13' Python Explodes While Attempting to Eat 6' Alligator
 

Film at 11....Drudge Report front page has a pic and for some reason the article does not.

Python Explodes After Eating Alligator Oct 05 3:40 PM US/Eastern

By DENISE KALETTE
Associated Press Writer


MIAMI


Alligators have clashed with nonnative pythons before in Everglades National Park. But when a 6-foot gator tangled with a 13-foot python recently, the result wasn't pretty.

The snake apparently tried to swallow the gator whole _ and then exploded. Scientists stumbled upon the gory remains last week.

The species have battled with increasing frequency _ scientists have documented four encounters in the last three years. The encroachment of Burmese pythons into the Everglades could threaten an $8 billion restoration project and endanger smaller species, said Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor.

The gators have had to share their territory with a python population that has swelled over the past 20 years after owners dropped off pythons they no longer wanted in the Everglades. The Asian snakes have thrived in the wet, hot climate.

"Encounters like that are almost never seen in the wild. ... And we here are, it's happened for the fourth time," Mazzotti said. In the other cases, the alligator won or the battle was an apparent draw.

"They were probably evenly matched in size," Mazzotti said of the latest battle. "If the python got a good grip on the alligator before the alligator got a good grip on him, he could win."

While the gator may have been injured before the battle began _ wounds were found on it that apparently were not caused by python bites _ Mazzotti believes it was alive when the battle began. And it may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it, leading to the blow up.

The python was found with the gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Its stomach still surrounded the alligator's head, shoulders, and forelimbs. The remains were discovered and photographed Sept. 26 by helicopter pilot and wildlife researcher Michael Barron.

The incident has alerted biologists to new potential dangers from Burmese pythons in the Everglades.

"Clearly, if they can kill an alligator they can kill other species," Mazzotti said. "There had been some hope that alligators can control Burmese pythons. ... This indicates to me it's going to be an even draw. Sometimes alligators are going to win and sometimes the python will win.

"It means nothing in the Everglades is safe from pythons, a top down predator," Mazzotti said.

Not only can the python kill other reptiles, the snakes will also eat otters, squirrels, endangered woodstorks and sparrows.

While there are thousands of alligators in the Everglades, Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist and crocodile tracker, said its unknown how many pythons there are.

"We need to set traps and do a proper survey," of the snakes, he said. At least 150 have been captured in the last two years.

The problem arises when people buy pets they are not prepared to care for.

"People will buy these tiny little snakes and if you do everything right, they're six-feet tall in one year. They lose their appeal, or the owner becomes afraid of it. There's no zoo or attraction that will take it," so they release the snakes into the Everglades.

A reproducing snake can have as many as 100 hatchlings, which explains why the snake population has soared, Wasilewski said.

The Burmese snake problem is just part of a larger issue of nonnative animal populations in South Florida, he said. So many iguanas have been discarded in the region that they are gobbling tropical flowers and causing problems for botanists, Wasilewski said.

A 10- or 20-foot python is also large enough to pose a risk to an unwary human, especially a small child, he added. "I don't think this is an imminent threat. This is not a 'Be afraid, be very afraid situation.'"

Dammit, I was wondering how a thirteen inch python killed an alligator to begin with, turns out it was just a typo :(

13 inch pythons? Nah, we got 26 inch pythons here, BROTHA!

Whoops - title corrected to 13 foot python, not 13 inches :D

yuck.

I'm not sure where one begins and the other ends.

Imagine walking up on that fight... WOW

A WINNER IS YOU

or not... in this case.

Why do we allow people to have such big snakes?

Some of us are born with them...

*adjusts package*

Coming from the Drudge Report, I'm interested in how this is the Democrat's fault :)

Did that gator crap his pants>?

I don't know - but I detest the numbskulls who think it'd be fun to have them, and then bail in such spectacularly poor fashion when they discover that they're in over their heads. I mean, dropping pythons off in a national park? Who thinks that's a good idea? Take 'em to a freaking zoo if you want to get rid of them.

I mean, Jesus.

Dude, I don't think that zoos will take them...

I saw that quote, but I find it hard to believe that there are zero zoos that would take a giant python. That would be a huge draw.

Most zoos will refuse snakes or any animal for that matter.

Does anyone remember the story about the box of snakes found in Arkansas? Some guy in a truck picked them up and thought he saw the hood of a Cobra in the bag. The zoo initially refused the snakes and only ended up taking them becuase the guy was so certain there was a danger. (as it turned out, the container had a King Cobra, a twig snake and a mamba, how is that for a cocktail of poison?)

Every zoo I've been to already had a giant python, I doubt they need people to give them any extra. Of course, some Croc vs. Python fights would have to be big ticket sellers. :)

That would be totally sweet. The 21st century's version of cockfighting!

Maybe they could at least help direct where they could take them.

You can order a King Cobra, and ship it FedEX/UPS? I remember hearing that story. The snake got out and was lose in the truck. I would of shit my pants many times over when I open the back of the truck and would see that. Snakes are the only thing that scare me.

"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
"Asps. Very dangerous. You go first."

Clowns are the only things that scare me.

Jebus, they're awful.

Zoos and animal reserves across the nation generally refuse to take in stray animals mainly because of fear of contaminating their current group of animals, without extensive controls and thorough testing you could infest your zoo with untold numbers of animal diseases and then your fooked.

Poisonous clowns scare me more, especially when they can eat alligators.

Understandable - still, it'd be nice if there was some way they could help dispose of the critters. And maybe they are doing so and it just wasn't reported in this bit - who knows?

Of course, it'd be nicer still if people weren't such fucking morons and didn't get pythons for pets. You don't have to be too bright to see that's a losing proposition.

Dola-


Yep - those are the worst types of clowns. Well, maybe second worst - right after mimes.

Mime with a trouser snake.

...spitting poison.

*shudders*

I would get more of my money's worth if I got to watch this battle than any of the summer blockbusters released the past few months.

Kinda makes that Kangaroo-eating snake look like a huge pussy.

hxxp://www.ebaumsworld.com/snake-kangaroo.html

somebody said pussy and eating in the same sentence?

Pythons at it again.


Miami Gardens, Florida - Elidia Rodriguez of Miami Gardens had been looking for her year-old Siamese cat for two days when her son pointed out the bulging Burmese python slithering in her backyard.

Experts say that bulge in the 12-foot snake is probably the missing 15-pound cat.

Rodriguez got the cat last year as a post-hurricane gift. She named the cat Frances, after the storm.

The snake was spotted in Rodriguez's backyard yesterday.

Experts with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue antivenin unit says Frances wouldn't have stood a chance against the larger predator.

The snake was captured and taken to the Sense of Wonder Nature Center at AD Barnes National Park.

Earlier this month, authorities say a 13-foot python burst after it apparently tried to swallow a live, six-foot alligator whole.

The cat was only a year old but was 15 pounds? Good lord! :eek:

pwned

National Geographic is doing a "special" on this right now