This post now on Google News!Nine species of introduced giant
snakes could pose risks to U.S. ecosystems, according to a
report recently released by the U.S. Geological Survey. The
giant species now present in the U.S. are descended from
imported pets that have been released outdoors. Already there
are more than 10,000 Burmese pythons reproducing in the wild in
south Florida. Boa constrictors are also known to be reproducing
in south Florida. The USGS says there's "strong evidence" that
an African python may have a breeding population in Florida too.
Some snakes big enough to eat people All nine potentially risky
species are constrictors - nonpoisonous species that kill their
prey by wrapping around them and squeezing until the prey can't
breathe. The USGS report says that "most...would not be large
enough to consider a person as suitable prey." But some of then
are large enough to eat people, such as the reticulated python,
which can grow longer than 26 feet. This python is the snake
"most associated with un