14-Foot Python Found in Miami-Dade Raises Concern of "Super Snake"

The great snake scourge of the Everglades continues to thrive despite the recent cold snap and Sen. Bill Nelson's giant-snake-killing parties.During a recent sweep, state officials found five African rock pythons, including a 14-foot female in an area near the Tamiami Trail and Krome Avenue. In Africa, these pythons have...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

January 14, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The great snake scourge of the Everglades continues to thrive despite the recent cold snap and Sen. Bill Nelson's giant-snake-killing parties.

During a recent sweep, state officials found five African rock pythons, including a 14-foot female in an area near the Tamiami Trail and Krome Avenue. In Africa, these pythons have been known to eat everything from goats and crocodiles to even a few children and are meaner than the Burmese pythons that are already quite common in Florida swampland.

Oh, but the concern doesn't stop with just a meaner snake. Officials are worried that the African rocks could have some sweet, sweet snake sexing with their Burmese counterparts to create a hybrid "super snake."

[Sun-Sentinel: African rock pythons add to worries about snakes in Everglades]

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.