Search icon

News

08th Apr 2019

A 17-foot long snake has been found slithering around Florida

Jade Hayden

long snake

Your ex moved Stateside, it seems.

A 17-foot long python has been discovered in the Florida Everglades making the snake the largest to be ever captured in the area.

Measuring 17-foot, weighing 140 pounds (10 stone), and containing 73 developing eggs, the female python was tracked by scientists through the Big Cypress National Preserve, an area of swampland.

The invasive snake was removed from the preserve for research purposes and to control the animal population.

“She is the largest python ever removed from Big Cypress National Preserve– and she was caught because of research and a new approach to finding pythons,” a statement read.

“Using male pythons with radio transmitters allows the team to track the male to locate breeding females. The team not only removes the invasive snakes, but collects data for research, develop new removal tools, and learn how the pythons are using the Preserve.

“The team tracked one of the sentinel males with the transmitter and found this massive female nearby”

Massive, indeed.

Officials estimate that there at least 100,000 pythons living in the swampland areas in Florida. Most of them measure up to 10 feet long but all pose a threat to wildlife and other animal population.

Locals are encouraged to report sightings of pythons in the area using an interactive map. Hunters often host dedicated events to remove the snakes.

Topics:

Florida,Snake