In this video, we will discuss the threat the Burmese python poses to humans in Florida,
and we will examine a few cases where this snake has attacked humans, including a tragic
case that resulted in pet owners being convicted in a court of law on manslaughter charges
and sent to prison for an extensive period of time.
In recent videos (links in the description below) we have talked extensively about how
this snake has wreaked havoc in the South Florida, killing a significant portion of
native mammals and birds in the Everglades including threatened and endangered species.
However, in this video we will focus on the danger posed by this snake to humans.
The Burmese python was brought into Florida from Southeast Asia because of its value as
a pet.
However, when fully grown, these snakes can exceed 16 ft, have a voracious appetite and
are burdensome to maintain.
Hence, pet owners have deliberately released them into the Floridian wild according to
several sources.
The snake was also released into the south Floridian wild when breeding facilities and
pet shops were destroyed during the catastrophic event of Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
The snake subsequently established a breeding population in the Everglades which is in south
Florida and is slowly migrating North.
As it migrates north, one article pointed out that these snakes are becoming more common
around residential areas and are known to attack and kill pets.
One snake was found to have swallowed 2 cats.
Increased proximity to human habitation means that there is increased risk of humans particularly
children being attacked.
Several articles and news outlets specify that these snakes have been found in the Arthur
R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Palm Beach County as recently as
of late 2021.
While, the South Florida Water Management District clearly states that these snakes
pose a threat to humans, the US Geological Survey (USGS) points out that there have been
no human fatalities from wild-living Burmese pythons.
However, a fatal attack, while unlikely, cannot be ruled out.
The USGS also points out that all the human fatalities have been from pet pythons on their
owners or on children/infants in the homes where these animals were kept.
In a very tragic case in Florida, a pet python left its enclosure, crawled into a child’s
bed, and suffocated the child to death.
The mother and live-in boyfriend were arrested, charged and convicted of aggravated manslaughter
and child neglect, and subsequently sent to prison for a considerable amount of time.
This death was the 12th known python casualty in the United States.
This is one of the reasons why I am very much against having these animals as pets.
They are called wild animals for a reason.
If you need to see a python, lion or any other wild animal, please go to the zoo, observe
them from a safe distance, and then go home.
Do not bring the danger to your doorstep no matter how cute and tame you think the snake
is.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
So, how about attacks on humans by wild living Burmese pythons?
In a journal article (link in the description below), 5 attacks on wildlife biologists were
documented in the Everglades National Park from 2006-2012.
While these attacks were not fatal, some resulted in injuries from snake bites.
The authors also point out that in these attacks biologists were moving through wetlands, the
snakes did not constrict, and the snakes quickly disengaged and retreated when they realized
that it was a human and not its regular prey.
The article emphasizes that these attacks are rare given that millions of regular individuals
(i.e. not employees or scientists) visit the Everglades yearly and as of the time of publication
of the article there had not been an attack on these visitors.
Nevertheless, I point to the warning of Former Senator Bill Nelson of Florida who stated,
and I quote "Sooner or later, for an unsuspecting tourist in Everglades National Park, there
will be an encounter with a human".
All links to articles and websites used to make this video are in the description below.
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