

10. Note to self

Do not go for swim in Everglades.

[Lasher]

13. Why don't they kill them for their skins?

It almost worked with the alligators.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. And the Bison

[scarletlib]

15. So is this going to show up as the next reality show on Animal Planet or what?