Reptile Clan Rescue

Facts about Burmese Pythons and other Reptiles of Concern

posted by Reptile Clan @ 2:57am, Friday 25 December 2009.

Facts about Burmese Pythons
& other Reptiles of Concern (ROCs)
By Greg Graziani, Shawn Heflick and Michael Cole

Established Breeding Population of Burmese Pythons

- How many injuries or deaths to people have been attributed to the wild population of Burmese pythons in Florida?
Zero; there has not been one reported injury or death of a person attributed to any wild Burmese Python in Florida. All of the suspected human fatality victims by large constrictors in the United States were owners or family members of the owner. This is not a public safety issue!

- How did the problem start?
No one knows exactly, but there seem to be two theories. The first is that irresponsible pet owners are releasing their pets into the Everglades National Park (ENP). The second is that the pythons escaped from import facilities/zoos due to the devastation of hurricane Andrew in 1992.
As for the first theory, there is no evidence to support it. There has never been a documented case of an individual being caught releasing a Burmese Python into the wild. Employees of the ENP have admitted that they have never caught anyone releasing a python into the park, but they have observed individuals releasing other types of wildlife and said they were using the Burmese Python as an example to explain why exotics should not be released.
As for the second theory, the “Hurricane Release,” there is ample evidence to support it. We are aware of multiple facilities that were located in close proximity to ENP that were import facilities containing large quantities of Burmese Pythons. One facility in particular, located just outside the northwest corner of ENP housed over 900 Burmese Pythons the day before hurricane Andrew devastated the area. None of those animals were said to be recovered. Due to the fact that there have been few successful snake “introductions” anywhere in the world, this shows that a mass introduction would have better odds than a handful being released sporadically. There is a genetic study funded by South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) that revealed two facts that support a mass release of Burmese Pythons from a single event. The first is that all of the pythons captured and used in the study were very closely related and from one country of origin. Had they been products of pet releases the genetic diversity would have been greater. They were also able to demonstrate that none of the pythons captured were from Vietnam. This is important because Vietnam has been the sole source of imported Burmese Pythons into the United States since 1994. In 2002, 27 pythons were captured in South Florida and the numbers continued to increase until present. Had these animals been the product of irresponsible pet owners releasing their pets, we would have found some DNA that linked them to the Vietnam strain. There have also never been any mutations found in the wild population, which now make up the vast majority of what is in the pet trade. Granted albino babies would not survive, but the other mutations (granites, labrynths, greens, etc) would survive much like the “wild type” strain of Burmese Python currently in the ENP.

- How many are out there?
Again, no one knows… not even biologists! The estimate by ENP of over 100,000 was the high end of a range estimate. The actual estimate was a range of approximately 3,000 to 115,000. After many months in the field, we can say with some confidence that the actual number of Burmese Pythons in the wild population of South Florida is closer to 3,000 than 115,000.

- What is being done to control the problem?
Both the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) and ENP have started python management programs. This consists of both government personnel, as well as, volunteers (these individuals may be law enforcement, biologists, herpetologists and conservationists). At this point, very little taxpayer dollars are being spent on these programs. The majority of the costs are being absorbed by the volunteers themselves. These volunteers are collecting wild Burmese Pythons, removing them from the environment and reporting the data collected back to FWC and ENP. This information will allow us to gather information on this wild population so that we can more efficiently manage the problem in the future.

- What has been done to prevent wild populations from becoming established in Florida’s future with other species of ROCs?
FWC has begun to regulate Burmese Pythons, as well as other ROCs. No matter which of the two theories you support about the established breeding population of pythons in Florida, FWC has found a way to combat both problems. Pet owners must permanently identify, with a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag), each ROC python they possess. Breeding facilities, import facilities and pet owners must file a Disaster or Critical Incident Plan with FWC, which documents how the facility will secure or relocate all animals in the event of a disaster or critical incident and must be approved by FWC.

- Do Burmese pythons have predators in Florida?
Yes they do. As hatchlings they are at the bottom of the food chain and they have a distinct disadvantage to our native snakes. The Burmese Python is a much slower moving snake than the majority of our native snakes and this makes them easy prey for birds, mammals (raccoons, opossums, wild hogs, bobcats, foxes etc.) reptiles (crocodiles, alligators, turtles and other snakes) and large fish. Insects such as fire ants also are a contributing factor to egg mortality. As they mature, they have fewer predators. With over 200 million years of evolution as the apex predator in fresh water, the crocodiles and alligators are at the top of the food chain in Florida. Much like other vertebrate animals, the mortality rate for hatchlings before reaching maturity is estimated by biologists to be 95-98%.

- What is the ecological threat to Florida because of the established wild population of Burmese Pythons?
At this point biologists simply don’t know, but we do know they do not belong in the wild in South Florida. It has been said that the ENP is the most polluted and the most disturbed ecosystem of any national park or preserve in the United States. South Florida is home to more exotic species of plants and animals than any other region of the United States. With so much current pollution, as well as, an overwhelming number of non-indigenous plants and animals in South Florida, it will take time and effort to determine if the wild Burmese Python population has a detrimental effect on Florida’s ecosystem.

- What is the current predicted range of the Burmese python?
No other areas in the United States were predicted as suitable outside of southern Peninsular Florida and southern Texas. The alarmist claims made by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are based on the predictions of global warming. Peer reviewed climate change reports other than the USGS report indicate that the effects of global warming will result in a drastic decrease in suitable habitat for the Burmese Python, both in the United States and its native range.

To Regulate or Ban ROCs
Current regulations for monitoring Reptiles of Concern (ROCs) are far stricter than current firearm regulations. Firearm dealers are only required to keep records on firearms sold for 10 years. No records are turned into the government unless specifically requested by the government. Once the firearm has been transferred to the customer no further documentation is required for any future sales of that firearm. ROCs, on the other hand, require a license to possess. Both the originator and the recipient must keep records on all births, deaths, acquisitions, sales and transfers and these records must be filed with FWC every six months. Now that both the seller and the buyer must be licensed prior to purchase of ROCs, impulse buying has been eliminated in the pet trade for these animals.
Creating a ban of ROCs will have a number of negative effects on both the pet trade, as well as, the ecosystem. Not allowing interstate trade will trap all ROCs in Florida. A ban will create a black market, as well as, halt all self-policing of the reptile industry. It will alienate the government agencies from the professionals in the reptile industry whose assistance is required to find solutions regarding current, as well as, future situations. Perhaps most devastating of all is that a ban may create a mass release from breeders, dealers and pet owners whose animals would become worthless.
The current regulations listed below have only been in effect since January 2008. We need to give these regulations a chance to work. As of December 2009, FWC has reported 327 ROC licensees and done 407 inspections at ROC facilities in Florida. FWC has also written 80 citations, 123 warnings and seized 65 ROCs from non-permitted individuals. As a leader in wildlife conservation, FWC has created a Reptile of Concern Technical Assistance Group (ROC-TAG) that is currently meeting to address the concerns the public, government and special interest groups have in regulating ROCs.
FWC is considering allowing select ROC licensed facilities to become 24/7 amnesty points. This would alleviate the apprehension of individuals fearing prosecution for coming forward to turn over their unlicensed ROCs. This idea has been endorsed by the ROC-TAG.

Reptiles of Concern (ROC) List
- Indian or Burmese python (Python molurus)
- Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
- African rock python (Python sebae)
- Amethystine or Scrub python (Morelia amethystinus)
- Green anacondas (Eunectes murinus)
- Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)

Florida Regulations of ROCs by FWC
Current Regulations for Possession of ROCs
- ROC license issued by FWC
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You must fill out and submit a Wildlife Personal Use Application/Questionnaire
- You must file a Disaster or Critical Incident Plan with FWC
- You must pay a $100.00 annual fee for the license
Once Licensed
- Your facility is subject to inspection by FWC.
- You are required to keep records on all births, deaths, acquisitions, sales and transfers.
- Records must be filed with FWC every six months.
- ROCs two inch or grater in diameter shall be permanently identified with a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag).

Find out how to get your ROC permit in our article, Getting Your Reptiles of Concern License.