Everglades Pythons Wiping Out Native Mammals?

[Dr. Cheese]

Science - Pythons apparently wiping out Everglades mammals

Good thing they can't take a strong cold snap or all of Florida would be messed up!

[irishpride28]

The comments on that article are absolutely ridiculous.
I am a snake owner and lover, and if cared for properly they make incredible pets. Yes, it is a problem when an inexperienced owner purchases a Burmese or Retic and tries to contain their massive size when they're older, and this is an issue. For this reason, I understand the apprehension the state has concerning these large reptiles being sold commercially in your everyday Pets Plus, Petco, etc. However, condemning all reptile and snake owners (as the comments on the article do) is completely unfounded.

[colcifer]

The native populations wiped out previous native populations. C'est la vie.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by irishpride28

The comments on that article are absolutely ridiculous.
I am a snake owner and lover, and if cared for properly they make incredible pets. Yes, it is a problem when an inexperienced owner purchases a Burmese or Retic and tries to contain their massive size when they're older, and this is an issue. For this reason, I understand the apprehension the state has concerning these large reptiles being sold commercially in your everyday Pets Plus, Petco, etc. However, condemning all reptile and snake owners (as the comments on the article do) is completely unfounded.

The idea tht pythons in Florida are the result of discarded pets has been disproven. It appears that pythons actually got their start after reptile dealers wharehouses were destroted during Hurricane Andrew and thousands of snakes were let loose.