The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic • Hacker News Board

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#41

Post by varlogix » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 5:39 PM UTC

garyclarke27 wrote: post #24

There is a simple natural permanent solution for this problem, just introduce an Apex predator - the majestic Jaguar. Jaguars used to inhabit the southern parts of North America - they seldom attack humans but they will happily eat snakes and alligators. They could restore health to the ecosystem, also make it more interesting, thus also benefiting the tourist industry.

"they seldom attack humans but they will happily eat snakes and alligators." This may not be a good idea. A lot of Indian towns are now facing problems of leopards attacking (and sometimes killing) humans, and these attacks have started to happen in crowded cities like Mumbai. Leopards earlier never attacked humans, but as they lost their habitat and the leopard population has grown, they now routinely attack people, sometimes carrying off kids.

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#42

Post by ecocentrik » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 5:41 PM UTC

SllX wrote: post #36

distant_hat wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True but they have a varied enough diet that snakes may only be marginally affected. To bring down pythons you'd need a more targeted predator, or a virus or bacteria or something that targets pythons alone.

You don’t want to wipe out pythons. You want to put pressure on their population.

They're an predatory invasive species that's been clogging up dam gates and killing native predators like alligators. The goal, if it were even possible without causing more harm, would be eradication from that ecosystem.

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#43

Post by 77pt77 » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 5:46 PM UTC

garyclarke27 wrote: post #24

There is a simple natural permanent solution for this problem, just introduce an Apex predator - the majestic Jaguar. Jaguars used to inhabit the southern parts of North America - they seldom attack humans but they will happily eat snakes and alligators. They could restore health to the ecosystem, also make it more interesting, thus also benefiting the tourist industry.

> just introduce an Apex predator - the majestic Jaguar

This is just what Florida needs: Jaguars.

I can already imagine the new "floridaman" headlines...

On top of that, what could go wrong?

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#44

Post by narrator » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 5:59 PM UTC

varlogix wrote: post #39

kartan wrote: post #15

The solution is really easy. You just need to pay people for each dead python that they bring in. And problem solved.

They did this in India for rats or snakes (can't remember which). To make money, people then started breeding the creatures. :)

They also created greenhouse gasses in India and then destroyed them for carbon credits. [1]

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/world/asia/incentive-to-s...

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#45

Post by platform » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 6:03 PM UTC

ReptileMan wrote: post #10

This problem looks like could be solved with specialty drones.

Drones with infra-red are already used for using infra-red identification (not bombing the animal, that would be horrible).

But perhaps more tech could help too.

I think the problem too, is incentives. Everglades is a dangerous place...

But sponsored hunts pay little

" Hunters earn $8.10 per hour for up to eight hours daily, $50 bonus for each python measuring up to four feet (plus an extra $25 for each additional foot), and $200 for each eliminated python nest with eggs. "

https://woodburyoutfitters.com/the-trailblazer/using-drones-...

Finding nests is very hard... Basically one needs to add a tracker to the animal to see where they go.

In general invasive species that kill native species is a problem all over the world...

There should be a well thought out and, most importantly replicatable, corruption-free process how to deal with it (as well as other man-made natural catastrophes).

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#46

Post by rajacombinator » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 6:05 PM UTC

They should also pass laws to make it a major crime to harbor these creatures. Eg. 5 years min for possession, 20+ for dealing. Probably won’t deter all the morons, but it will work on some.

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#47

Post by acomjean » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 6:09 PM UTC

77pt77 wrote: post #43

garyclarke27 wrote: post #24

There is a simple natural permanent solution for this problem, just introduce an Apex predator - the majestic Jaguar. Jaguars used to inhabit the southern parts of North America - they seldom attack humans but they will happily eat snakes and alligators. They could restore health to the ecosystem, also make it more interesting, thus also benefiting the tourist industry.

> just introduce an Apex predator - the majestic Jaguar This is just what Florida needs: Jaguars. I can already imagine the new "floridaman" headlines... On top of that, what could go wrong?

There is an apex preditor, but they are very rare. There are "Florida Panthers" in the everglades area. When I was visiting the everglades years ago they were very endangered.. The problem is they probably eat similar food as the snakes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_panther

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#48

Post by hackerman12345 » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 6:14 PM UTC

garyclarke27 wrote: post #24

There is a simple natural permanent solution for this problem, just introduce an Apex predator - the majestic Jaguar. Jaguars used to inhabit the southern parts of North America - they seldom attack humans but they will happily eat snakes and alligators. They could restore health to the ecosystem, also make it more interesting, thus also benefiting the tourist industry.

They may seldom attack humans, but it wouldn't be safe/smart to let your kids play outside if there were jaguars around.

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#49

Post by hackerman12345 » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 6:16 PM UTC

ecocentrik wrote: post #42

SllX wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don’t want to wipe out pythons. You want to put pressure on their population.

They're an predatory invasive species that's been clogging up dam gates and killing native predators like alligators. The goal, if it were even possible without causing more harm, would be eradication from that ecosystem.

Why is there value in keeping the ecosystem in a state we're familiar with? It's not like alligators were "always there" either. Animals migrate, things change, and us ensuring that the animal populations always match what they were in 1995 is hubris.

Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic

#50

Post by 77pt77 » Sun, Feb 17, 2019, 6:28 PM UTC

acomjean wrote: post #47

77pt77 wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> just introduce an Apex predator - the majestic Jaguar This is just what Florida needs: Jaguars. I can already imagine the new "floridaman" headlines... On top of that, what could go wrong?

There is an apex preditor, but they are very rare. There are "Florida Panthers" in the everglades area. When I was visiting the everglades years ago they were very endangered.. The problem is they probably eat similar food as the snakes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_panther

> There is an apex preditor

I thought you were joking but it's probably just a typo.