Sunday, December 27, 2015

Send me your python experiences - I am looking to uncover the extent of the population - and REPORT any sightings

This is in follow up to my Saturday, December 26, 2015. post - No denying it - there is a problem in Palmetto Bay. An 8 - 10 foot Python in Palmetto Bay struck on Old Cutler Road led to the following photo being sent to me:

J. May of Paradise Point provided me with the photo posted above, taken 11/22/15: a native rat snake seen slithering in a tree near a third floor bedroom window (no harm to the native environment).


The full photo (posted left) of the tree-dwelling snake demonstrates how well snakes can camouflage themselves in our native flora. 

This was not the first recorded incident.  October 9 - 2015 - local residents were warned of another non-native snake being seen.  The following was circulated the following day:

(referring to October 9) Last night, one of your neighbors found a snake in the middle of the street in the community.  The snake is 5 - 6 feet in length and is either a Boa Constrictor or a Reticulated Python.  Regardless, the snake has the potential to hurt small dogs and cats.  PLEASE keep your pets on a leash at ALL TIMES and keep your cats indoors, if at all possible.

If anyone sees the snake again, I have been advised by FWC to call the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Venom Unit immediately, who is supposed to be able to assist us with getting rid of it.  The telephone # I was given is 786-331-4443.

The telephone # for the FWC Regional Office is 561-625-5122.  For more information, visit: http://myfwc.com/contact/nuisance-wildlife/
Here is the photo of that snake:
Please bring any further sightings to the attention of myself as well as proper authorities that I have listed on this blog.

Thank you,

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
 

1 comment:

  1. Hello Mayor Flinn,

    Thank you for raising awareness about invasive reptiles in the South Florida area. But, I wanted to address an incorrect identification that was brought to my attention. The first two photos on this particular blog entry are of a native yellow rat snake. These are important native snakes that provide a lot of ecological services to the community. I just want to make sure that people who see this do not mistakenly take action against it, or other natives, believing such snakes are non-native. The best course of action is to take a picture of a questionable snake and report it to the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Venom Unit of FWC like you described and make sure the identification is correct.

    Thank you,
    Frank Ridgley DVM
    Director of Conservation and Research
    Zoo Miami

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