Can we lowercase python in the title? This was not the Python I was looking for.
The article above this right now on the front page is "Awesome Python" which I found rather humorous in combination with your comment.
The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
71–80 of 95 posts
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
And... "On average, hunters spend 12 hours searching for each snake they catch" So, probably better money than driving an Uber, but not by much.
On the upside, you get to spend time outdoors and you get to kill your payload.
As a downside, you get to spend 12 hours in suffocating humidity, get eaten alive by mosquitoes, watch for gators and any of the other native snakes, including the water moccasin.
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#73Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#74To you that live in parts of the world that have snakes, do they affect you in any way? There are no snakes where I live, and I'm extremely uncomfortable just thinking about the possibility of one entering your home or seeing one. Imagine cleaning your garage and finding a snake curled up behind some stuff, the state of terror I would be in is out of this world.
There's Snakes where I live (Australia). You just kind of normalize them - don't really give them much thought. Growing up I was always told "Snakes are more afraid of you then you are of them" and "Snakes are only hostile if you provoke them." You hear stories from time to time about people's dogs being attacked by snakes but never really a concern. I've had lizards wander into my house (occasionally on the larger s…
I'm not sure why you are worried about redbacks - no one has died from them in decades if I recall correctly and I don't think hospitals even bother with anti-venom anymore. Besides which, they are slow moving, docile and fairly easy to spot. I think they only time they represent a threat is if you accidentally touched one by picking up rocks etc.
The funnel web on the other hand, is a nasty piece of work ...
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#75There 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,…
So then it just becomes: does the reduction in snake problems outweigh the increase in jaguar problems?
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#76I thought this was an article about the Mathworks Inc.
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
"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,…
Right. A leopard came at least once somewhere inside Pune, which is a big city, and attacked some people, IIRC. And there are many cases of leopards attacking people in smaller towns and villages, on the outskirts of them, that I have read of, in Maharashtra (state in India, in which Pune and Mumbai are) and probably in other states too.
There is actually some incredible footage of Jaguars inside Indian cities in planet earth 2. In case anyone is curious.
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#78To you that live in parts of the world that have snakes, do they affect you in any way? There are no snakes where I live, and I'm extremely uncomfortable just thinking about the possibility of one entering your home or seeing one. Imagine cleaning your garage and finding a snake curled up behind some stuff, the state of terror I would be in is out of this world.
I live in a rural part of Thailand and there are lots of snakes. I see them a couple times a month. There are both venomous and non-venomous. Around my home I most often see pythons, golden tree snakes, and rat snakes. There is also the ocaissonal monocled cobra, krait and there was a green pit viper once. They are all beautiful. I usually capture and release them far away from any homes.
I like seeing them, but the presence of venomous snakes are a cause for concern for pets and kids. So when we walk in the garden we try to be noisy and alert.
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
They may seldom attack humans, but it wouldn't be safe/smart to let your kids play outside if there were jaguars around.
Except there are already rock pythons, alligators, crocodiles, water moccasins, water bugs, fire ants, rattlesnakes, brown recluses, coyotes, wild dogs, cats, and pigs... I'm forgetting a few. Florida's natural wildlife isn't exactly friendly.
You forgot the worst, Florida Man.
Re: The men fighting Florida’s python epidemic
#80There 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.
No jaguars (anymore), but the Florida Panther still prowls about.
Were jaguars ever in Florida? It seems like they were only in America in the south west.