Python swallows cat in Florida backyard - Page 2

wreckwriter · #21 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbutton

Yea, it is 93% for banning so I would have to say that we are the minority. And with all the publicity that the burms in the glades are getting now plus the nile monitor colony on Pine Island (S.W. Fla) doesn't help much either.

David

and how long can it be before a reporter asks a senator (or some such thing) about it, and the idea is born?

Alika · #22 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:08 PM

Time to start writing some well-worded letters to the editors, then.

toker · #23 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:13 PM

Do you think that people that have turned critters loose ever look at the situation and feel its their fault? Or do they just sit back and get a warm fuzzy that their critter is alive and well somewhere?

wreckwriter · #24 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toker

Do you think that people that have turned critters loose ever look at the situation and feel its their fault? Or do they just sit back and get a warm fuzzy that their critter is alive and well somewhere?

Heh, good question! A lot of them probably never connect the problem to their action.

louise · #25 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:21 PM

are they gonna kill the burm that ate the cat?
pretty soon snakes wont be legal anywhere. owning snakes seems to be a losing battle. i never see anything good hapeen for snake owners or the snakes.

toker · #26 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:30 PM

Louise, it says the snake will not be destroyed.

Quote:

The snake was placed in the back of a police car and driven to the Sense of Wonder Nature Center at A.D. Barnes National Park at 3401 SW 72nd Ave. It will not be destroyed.

When the snake arrived at its new home, Cruz and Lt. Charles Seifert let it slither around on the ground in front of the center in a last taste of freedom. The python now will spend its days in a glass cage in the nature center.

trinitywolf · #27 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:54 PM

ya know...another thing that bothers me here...the cat is HOW BIG? 15 lbs, 18 lbs? Either way, that cat is obese. For god's sake...that's animal abuse if you ask me.

DeadIrishD · #28 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wreckwriter

This has been covered in much greater detail in South Florida papers, in fact its the number 1 story in the Miami Herald. The media is all over this and the end result is unlikely to be good for the herp community.

I tried to post this earlier in the news form but it didn't go up:

Posted on Mon, Oct. 10, 2005

MIAMI GARDENS
Python devours family's house cat
A missing Siamese cat apparently was the snake's last meal
BY CARLI TEPROFF AND LUISA YANEZ
cteproff@herald.com

Like any cat, Frances, a 1-year-old Siamese named after the hurricane, had a simple daily routine.

He slept, ate and enjoyed hunting lizards in the woods behind his owner's home.

Two days ago, Frances vanished.

His whereabouts possibly were revealed Sunday. A snake expert says Frances is the bulge inside a 12-foot-long Burmese python that trapped and swallowed the 15-pound cat whole, just feet from its backyard in Miami Gardens.

''We've been looking for him,'' a distraught Elidia Rodriguez, 66, said of her cat.

The snake was captured and taken to a nature preserve.

This marks the second time this month that a python in Miami-Dade has tangled with another animal with deadly results. Earlier, a 13-foot python had a run-in with an American alligator in Everglades National Park, and neither animal survived.

Why all the aggressive and free-moving pythons all of a sudden?

Capt. Al Cruz of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue antivenin unit said Sunday's case can likely be blamed on the recent rains.

''They are looking for dry land,'' said Cruz, who explained that climate changes affect pythons' life patterns.

Many pythons end up in the wild after being abandoned by their owners once they grow too big to handle; others are escapees.

How Frances, a gift to Rodriguez after last year's Hurricane Frances, apparently ended up in the python's grip no one saw.

But a missing animal and a bulge in the gut of a nearby snake makes for an easy equation.

A cat would have been no match for the python, much like last month's alligator.

Cruz said most pythons are made of pure muscle and are fierce predators. He said the strength of the nonvenomous python can kill a human.

Pythons strangle their prey before they eat it, Cruz said. They then dislocate their jaw to swallow it.

''A python's jaw is like a rubber band,'' he said. In this case, he estimated the python's girth at about 15 inches.

The cat might have walked right into the snake's striking zone, Cruz said.

''Unfortunately, it had no chance of surviving,'' he said.

Rodriguez, who lives in the 20900 block of Northwest 39th Avenue with her husband, Andres, two sons, three dogs and four remaining cats, said Frances failed to show up for breakfast Saturday.

''My husband thought he was in love. Poor baby. He was my favorite cat. I know Siamese [cats] are supposed to be distant, but he slept in my bed and everything,'' Elidia Rodriguez said.

The Rodriguezes learned of France's possible fate, and the monster snake lurking just five feet from the backyard, by chance on Sunday.

A man whose stolen car was abandoned in the woods behind Rodriguez's home came by Sunday to scour the grounds, hoping to find the wallet taken with the car.

''He came running over and said there was a really big snake over there,'' Elidia Rodriguez said. She called 911 and was referred to Miami-Dade animal control. Cruz, who usually answers calls for snake bites, arrived at about noon and found the snake coiled in the thick brush. Cruz said in order to get close, the brush had to be cut, which angered the python.

''He was very aggressive,'' said Cruz, who noted that it was obvious from the bulge in its stomach that the snake had eaten an animal. Snakes become sluggish when full. ``He didn't want to be bothered.''

Cruz explained that it takes about a month for a snake to digest its prey.

It took about 10 minutes for two Miami-Dade Fire Rescue workers and Cruz to trap the brown-and-black snake in a king-size pillowcase.

''That thing was huge,'' Cruz said, estimating it weighed about 80 pounds.

The snake was placed in the back of a police car and driven to the Sense of Wonder Nature Center at A.D. Barnes National Park at 3401 SW 72nd Ave. It will not be destroyed.

When the snake arrived at its new home, Cruz and Lt. Charles Seifert let it slither around on the ground in front of the center in a last taste of freedom. The python now will spend its days in a glass cage in the nature center.

''It is a matter of public safety,'' Cruz said.

Back in Miami Gardens, Rodriguez still clings to hope that Frances will walk through the door and that the mysterious bulge was another animal.

``I still would like to know for sure that it's him in the snake's stomach.''

YET THE SNAKE IS SO BAD
WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE HERE?!?!?!

Rex322 · #29 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 09:10 PM

its the simple fact that snakes are "scary" you dont see this with any animal. its like the whole animal cruelty issue. you see it with a dog or cat and its so harsh. with a snake or other reptile its, were just gonna take it, or consider yourself warned. people dont know about them, and they automatically assume their so bad cause their aggressive in the wild. well sorry it aint no domestic pet, you dont like it, then stay the #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& away from it, no one forces you to be a part of our hobby.

wreckwriter · #30 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rex322

people dont know about them, and they automatically assume their so bad cause their aggressive in the wild.

That's a good point but its not the cause of snakes' bad reputation. That one is ingrained in our culture for many hundreds of years and isn't going anywhere. Education is great but it can only teach those willing to learn.

toker · #31 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 09:31 PM

It doesnt help that just about every scary movie has at least one pic of a snake. People always see horror with snakes.

CreepingDeath · #32 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 09:46 PM

This is getting unfair to reptile owners, because the burms in Florida isn't really new news, just cause a few people made some bad decisions. People that are good reptile owners shouldn't be punished its not all reptile owners fault.

wreckwriter · #33 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 10:01 PM

Here's the latest- ch 10 just had a feature story on it.

1- X-rays confirm that the lump is indeed a cat of approx the right size (so media of course states as fact that its "Francis").

2- Capt. Al Cruz again tells us how dangerous these snakes are, interestingly enough while in the background 2 guys are free-handling the snake like it was a french poodle while it shows zero signs of aggression.

3- They discussed the reasons this happens, unqualified and unsuspecting buyers and they suggest the following courses of action: 1- "take it back to the pet store" 2- "possibly have it euthanized by a vet".

That sums it up, unembellished, comedy routines not added by me.

kasa's_Kids · #34 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 10:13 PM

Since eveyone seems to be worried about laws being passed, How come nobody has mentioned running for an office in your government. Put your time and money in where it will do some good. These little pow wows on here don't do anything but waste time and effort and do nothing to help the Herper's join together with one voice. Rather, it seems that it brings up the dander of some people. I don't kid myself in thinking that all Herper's would ever be able to agree on everything, but it still would be benificial if the voices were heard in the public forum. Imagine showing your snake at town hall meeting, prior arrangements having been made. Gosh, how many people would you educate at one time.

wreckwriter · #35 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasa's_Kids

Since eveyone seems to be worried about laws being passed, How come nobody has mentioned running for an office in your government.

That's a great idea. Maybe one of us has the time and money to do something like that, as well as the achievements to make getting elected possible. I think for most of us its not realistic.

gemisnake · #36 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 10:54 PM

Unfortunately I lack the background and finances to have any hope of being elected. Instead I support those agencies and people that feel the same or at least similar to me on the pets. I am a member of a group that goes out to try and fight these laws and luckily the hobbyists in my area have been successful so far. I also joined the Agriculture Department that is (believe it or not) on our side around here and actually let us know about a proposed snake ban that the government was trying to slip in a bill that was labled Mad Cow Disease Act. We would have never known about the ban in time to fight it (which we successfully did) if the Ag guys hadnt have warned us!

gemisnake · #37 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 10:57 PM

Plus I am glad I am not in Florida because unless some people down there really step up and do some major and VERY public education there I see a snake ban that will include all constrictors (even ball pythons) and most lizards, if not reptiles or exotic pets completely!!! I was thinking of writing a letter to the editor of the paper down there but it may be better for someone who actually lives there to do it!

ssscales · #38 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 11:03 PM

Take it back to the pet shop...hahahaha!!

You might have to pay them to take it, might cost you more than when you bought it!

I still say make it tougher to sell & buy these snakes and lizards. Sooner or latter the media will turn from focusing on the snakes to focusing on the sellers. This is when the media picks the 1st shirtless idiot with a 9ft Burm on his shoulders to speak on behalf of the reptile community! Of course he will be drunk that day and most likely get bit on camera!

ssscales · #39 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 11:10 PM

A snake ban in FL is inevitable. Unfortunately I am afraid the next picture you will see (God forbid) is a small child being pulled from the belly of a 15ft Burmese! Or some witness stating he saw a Burmese stalking some kids!

I believe at that point FL will be the most strict state on reptiles as pets. Especially when most imports come thought FL.

louise · #40 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 11:17 PM

soon there will be no where left that is safe to have snakes

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