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Non Native Species
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by Darthsandy on November 14, 2005
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I have heard reports, call them Urban Legends if you like, that there is a growing number of non-native species of venomous snakes calling the everglades and other similar areas home, Is there any documented truth to this?
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RE: Non Native Species
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by Cro on November 14, 2005
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Tim: There have been several TV shows on Animal Planet and Discovery Channel concerning non-native venomous snakes found in the Everglades. You might try watching for some of them. JohnZ
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RE: Non Native Species
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by bush_viper17 on November 15, 2005
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I saw an episode not too long ago were a herper in florida was sent to find some exotics that had escaped and found a big King Cobra and a few more if I remember correctly. Just remember when looking for snakes in the glades, dont grab a black racer unless you are certain that it is actually a racer and not a mamba, lol.
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RE: Non Native Species
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by Sal on November 15, 2005
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If I am correct, in that show you are referring to, those were recent escapes. They were not from an established population. As far as I know, there are no exotic venomous snakes that have a viable breeding population in S. Florida.
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RE: Non Native Species
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by Cro on November 15, 2005
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Beacause South Florida is a Semi-Tropical Habitat, it is possible for non-native reptiles to thrive there.
In the TV show mentioned, it is probably true that the animals that were caught were resent excapees from a closed down reptile business. That is why they were concentrated around the same tract of land.
What the show did not say, was that although they caught 3 excaped snakes, that there were probably quite a few excaped snakes from the same business that were not re-capuured. More than likely, those snakes are still living in the wild near that area.
There have been numerous hurricanes in South Florida that have destroyed busineses and homes over the years, and because of this, there have been unknown numbers of reptiles, both venomous and non-venomous, released into the wild as these storms hit.
Most venomous keepers would probably not go around bragging about having cobras and mambas get loose when their business was hit by a hurricane.
There are many reptiles and amphibians that are non-native to South Florida that have established viable populations. Animals like Cuban Tree Frogs, Iguanna Lizards, Grass Frogs, Geckos, Dart Frogs, Monitor Lizards, Burmese Pythons, and Reticulated Pythons.
It is not hard to imagine that there are some populations of venomous snakes also. After all, it only takes a pair, or a gravid female to produce a whole bunch of young.
I have heard about cobras being caught in the glades for over 30 years.
I have also heard of reptile keepers releasing venomous snakes into isolated areas to try to establish a population. How much this has been done, no one knows for sure, but I once heard of someone releasing 10 or 12 tropical rattlesnakes on a tract of scrub land in South Florida. Did they survive and breed? Who knows. If they did, someone flipping tin someday is sure going to get a surprise!
Wether they are part of breeding populations at this time, or not, does not really matter. What matters is that the snakes are there, and eventually will establish populations in the wild.
JohnZ
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RE: Non Native Species
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by keyz on November 15, 2005
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not venomous but look at the news reports on the home page headline"alligators vs pythons" then make your mind up sal.
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RE: Non Native Species
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by bush_viper17 on November 16, 2005
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I think that almost any tropical or subtropical reptile can live its entire life in South Florida. I am almost positive that somewhere down there, there is a population of cobras or something like that. I went down there last year and saw at least a hundred green iguanas,basilisks,geckos,cuban tree frogs, etc. Anything is possible down there in my opinion.
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