September 25, 2009, 09:56 PM | #1 |
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Huge snakes
These things have been bothering the H out of me.
Now we have the African Rock Python to deal with! http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...nt-snakes.html http://news.aol.com/article/400-poun...ed-from/667516 No more sleeping in the SoFL wilderness for me! I'm also carrying a new knife.
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September 25, 2009, 10:45 PM | #2 |
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Hmmmm well then...doubt I'll be moving to SoFL anytime soon. Gotta love how people take on pets they can't handle and end up destroying the environment around them
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September 25, 2009, 11:15 PM | #3 |
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Hmmm. What caliber for giant snakes?
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September 25, 2009, 11:17 PM | #4 |
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Personally I'd be all for 10ga or 12ga 3.5" with 00 buck...but I have a slight snake phobia...
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September 25, 2009, 11:19 PM | #5 | |
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September 25, 2009, 11:21 PM | #6 |
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Jag, I guess that you live somewhere where the temp. alone can kill you.
I'll figure out a way to deal with the big snakes.
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September 25, 2009, 11:42 PM | #7 |
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I spent two years in Thailand- I saw more snakes there than anywhere I have ever been. I guess I can just go to Florida, now....
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September 25, 2009, 11:46 PM | #8 | |
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September 26, 2009, 12:35 AM | #9 |
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I'm figuring that these guys are going to sneak in at night or strike from an incredible distance which could be yards. On average, most snakes can strike nearly half their length. I'm guessing that really big ones might go to 1/3.
On a 20 ft. snake that's still 6-1/2'! I've grown up with Diamondbacks, Corals, Copperheads and my special buddies the Pygmy Rattler and Cottonmouth. No big deal. Left out gators, also NBD. I'm worried about sleeping but looking forward to some new boots!
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September 26, 2009, 12:42 AM | #10 |
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Just tell some of the local Rednecks that the season is open year around, there's no limit, and they taste like chicken. As a plus, they make great hat bands (I'd say shoes, but we're talkin' Rednecks, here).
I always thought that Florida would make a good home for transplanted Latin American lanceheads. Some of these highly venomous species are quite aquatic. Guess they don't make popular pets, yet. |
September 26, 2009, 01:06 AM | #11 |
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That's part of what gets me. They authorized 6!!!!! guys to go after these. The current esimate is 100,000 AND they are reproducing.
On TV some lucky dude got one within hours. Case closed. It WILL be very interesting to see how this one plays out. Maybe they like hogs and coyotes. I have a feeling that they will like everything, panthers, deer, small bear, fish, interesting indeed.
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September 26, 2009, 02:40 AM | #12 |
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I think their diet would be similar to that where they come from. Rock Pythons eat antelope up to 59 kg.
A lot more myth than reality re: danger to humans, however, I know of a well documented case of a Rock Python (Africa's only large constrictor) killing an adult human in souther Africa. Would think children would be at risk, but don't have data to back it up. Pets would certainly be a concern. In some parts of Africa they're killed and eaten when encountered, or intentionally hunted for food. In areas where they're eaten, 15% of the populace is infected with the same internal parasites that infect the pythons. There's one species with two races (nominate and subspecies). The largest race grows to 8 or 9 meters and is found in the Northern part of the range. The more southernly specimens are somewhat smaller. Average size is 3 to 5 meters. Their agressive behavior is not a myth. My info comes from The Dangerous Snakes of Africa--Spawls and Branch. Last edited by Nnobby45; September 26, 2009 at 02:48 AM. |
September 26, 2009, 09:03 AM | #13 |
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Maybe if the government would allow year around hunting of these snakes, the population could be controlled.
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September 26, 2009, 10:26 AM | #14 |
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I'd be more worried about The Reticulated Python then the Burmiese or the Rock. They also had a guy who's green Mamba got lose last month. just what we need, maybe pirahna's next.
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September 26, 2009, 10:46 AM | #15 |
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Oh there's nothin' to worry about Swamp. They just want to snuggle up with you at night !
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September 26, 2009, 12:40 PM | #16 | ||
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Just between you, me and the neighbors dog the woman who lets a drug dealer with a dangerous snake move into her house with her little girl should also be up on murder charges not just the man who owned the snake.
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September 26, 2009, 12:40 PM | #17 |
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Pythons I can handle, it's the rattlers and pygmies that sneak up on you. My wife almost stepped on 2 Pygmies last year in the swamp, the 2nd was big enough to still manage a bite when stepped on. Can't get her to look where she's goin. If I hadn't seen that last one and pulled her back... If a Python big enough to kill you is out there, odds are it aint gonna have the speed to get you, unless you're sleepin on the ground outside.
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September 27, 2009, 12:28 AM | #18 |
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Back around the late 90's, I recall hearing about a rapidly establishing, breeding population of King Cobras in South Florida.
IIRC, they were zoo or reptile sanctuary escapees in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew's leveling of South Florida. Haven't read or heard anything about it since then. Anyone here run across any info on that possible nightmare? If this was true, I'd think we'd be hearing a WHOLE lot more on that since King Cobras can reach 11'-14' in length and are venomous in the extreme. Can you imagine walking through a knee high grassy field and suddenly a 14' long King Cobra rises up in front of you? AAAHHHH!!!!! At that size, I imagine he could raise up almost groin or waist high. *shudder* I am soooo hoping this is not true...
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September 27, 2009, 12:50 AM | #19 | |
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitis_gabonica There was a bit about this snake on some Animal Planet show. 3" fangs! I would not want to run across one of those! |
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September 27, 2009, 01:02 AM | #20 | |
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Hey, Posse Comitatus says the military can't be used for law enforcement... doesn't say anything about animal control. |
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September 27, 2009, 07:26 AM | #21 |
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That really creeps me out.
Not a snake phobe, but I don't like them a whole lot. At least big guys. Not really needed as an explicit "Snake defence", but. Lol, my opinion it should be considered, just as if one was hiking in bear country, or in a urban slum. What I'd choose....Hmmm.. Travelling to Florida: Semi-auto .40. Enough shots. Because a really peeved snake moves fast, and headshots might take a few shots to hit. Living in Florida: Carry a 18" pump 12 gauge with BB shot and a hi-cap semi-auto handgun |
September 27, 2009, 12:40 PM | #22 | |
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September 27, 2009, 01:39 PM | #23 | |
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September 27, 2009, 03:26 PM | #24 |
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I know that's how they treat invasive species here in New York.
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September 27, 2009, 03:50 PM | #25 |
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They are fair game, however where they are doing the most damage to native population is in "off limits" florida panther zones...
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