Invasion!

This is a Burmese Brown Python, a destructive and deadly snake. Florida is overrun with these, they're known to kill and eat alligators once they reach the required size. They have either no or very few natural enemies here, and they are a curse on the Everglades. Their presence has led to severe declines in native mammal populations, including raccoons, opossums, bobcats, and rabbits, as well as being hell on the bird population. This is the second one I've seen in Texas. My sister took this picture, her house is adjacent to one of our swamps. I got there too late with my snake wrangling equipment to catch the li'l darling, and the wildlife people are only interested in dangerous animals if they can get headlines out of them. Those overpaid clowns are as useful as a chocolate teapot. When I eventually catch this guy I'm going to take it to their office and throw it across the counter. Who doesn't do snakes now, be-yotches? This happy rascal appears to be about six foot in length, they can get much, much bigger.  Gosh, this is such a great place, always something to keep you on your toes! When LaSalle et al. founded Ft. Saint Louis in 1685 about seventy miles from here they must have thought they were all gonna die, which is pretty much what happened. But we now got malaria and cannibal natives relatively under control. Oh, and not too long ago a good sized 'gator was pulled out of that nearby swamp with an arrow stuck in it's head. The gator was fine if a little grouchy.