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Title: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Racer1_NC on Oct 6th, 2005, 1:33am Python Tries to Eat Alligator, Explodes (The pic is a tad graphic so I am linking to it rather than posting it.) http://www.foxnews.com/images/179329/0_21_100505_python.jpg MIAMI, Fla. — Alligators have clashed with nonnative pythons before in Everglades National Park. But when a 6-foot gator tangled with a 13-foot python recently, the result wasn't pretty. The snake apparently tried to swallow the gator whole — and then exploded. Scientists stumbled upon the gory remains last week. The species have battled with increasing frequency — scientists have documented four encounters in the last three years. The encroachment of Burmese pythons into the Everglades could threaten an $8 billion restoration project and endanger smaller species, said Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor. The gators have had to share their territory with a python population that has swelled over the past 20 years after owners dropped off pythons they no longer wanted in the Everglades. The Asian snakes have thrived in the wet, hot climate. "Encounters like that are almost never seen in the wild. ... And we here are, it's happened for the fourth time," Mazzotti said. In the other cases, the alligator won or the battle was an apparent draw. "They were probably evenly matched in size," Mazzotti said of the latest battle. "If the python got a good grip on the alligator before the alligator got a good grip on him, he could win." While the gator may have been injured before the battle began — wounds were found on it that apparently were not caused by python bites — Mazzotti believes it was alive when the battle began. And it may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it, leading to the blow up. The python was found with the gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Its stomach still surrounded the alligator's head, shoulders, and forelimbs. The remains were discovered and photographed Sept. 26 by helicopter pilot and wildlife researcher Michael Barron. The incident has alerted biologists to new potential dangers from Burmese pythons in the Everglades. "Clearly, if they can kill an alligator they can kill other species," Mazzotti said. "There had been some hope that alligators can control Burmese pythons. ... This indicates to me it's going to be an even draw. Sometimes alligators are going to win and sometimes the python will win. "It means nothing in the Everglades is safe from pythons, a top down predator," Mazzotti said. Not only can the python kill other reptiles, the snakes will also eat otters, squirrels, endangered woodstorks and sparrows. While there are thousands of alligators in the Everglades, Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist and crocodile tracker, said its unknown how many pythons there are. "We need to set traps and do a proper survey," of the snakes, he said. At least 150 have been captured in the last two years. The problem arises when people buy pets they are not prepared to care for. "People will buy these tiny little snakes and if you do everything right, they're six-feet tall in one year. They lose their appeal, or the owner becomes afraid of it. There's no zoo or attraction that will take it," so they release the snakes into the Everglades. A reproducing snake can have as many as 100 hatchlings, which explains why the snake population has soared, Wasilewski said. The Burmese snake problem is just part of a larger issue of nonnative animal populations in South Florida, he said. So many iguanas have been discarded in the region that they are gobbling tropical flowers and causing problems for botanists, Wasilewski said. A 10- or 20-foot python is also large enough to pose a risk to an unwary human, especially a small child, he added. "I don't think this is an imminent threat. This is not a 'Be afraid, be very afraid situation.'" |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by LeLimey on Oct 6th, 2005, 2:55am Well THAT guaranteed a calorie free breakfast! [smiley=hurl.gif] Can we have another regurgitating story for lunch and dinner time please Beeyul?! ::) |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Sandy_C on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:13am Ewwww! Gross. :-X Sandy |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by aprilbee on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:24am :o Holy Cow!!! |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Langa on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:27am Damn...that was downright disgusting... :P Thanks for sharing... [smiley=hurl.gif] Langa |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Jeepgun on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:29am Sounds like me, at Thanksgiving dinner.... [smiley=laugh.gif] "More mashed potatoes, Frank?" "Thanks mom!" *KABOOM!!!* [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Langa on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:34am on 10/06/05 at 08:29:54, Jeepgun wrote:
[smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by ghost62 on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:35am mmmm gator ;;D :o [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by juvy on Oct 6th, 2005, 9:04am yeah i read that today too...kinda freaky and a little gross. I don't know who to feel more sorry for the Gator who was eaten alive or the python that was split open while having dinner. |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by LeLimey on Oct 6th, 2005, 9:38am just one leetle mint.. wafer thin.... Sorry, the old Monty Python stuff cracks me up! ::) |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Jeepgun on Oct 6th, 2005, 9:40am on 10/06/05 at 09:38:47, LeLimey wrote:
Me too.. Oh god... "But I didn't EAT the soup!!" [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by LeLimey on Oct 6th, 2005, 9:43am ppppst Frank... it was tinned salmon in the salmon mousse! (But your'e dead anyway so what the eck?!) |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Jeepgun on Oct 6th, 2005, 10:25am LMAO!! "Always look on the bright side of life!" *whistling...* |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by LadyElaine on Oct 6th, 2005, 10:34am They had that on the news last night and I thought I feel like that snake. I also saw a show on those snakes and they been known to kill their owners. One man was feeding his snake and the snake was so big it jumped and had his face in its mouth and wraped around him and was crushing him his wife saw what was happeing and she cut his head off, no not her husbands the snakes head. He was in the hospital a while, they even gave him rabie shots. I didn't know they did that when you got bit by a snake. Yuck I don't like snakes nor gators.I will stick with dogs and cats. |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by ghost62 on Oct 6th, 2005, 10:46am on 10/06/05 at 10:34:53, LadyElaine wrote:
They taste better ;;D [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Jonny on Oct 6th, 2005, 11:18am on 10/06/05 at 01:33:20, Racer1_NC wrote:
That same thing happen to Don when he bit down on my mule at the bathhouse ;;D |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by maffumatt on Oct 6th, 2005, 3:32pm http://video.msn.com/s/us/i/vlbg.gif video you need to use IE6 to view |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by thomas on Oct 6th, 2005, 3:42pm on 10/06/05 at 09:43:20, LeLimey wrote:
You Americans always saying things like, let me tell ya something and let me say this........ well you're dead now so shut up! ;;D |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by LadyElaine on Oct 6th, 2005, 3:42pm LOL I have had both to eat ghost. Not bad meat really ! Its their personality I don't like :-) |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Jeepgun on Oct 6th, 2005, 3:45pm on 10/06/05 at 15:42:35, thomas wrote:
LMMFAO... I love that one... LOL! |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Charlie on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:01pm Yum Charlie |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Ueli on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:25pm Edward biting off more than he can chew: http://216.218.248.205/datastore/d6/10/b/d610ec042bda9fdec50787307a275eb9.jpg (stolen from http://www.ratemykitten.com/ratemy/kitten?image=4552) Ueli [smiley=smokin.gif] |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 6th, 2005, 8:50pm Well it didn't gross me out, but made me laugh. Is that a sign that I'm becoming more delusional than usual? ROFL [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Never bite off more than you can chew.... Post by Opus on Oct 6th, 2005, 9:00pm on 10/06/05 at 15:32:28, maffumatt wrote:
LOL I got this, Quote:
Like Microsoft Windows is free or something::) I guess MS would be the last hold out to block compatable browsers and media players becouse they aren't their products. I didn't see the video but got a good laugh, thanks Bill and Steve. Opus/Paul [smiley=smokin.gif] |
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