Rat Snakes Live Up to Their Name

There are a number of local variations of these, such as the Texas rat snake, a large aggressive snake, and the Everglades rat snake, a swamp specialist. Although they all have wide ranges, black rat snakes can live in more ... He raised his head, puffed himself up, shook his little tail, and coiled and struck repeatedly. Many rat snakes use this bluff, trying to make predators think they're a rattlesnake; black rat snakes and Texas rat snakes exhibit the same behavior. ... Continue reading

wildlife around us: SNAKES (another Red Rat Snake) (Sept '09)

It finally got bored and moved off into the grass and the palm trees. I have since seen one other Red Rat Snake that exhibited the same behavior. Probably normal for a wild snake that is used to defending itself. The two I photographed were only about 3' long, ... It's a big issue in the Everglades...although I was first skeptical regarding their impact, pythons are now one of the most commonly encountered snakes down there...scary stuff. December 12, 2009 12:21 PM ... Continue reading

Scientists Worried Everglades Pythons Could Morph into Hybrid Man ...

So if the Burmese pythons and the African rock pythons start hooking up out in the swamps, we could soon have a gang of "hybrid vigor," man-eating, gigantic snakes hanging out in the Everglades. .... Does it matter that Colombian and Argentine tegus habitate the same regions of S America and have never managed to interbreed? Why would they in FL? Our native corn snakes interbreed and they are just average corn snakes or rat snake hybrids...nothing really scary going on. ... Continue reading

American Renaissance News: 10 Invasive Species That Cost the U.S. ...

It was bad enough when Floridians just had to worry about Burmese pythons: the Everglades are infested with an estimated 100000 of the gargantuan snakes, many of which are descended from abandoned pets. ... In the 1800's, a sugar cane planter in Hawaii brought 72 of the little animals to help control an overwhelming rat population. Established on all the islands except Kaua'i—according to legend, the animals bit a dock worker, who responded by hurling their cages into the ... Continue reading

Python Hunter in Florida Everglades « A1A South

■A non-venomous constrictor, the Burmese python preys on native Florida species of mammals, birds and reptiles, as well as nonnative species including black rats. ■According to the National Park Service, the appetite of the Burmese python poses a serious threat to some of Florida's ... ■The USGS and the Everglades National Park are investigating the behavior and biology of the Burmese python to get a better understanding of the snake's requirements for survival. ... Continue reading

Indian Wildlife: Cobra Vs. Mongoose

However, when introduced to other ecosystems, the mongoose can become an invasive pest, destroying native snakes, birds, reptiles and other wildlife and pushing them toward extinction. This is what happened in the .... South Florida has been invaded by aliens (otherwise known as invasive species): As many as 100000 Burmese pythons are slithering through the Everglades, gobbling up native wildlife and posing a potential threat to humans—especially small, slow-moving ones. ... Continue reading

Five Giant Snakes We Should Worry About | Science & Nature ...

However, Burmese Pythons are already established in the Everglades, and will have a direct impact on native wildlife. These snakes are huge, with prodigious appetites, and will be nigh impossible to eradicate from the environment. ... Continue reading

35 Ghosts of Nature – Albino Animals of the Wild

Albino rat snakes. Photo Benimoto. Most species are non-venomous and those that have venom use it primarily to kill and subdue prey rather than for self-defense. A few possess venom potent enough to cause painful injury or death to humans. ... According to the Everglades National Park website, the largest alligator ever recorded in Florida was 17 feet 5 inches (5.3 meters), although according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission web site the Florida ... Continue reading

Dave Barry's Blog: WORLD NEWS UPDATE

the problem is that it was an 11ft python not a rat snake. the farm costs could be considerable considering it could damage the ComBine AND eat the cattle. or sheep. or small children. or whatever else it is you raise on farms. the ... Dave will be happy to hear that the pythons, boas, and other sundry 'ex-pets' that now reside in the Everglades made it through the hurricane just ducky....although most of their food source was washed away, so they're moving into urban ... Continue reading

HerpDigest.org Volume # 10 Issue # 6 - 2/5/10

Jakarta, Feb 5 (Kyodo) Indonesian authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle 3492 pig-nosed turtles and 700 Indo-Chinese rat snakes out of the country, a state-run news agency reported. Evi Suhartantyo, spokeswoman of the Directorate ... Continue reading