Massive Python Captured In Florida Is Second Largest In The State
A massive python captured in Florida is the second largest in the state. A group of python hunters caught a big snake in Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve. The group banded together to capture the monster 17-foot snake that tipped the scales at 198 pounds.
This is the second largest python ever caught in Florida. Two different groups were out searching for the invasive snakes.
How Did They Capture The Monster
Mike Elfenbein, 45, said he and his 17-year-old son, Cole, were two of the five that found the snake. They were searching in the 729,000-acre preserve in the Everglades. Firstly, they started to get ahold of the snake but then three more hunters jumped in to help. Trey Barber, Carter Gavlock and Holden Hunter also spotted the Burmese and joined in. Obviously, they were strangers when they met but all knew that they needed to work together if they were to capture it.
It should be noted, it took them 45 minutes to get ahold of the python. In addition, one hunter grabbed her by the head and one by the tail and then others jumped on top of it. They said the snake lifted them off the ground it was that strong. The monster snake put up a strong fight. The snake had zero fear of the 5 guys that were trying to capture her. The female Burmese python was 17 feet, 2 inches long and weighed 198 pounds , the second largest in Florida they have captured.
Importantly, one of the largest snake species in the world, pythons came from Southeast Asia to Florida in the 1970s. Secondly, the invasive predators quickly spread throughout the Everglades ecosystem. Thirdly, Pythons are thought to be responsible for a 90% decline in the native mammal population. Biologists, volunteers and conservationists have been working to reduce the Burmese python population in the region.
Largest Python Ever Caught
On the record, the largest Burmese python is 19 feet in length and caught in Naples, Florida.
The capture of this record-breaking python sheds light on the importance of addressing the invasive species crisis in Florida. The Everglades’ ecological balance depends on preserving its unique bio-diversity, and the Burmese python invasion poses a significant threat to that delicate equilibrium.
The 5 Most Dangerous Animals In Florida
There are a lot of dangerous animals in Florida. But if you ever wondered what the most dangerous are? This list was put together by A-Z Animals. Between 1999 and 2019 only 247 people in Florida died as a result of an animal attack. Florida ranks as the third deadliest state in the United States for animal attacks. Texas is number one with 520 and California is number two with 299. Those findings come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
So, what is the first animal that you think of when you think dangerous in Florida? You probably think of the Alligator, but that isn’t the number one overall dangerous animal in Florida. The Great White Shark is the most dangerous animal in Florida. While not on the land in Florida Great White Sharks swim the waters around the state of Florida. Back in 2020 Florida had 16 shark bites on record. Second was Hawaii with only five.
The Most Dangerous Animals Not In The Top 5
The dangerous animals in Florida that didn’t make the top five are some that you may have thought could’ve been higher. Firstly, number six on the list is the Black Widow Spider followed by the Florida Panther. The Florida Panther is the state animal. It was chosen in 1982 by a vote of students throughout the state. Following the Florida Panther on the list is the Wild Boar. You can find the Wild Boar in all 67 counties of Florida. Their estimated population is over half a million.
Next is the Timber Rattlesnake. It is also known as the canebreak rattlesnake and it is a species of pit viper. The Timber Rattlesnake has a Chevron pattern and a stripe running down its body. Finally, coming in number 10 on the list is the American Crocodile. They are found along the coast of Florida as north as the Hillsborough/Pasco County border on the west side of Florida.
Below, you can find the top five most dangerous animals in Florida.
Great White Shark
Yes, Great White Sharks are found in the waters around Florida. A almost 1,200 pound shark that was almost 13 feet in length was tracked back in March of this year.
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Bull Shark
#1 and #2 on the list are sharks. They are in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They grow to about 11 feet and can live about 24 years.
Alligator
Alligators live in all 67 counties in Florida. You can find alligators in any body of water including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps and man-made canals.
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Eastern Dimondback Rattlesnake
They are found in pine flatwoods, longleaf pine and turkey oak hammocks, sand pine scrub areas, and coastal barrier islands. Yes it is venomous.
Cottonmouth Snake
It is venomous and can be found throughout Florida. It is called a cottonmouth because of the white color of the inside of its mouth.
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