Feeling the Squeeze

     If it isn't hurricanes, it's pythons. 

     A total of $25,000 in cash prizes were awarded at the annual Florida Python Challenge in August. Since 2000, 21,000 Burmese pythons have been removed, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

     Up to 300,000 pythons still live in the Everglades. Who's counting? They are experts at hiding.

     Meanwhile, 99 percent of raccoons in Everglades National Park are gone. Researchers also blame pythons for the near erasure of opossums and bobcats from the park. 

     We would like to know what 300,000 snakes are living on, since they have pretty much eaten all the meals that were available. Alligators? A female python can lay up to 100 eggs at one time. 150,00 x 100?

     Florida says the reptiles arrived through both accidental and intentional release. They have no natural predators. 

     Ridiculous...people bringing pythons to America for any reason. 

     We're glad our late uncle Bill Dilley, the park's first superintendent, didn't see this unforgiveable assault on his beloved nature. 

          Jimmy